1st Formations Review 2026: How to Register a UK Limited (Ltd) Company
What is 1st Formations?
1st Formations (1stformations.co.uk) is the United Kingdom's largest Companies House authorised company formation agent, having incorporated over 1 million UK companies. It enables both UK residents and international non-resident founders to register a UK Private Company Limited by Shares (Ltd) online in 3 to 6 business hours, while providing a prestigious Covent Garden, London Registered Office address and Director Service Address to keep your personal home address off the public Companies House register.
Since Companies House increased the statutory digital incorporation fee to £50 (included in 1st Formations' packages), entry packages start at £52.99 (Digital) and scale to £149.99–£199.99 for complete privacy, VAT, and non-resident apostille bundles.
Why do founders incorporate a UK Ltd via 1st Formations?
- Speed & Low Share Capital: Unlike a German GmbH (which requires €25,000 in share capital, a notary appointment, and weeks of commercial register waiting), a UK Ltd can be incorporated online the same day with £1 in share capital and no notary.
- Director Address Privacy: Any address submitted directly to Companies House becomes public record on the open web. 1st Formations' London Registered Office + Service Address shields your residential address and scans official HMRC and Companies House mail to your dashboard.
- Global Commercial Credibility: A UK Limited company is universally recognized by European, US, and Commonwealth enterprise procurement departments, Stripe, Apple App Store, and Google Play.
1st Formations Package Comparison (2026)
| Package | Price (excl. VAT, incl. £50 CH Fee) | London Registered Office | Director Service Address | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital | £52.99 | No (use your own UK address) | No | UK residents who already have a commercial office address |
| Privacy | £69.99 | Yes (12 months included) | Yes (12 months included) | UK founders wanting home address privacy from public search |
| All Inclusive | £99.99 | Yes + Business Mail Forwarding | Yes | Active UK B2B agencies & consultants needing VAT registration |
| Non-Residents | £149.99 | Yes + International Mail Scan | Yes | International / EU founders needing apostilled docs & London address |
Banking Reality for Non-Resident UK Ltd Founders
Incorporating a UK Ltd as a non-UK resident is effortless; opening a UK business bank account as a non-UK resident is much stricter.
- Traditional UK banks (Barclays, HSBC, NatWest) and UK-only neobanks (Starling, Monzo, Tide) almost always require at least one UK-resident director.
- Non-resident directors typically apply to Wise Business or Revolut Business (if resident in an eligible EEA country). Always verify banking eligibility for your residency before forming a UK entity.
- If you reside in Germany, France, Spain, or Italy, incorporating locally and banking with Qonto (up to €280 referral bonus) avoids dual-jurisdiction tax residency (Ort der Geschäftsleitung) and banking friction.
FAQ
Does the 1st Formations price include the £50 Companies House fee?
Yes. 1st Formations includes the mandatory £50 Companies House digital filing fee in its displayed package prices (confirm on checkout whether promotional pricing is active).
Can a non-UK resident register a UK Ltd company?
Yes. UK law allows 100% foreign ownership and non-resident directors, provided the company maintains a physical Registered Office address in the UK (included in 1st Formations' Privacy and Non-Resident packages).
Miguel Santos leads software evaluations and founder operations research at Quota Engine. With 8+ years of hands-on experience auditing B2B sales stacks, CRM architectures, European business banking, and cross-border company setups across DACH and US markets, he tests tools against real operator workflows and verified vendor pricing.