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Complete guide: entity types, registration, costs, taxes, labor laws, and break-even analysis
~35 days
Setup Time
~$15
Setup Cost
25%
Corporate Tax
100%
Foreign Ownership
#8
Ease of Business
| Entity | Min Capital | Foreign % | Liability | Min Shareholders | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Private Limited Company (Ltd) | 1 GBP | 100% | Limited | 1 | Most common — 90%+ of UK companies. Fast, cheap, credible. |
Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) | None | 100% | Limited | 2 | Professional services — law, accounting, consulting firms |
Public Limited Company (PLC) | 50,000 GBP | 100% | Limited | 1 | Companies planning to list on London Stock Exchange |
Branch Office | None | 100% | Unlimited | 0 | Foreign companies expanding into UK — must register with Companies House |
Choose Company Name
Check availability on Companies House WebCheck
0-1 days
Free
Companies House
Register Online
File via Companies House digital service — instant incorporation
0-1 days
~$15
Companies House
Register for Corporation Tax
Notify HMRC within 3 months of starting business
1-7 days
Free
HMRC
Register for VAT
Mandatory if revenue exceeds £85,000
1-14 days
Free
HMRC
Open Business Bank Account
Digital banks (Tide, Starling) open in hours; high-street banks take days
0-5 days
Free
Bank
Register for PAYE
If hiring employees — payroll tax registration
1-7 days
Free
HMRC
$2000/mo
Minimum Wage
$3500/mo
Average Wage
37.5 hrs/week
Work Hours
28 days/year
Paid Leave
1 weeks/year
Severance
13.8% of salary
Employer Social Security
12% of salary
Employee Social Security
Required
Foreign Worker Permit
Foreign Worker Quota: Skilled Worker Visa requires £38,700 salary minimum (or going rate for role). Sponsorship license needed.
#8/190
Ease of Business Rank
1 days
Starting a Business
22 days
Registering Property
437 days
Enforcing Contracts
73/100
Corruption Perception
95%
Internet Penetration
GBP
Currency
UTC+0
Time Zone
18
Retail (months)
14
F&B (months)
12
Tech (months)
28
Manufacturing (months)
10
Services (months)