Starting a business, especially as an international entrepreneur, can be challenging because one is unfamiliar with the legal processes and regulations. Even with the help of company formation agents, one needs to choose an agent that complies with the regulations of the Companies Act 2006.

In addition to checking the affordability of a company formation agent, business owners must ensure that the services offered are reliable and that customer support is strong.

Below are the best company formation agents in the UK for entrepreneurs to use when incorporating their company. Our evaluation is based on compliance, pricing, speed of incorporation, customer support, and additional services, among others. The agents highlighted below are from the most affordable.

BusinAssist

BusinAssist offers international business support solutions, specialising in virtual office and company formation in the UK, USA, and Canada. In the UK, entrepreneurs can incorporate a UK limited company from as low as £0.99 plus Companies House fees of £100, for a total price of £100.99.

This price is for those who will be using their address as a registered office address. For those who need to rent their registered office address, company incorporation is completely free. Their rental address package starts from only £0.88 per week.

Their virtual office address is fully compliant with the Companies Act 2006, as it can be used as a registered office address. It is publicly located on a real business street, accessible to receive mail on behalf of the company, and can be listed on the public record, among others.

Apart from their affordable packages, BusinAssist has additional features for both entrepreneurs who want to rent an address or use theirs, such as free UK bank accounts, free accountancy consultation, gifts, and cash rewards.

With their easy-to-use website, business owners can seamlessly navigate and fill out their application in 2 minutes, making it easier for the company to be incorporated within 1 working day.

With a 4.5/5-star rating in Trustpilot, most of BusinAssist’s customer reviews are of how the company offers professional and quick support.  Customers have highlighted the speed and efficiency of the services offered, particularly in company formation.

Formation Wise

Formation Wise company formation packages start from £102.99, inclusive of Companies House fees. The company agent is known for offering incorporation services for several structures, such as the private limited company, Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), and limited by guarantee. The agents are best for freelancers, contractors, and startups as they offer a registration package for them.

Their company formation packages include;

·         The digital package at £102.99

·         Digital and print, which include printed documents at £109.99

·         Privacy with your home address protected from the public register at £117.99

·         A compliance package at £134.99

·         All-inclusive package at £ 199.99

Depending on the package you choose, they come with features such as basic setup of a limited company, digital company documents, filing of the first confirmation statement, GDPR pack, and VAT registration.

Business owners can also open a business bank account, get a London registered office address and director service address (in all-inclusive tier), and also benefit from ongoing support via an online hub

Formations Wise is trusted since it is authorised by Companies House to offer company registration services.

Icon Offices

Icon Offices offers a combination of experience, affordability, and ongoing support to businesses. Beyond company formation, they offer virtual office services, banking partnerships, call answering services, mail handling, VAT registration, and other add-on services that help entrepreneurs manage their businesses smoothly from the incorporation stage.

Even after the price increase by Companies House, Icon Offices still offers affordable company formation services. From as low as £93.99, entrepreneurs can incorporate their UK limited company.

The packages they offer include;

• Use your own address at £102.99
• Bronze and silver (using their virtual office) at £93.99
• Bespoke (if you need your company tailored to meet specific requirements)

1^st Formation

1st Formation is another major agent in the UK and caters for e-commerce businesses. Their packages start from £102.99 for UK residents, while international entrepreneurs’ packages start from £199.99, inclusive of Companies House fees.

They cater for several company structures: limited by shares, limited by guarantee, and limited liability partnerships (LLP).

Their company formation packages include;

·         Digital package at £102.99 inclusive of VAT and Companies House fees

·         Privacy package at £117.99 inclusive of VAT and Companies House fees

·         All-inclusive package at £139.99 inclusive of VAT and Companies House fees

·         Non-residents package at £199.99 inclusive of Companies House fees

These packages come with several features, including; free business bank account, free online company manager, free .com or .co.uk, domain name, filing of the first Confirmation Statement, business telephone number (free for 3 months), email copy of Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum & Articles of Association and Share Certificate(s), registered office service, VAT registration, free 4 hours of meeting room hire, Shopify – 3 day free trial, GDPR compliance package, and full company secretary, among others.

Apart from the company formation package, 1st Formation also offers accounting packages, address services, office and company services.

The company is rated 4.7/5 on Trustpilot, with most customers praising its quick turnaround time, excellent customer support, and user-friendly online platform.

Your Company Formation

From as little as £2.48, UK residents can incorporate a company with Your Company Formation, exclusive of Companies House fees. International entrepreneurs will incur £98.48 plus Companies House fees of £100.

With a 4.9-star rating on Trustpilot, the London-based service provider offers several company formation solutions, which include;

·         Companies House services

·         Address and mail forwarding services

·         Legal document service

·         Secretarial support

·         VAT registration and tax filing

Company MadeSimple

Accredited by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), Company MadeSimple has company formation packages for both residents and international entrepreneurs. For UK residents, their package starts from as low as £104.99, while non-residents can form a company from as low as £199.99, inclusive of Companies House fees.

Their packages are priced separately, they include;

• Basic at £104.99 plus VAT
• Privacy at £114.99 plus VAT
• Comprehensive at £159.99 plus VAT
• Ultimate at £199.99 plus VAT

They also offer other company services, including filing statutory documents, administrative services, VAT and PAYE services, company products, and meeting rooms, among others.

With a 4.8-star rating, reviewers find that Companies MadeSimple has transparent pricing and excellent customer service.

To conclude, finding the best company formation agent for your company needs a lot of research. Apart from affordability, business owners must ensure the provider they choose meets their business needs and is compliant with legal requirements.