How much does it cost to register with Companies House?

1st December 2025

One of the first practical questions that arises when formalising a business is simple: how much does it cost to register with Companies House?

While the registration process itself is fairly straightforward, the costs around it can vary depending on how you file, what additional services you choose, and how your company intends to operate. With fee changes scheduled for early 2026, understanding the costs now, and why they differ, is essential for anyone planning to form a limited company. 99p Company Formations want to help you get started. 

Current Companies House fees

Companies House charges a statutory fee for incorporation and associated filings. These are fixed amounts set by the government, not by formation agents. For most new businesses, the only required cost is £50 for a standard digital incorporation.

The current fees are:

Fee Increases Coming in February 2026

From 1 February 2026, Companies House will introduce increased fees.

The updated fees will be:

Why company registration costs vary between businesses

Although Companies House charges the same statutory fee to every company, the total cost of registering a business can vary. This is because many of the expenses involved in incorporation are optional, service based, or dependent on the company’s specific needs.

Below are the key factors that cause cost differences:

Method of incorporation

Paper printing of information incurs an additional cost for the resources required to do so. 

• Digital incorporation (£50 currently) is the cheapest and fastest method.

• Paper incorporation (£71 currently) is slower and more expensive.

Optional privacy services

Some founders want to keep personal addresses off the public register. Businesses prioritising privacy will typically spend more than those comfortable listing their home address publicly.

Common optional services include:

• Registered office address

• Director service address

• Mail forwarding

Administrative support

Many companies choose to register through a formation agent for expertise and convenience. While the Companies House fees remain fixed, agents charge their own service fees.

Domain names

While not part of the official incorporation process, securing a domain name is often done at the same time. Standard domains may cost £5–£15 per year.

Specialist company structures

Some formations involve additional professional fees, such as:

• Companies with complex share structures

• Companies issuing preference shares

• Companies with multiple classes of shareholders

• Companies requiring bespoke articles of association

These costs do not come from Companies House but from legal or accounting services chosen by the business.

Optional costs

Optional extras are not required for forming a company but are commonly purchased by new businesses.

Examples include:

• Registered office service

• Director service address

• Document forwarding

• Digital copies of company documents

• Domain names

• Printed incorporation packs

How 99p Company Formations helps you manage costs

Statutory fees cannot be avoided; every UK company must pay them. But everything around them can be made simple with 99p Company Formations on their side.

We help founders:

• Register a company at affordable cost

• Avoid unnecessary upsells and inflated package prices

• Understand which optional services they genuinely need

• Ensure filings are correct the first time, preventing resubmission delays

• Navigate rising statutory fees ahead of February 2026

The cost of registering a company depends on more than just the Companies House fee. While the current digital incorporation fee is £50, this will rise to £100 in February 2026, making early incorporation essential. Additional costs can arise from privacy services, agent support, domain names, and business specific requirements.

By understanding these variables, new business owners can plan their budgets properly and form a company without unnecessary expense. With transparent pricing and ongoing business support, 99p Company Formations offers a simple, cost effective way to get started.