Do you need a UK address to start a UK company?

Since the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act reforms, a registered office cannot be a PO box and must be an address where post genuinely reaches someone acting for the company, with delivery capable of being acknowledged. Companies House can force a change or begin strike off action against companies using a non-compliant address.

Directors and persons with significant control also each need a service address, which can be the same registered office address, keeping their residential address off the public register.

A virtual office or accountant's address is the standard solution for overseas founders. What matters is that post is actually opened, scanned or forwarded promptly, since HMRC's corporation tax UTR, statutory deadlines and Companies House strike off warnings all arrive by letter to this address.

The registered office is separate from any trading address you show customers, so your website, invoices and marketing can display a different, more customer-facing address provided the registered company name and number also appear as required.

Our fixed monthly packages for a UK limited company start at £89 plus VAT and run to £169 and £289 plus VAT as bookkeeping, VAT, payroll and reporting are added. One-off filings are sold at fixed prices, and the Companies House fees we pay for you are charged at cost with no VAT added. Overseas owners are quoted on exactly the same published prices as UK-resident clients.

Rates, thresholds and deadlines here reflect the 2026/27 UK position and current Companies House and HMRC guidance. Check GOV.UK, or ask us, before relying on them for your own company.