Starting a business is exciting, but let’s be honest – the paperwork side of things can be a proper headache. Company formation, registered addresses, VAT registration… it’s enough to make you want to stay a sole trader forever.
But here’s the thing: incorporating as a limited company often makes financial sense. Better credibility with suppliers, protection for your personal assets, and more tax-efficient ways to extract profits. The trick is finding the right company formation agent to handle the boring bits while you focus on actually running your business.
We’ve sifted through dozens of providers to bring you the 5 best company formation agents for 2025. No fluff, no affiliate nonsense – just honest recommendations to help you get your business registered properly.
Why Bother with a Company Formation Agent?
You can absolutely register your company yourself through Companies House. It costs £50 and takes about 24 hours if you do it online. So why pay someone else to do it?
Simple: it’s not just about the registration. The best agents offer:
- Same-day processing (when Companies House isn’t swamped)
- Business banking setup – often the trickiest part
- Registered office addresses – handy if you work from home
- VAT and PAYE registration – saves you separate applications
- Ongoing compliance support – because filing deadlines never stop
Plus, if you mess up the paperwork yourself, you’ll be waiting days or weeks to fix it. Sometimes it’s worth paying a bit extra for peace of mind.
What We Looked For
When evaluating these agents, we focused on:
- Speed and reliability – how quickly they actually get things done
- Transparent pricing – no hidden fees or surprise charges
- Additional services – business banking, addresses, compliance support
- Customer support – because you’ll have questions
- Value for money – not just cheapest, but best overall package
Right, let’s dive into our top 5 picks.
1. ANNA Money
Best for: All-in-one business setup
ANNA Money isn’t just a company formation agent – they’re a proper business banking solution that happens to do company formation brilliantly. This makes them ideal if you want everything sorted in one go.
What They Offer
- Free company registration when you open a business account
- Same-day incorporation if you apply before 3pm
- Instant business banking with a proper Mastercard
- London virtual office address for that professional touch
- VAT registration service handled for you
- PAYE setup when you’re ready to take on staff
The clever bit is how it all works together. Once Companies House approves your company, you automatically get an ANNA business account with invoicing tools, expense tracking, and even automatic tax pots that set money aside for your tax bills.
Pricing
Company formation starts at £19, but the real value is in their banking packages:
- ANNA Business: Free banking with pay-as-you-go transactions
- ANNA +Taxes: £36.90/month with full tax compliance support
The Reality Check
ANNA’s strength is integration – everything talks to everything else. But this means you’re somewhat locked into their ecosystem. If you already have banking sorted elsewhere, they might not be the best fit.
Their customer support can be hit-or-miss during busy periods, and the app-first approach won’t suit everyone who prefers old-school phone support.
Bottom line: Brilliant if you want business formation and banking sorted simultaneously. Less appealing if you just need a simple company registration.
2. Tide
Best for: Digital-first entrepreneurs
Tide has made a name for itself by making business banking simple, and their company formation service follows the same philosophy. Everything’s designed to be fast, digital, and hassle-free.
What They Offer
- Company registration in one business day
- Automatic Tide business account when you register
- London registered office address included
- Same-day mail scanning for important post
- Company name checker to test multiple options
- Integration with accounting software like Xero and QuickBooks
Like ANNA, Tide’s real strength is the seamless transition from company formation to actually running your business. You get proper invoicing tools, expense management, and even payroll services when you need them.
Pricing
- Tide members: £14.99 for company registration
- Non-members: £50 (same as doing it yourself)
Business banking options:
- Free plan: No monthly fee, pay per transaction
- Plus: £9.99/month with free transactions included
- Pro: £18.99/month with premium features
The Reality Check
Tide’s mobile-first approach is brilliant if you’re comfortable managing everything on your phone. Less great if you prefer desktop interfaces or need complex features.
Their customer support has improved massively, but you might still face delays during peak times. Also, while their free banking sounds appealing, the transaction fees can add up quickly for busy businesses.
Bottom line: Perfect for tech-savvy entrepreneurs who want modern banking tools. Traditional business owners might find it too app-focused.
3. Rapid Formations
Best for: Budget-conscious startups
Rapid Formations has been around for years and offers solid, no-frills company formation at competitive prices. They’re particularly good if you want options without paying for features you don’t need.
What They Offer
- Multiple package tiers from basic to all-inclusive
- Covent Garden registered address included in most packages
- Free .co.uk domain name with registration
- VAT registration service available
- Same-day formation when possible
- Non-UK resident services for international entrepreneurs
Their strength is flexibility. Want just basic company formation? They’ll do it cheaply. Need the full package with addresses, VAT registration, and compliance support? They’ve got comprehensive options too.
Pricing
- All Inclusive Package: £49.99 + £50 Companies House fee
- Basic packages: Available from around £25 + Companies House fee
The Reality Check
Rapid Formations does what it says on the tin, but don’t expect bells and whistles. Their customer support is functional rather than exceptional, and you’ll need to arrange your own banking separately.
Some customers report renewal pricing being higher than initial costs, so read the small print carefully. They’re also quite traditional – everything’s email and phone-based rather than app-driven.
Bottom line: Reliable and affordable, but you’ll need to sort banking and ongoing admin elsewhere. Good for straightforward incorporations without complications.
4. 1st Formations
Best for: Comprehensive service packages
1st Formations is one of the established players in the company formation space. They’ve been around since 2000 and have helped hundreds of thousands of businesses get started.
What They Offer
- Formation in 3 working hours (when Companies House allows)
- Five different package levels to suit various needs
- London office and service addresses available
- Comprehensive documentation (digital and printed options)
- VAT and PAYE registration in higher-tier packages
- Company secretary services for ongoing compliance
Their packages range from a basic £12.99 digital-only option right up to a £99.99 all-inclusive service that handles everything including ongoing compliance.
Pricing
- Digital Package: £12.99 (basic formation only)
- Professional Package: £44.99 (includes addresses and documents)
- All Inclusive Package: £99.99 (everything included)
All prices exclude the £50 Companies House fee.
The Reality Check
1st Formations is thoroughly competent but feels a bit dated compared to the fintech newcomers. Their website could use a refresh, and the process feels more traditional than streamlined.
Customer support is generally good, but you might find yourself explaining your requirements multiple times. They’re also purely a formation agent – you’ll need to arrange banking separately.
Bottom line: Solid choice if you want proven reliability and don’t mind a more traditional service approach. The package options give good flexibility for different budgets.
5. CompaniesMadeSimple
Best for: International entrepreneurs
CompaniesMadeSimple specialises in helping both UK and international clients set up UK companies. They’re particularly strong if you’re not based in the UK but want to establish a British business presence.
What They Offer
- Digital-first formation process using Companies House’s electronic system
- Online dashboard for managing your application and documents
- Central London registered address with mail scanning
- International packages designed for non-UK residents
- Wise Business account integration for multi-currency banking
- Same-day processing when possible
Their international focus means they understand the additional verification requirements for overseas applicants and can guide you through the process smoothly.
Pricing
Packages start at £54.99 + VAT, with international packages slightly higher to account for additional services.
The Reality Check
CompaniesMadeSimple knows their stuff, especially for international clients, but they’re not the cheapest option. Their focus on overseas entrepreneurs means UK residents might find some features irrelevant.
Customer support is knowledgeable but can be slow to respond during busy periods. The integration with Wise is helpful for international banking, but you’ll still need to complete a separate application.
Bottom line: Excellent choice for international entrepreneurs or UK residents who need multi-currency banking. Probably overkill if you’re just doing a straightforward UK-only business.
Which One Should You Choose?
Here’s our honest take:
Go with ANNA Money if you want everything integrated – formation, banking, and ongoing admin in one place. Perfect for first-time entrepreneurs who want simplicity.
Choose Tide if you’re comfortable with digital-first banking and want modern tools for managing your business finances.
Pick Rapid Formations if you’re on a tight budget and happy to handle banking and admin separately. Good for experienced business owners who know what they need.
Select 1st Formations if you want traditional, reliable service with good package flexibility and don’t mind arranging banking elsewhere.
Go for CompaniesMadeSimple if you’re based overseas or need international banking features from day one.
The Bottom Line
Company formation doesn’t have to be complicated, but it’s worth getting right the first time. All five of these agents will get your business registered properly – the differences come down to pricing, additional services, and how much hand-holding you want.
Remember: the cheapest option isn’t always the best value. Factor in the time you’ll save, the additional services you’ll actually use, and the ongoing support you might need.
Most importantly, don’t let the formation process delay your business launch. Pick an agent that fits your budget and requirements, get the paperwork sorted, and focus on building something brilliant.
Need help with the ongoing accounting and tax side once your company’s formed? That’s where we come in. Get in touch for a chat about keeping your new business compliant and profitable.
