Start for free

A module of the digital founding companion for the United KingdomA planix founding-companion module

Startup checklist.
With all costs.Startup checklist.
With all costs.

Every step to setting up in the UK – with office, deadline and the official fees.

Every step, every official fee.

What does it cost? fees and minimum capital per legal form, with official sourceFees and capital
What needs doing? every step with office and deadline, in the right orderEvery step with deadline
What comes next? taxes, social insurance and bookkeeping from day oneTaxes and insurance

FreeBoth modules with no subscription, no credit cardNo subscription

Founding costs United Kingdom

Sole trader Ltd often chosen LLP Minimum capital–none–Paid in at founding–not required–Companies House–£100£100Identity check–neededneeded

Sole trader: you register with HMRC for Self Assessment once you earn more than £1,000 in a tax year. Ltd: every director and person with significant control verifies their identity first.

Sources: gov.uk

PDFFounding planPDFProtection checkDOCContract templates

collumino.com

STARTUPS

The checklist for the UK

Three phases. Nothing forgotten.

The order, the office in charge and what it costs.

Order, office, costs.

How it works

1Phase 1PrepareStart a business
Legal form, name, identity
- Choose your legal formLegal formplanix
- Check the company name at Companies HouseCompany nameCompanies Housefree
- Verify your identity with GOV.UK One LoginIdentityCompanies Housebefore registering
2Phase 2RegisterStart a business
Companies House, HMRC, bank
- Register the companyCompanies HouseCompanies House£100
- Set up Corporation TaxCorporation TaxHMRCusually with registration
- Open a business bank accountBank accountBank
- Register for VATVATHMRCfrom £90,000 turnover
3Phase 3ProtectProtect your business
Name, contracts, insurance
- Check name and trademarkName and trademarkUKIPOTrademark from £205
- Prepare contractsContractsTemplates from planix
- Sort out insuranceInsuranceYouEmployers’ liability: at least £5,000,000

After founding

What keeps coming up.

The amounts that count from day one – with official source.

From day one.

National Insurance6%

Class 4 on your profits as a sole trader, paid through Self Assessment.

Class 4 on profits.

Source: GOV.UK-Leitfaden «Self-employed National Insurance rates» (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)), gov.uk, Stand 06.04.2026

VAT£90,000

Taxable turnover in 12 months: from here you must register for VAT.

Source: GOV.UK-Leitfaden «Register for VAT» (HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)), gov.uk, Stand 10.10.2024

Data protection fee£52

a year to the ICO for micro organisations – unless your processing is exempt.

A year, unless exempt.

Source: reg. 2, 3 Data Protection (Charges and Information) Regulations 2018 i. d. F. S.I. 2025/63, legislation.gov.uk, Stand 17.02.2025

What planix delivers

Found. Then protect.

Both modules are free.

FirstFreeStart a businessFound

Reasoned legal form, founding roadmap and obligations for taxes and staff, with official sources.

The legal form that fits you
Roadmap with office and deadline
Taxes and social insurance

Your founding plan

freeStart now

FreeProtect your businessProtect

Name search in the registers and 12 topics with costs, source and templates to adapt.

Name searched in the registers
Contract templates to adapt
What now, what later

Confidentiality agreement
Founder Agreement
Terms and conditions
Transfer of rights
Your protection check

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Compare packages

Guides

More details.

The in-depth guides on costs and steps.

What does a limited company cost?Set up a limited company: step by stepShare capital of a limited companyBecome a sole trader in the UK

Clear limits

What planix doesn’t do.

1
No estimated extra costs. Insurance premiums and similar costs depend on your case. planix gives no made-up amount for them.
No made-up costs. Only official fees.
2
You do the registering. planix tells you what goes where and when. You submit it yourself.
You register. planix submits nothing.
3
Every figure with a source. Fees and capital come from law and authorities, with date and link.
With source. Law, date, link.

FAQ

Questions

What does setting up a limited company cost?

There is no minimum share capital – a share can be worth £1. Registering online with Companies House costs £100; after that, the confirmation statement costs £50 a year.

What does becoming a sole trader cost?

No capital, no register entry and no fee. You register with HMRC for Self Assessment once you earn more than £1,000 in a tax year – by 5 October after the end of that tax year.

Where do the amounts come from?

From laws and official bodies, each with source, date and link.

What does planix cost?

Nothing. Found your company and Protect your company are free, with no subscription.

Which legal forms does the checklist cover?

Sole trader, partnership, limited company (Ltd) and LLP – plus charity structures such as the CIO, and co-operative societies.

Does planix submit the registrations?

No. planix tells you what goes to which office and when, with a link. You do the registrations yourself.

Ready to found?
No hidden costs.

Your checklist with all fees – free.

Start checklist for free Both modules free · no subscription

Startup checklist.With all costs.Startup checklist.With all costs.