Do I Need A Solicitor To Register A Company?

Amelia is launching a skincare brand with her friend Priya.

The Companies House form looks manageable: company name, registered office, directors, shares. Then they get to the share section and pause. Should they each hold 50 shares? What happens if one of them leaves after six months? Do they need special articles?

If that feels familiar, you're not overthinking it. Registering a limited company in the UK can be very straightforward, but the filing is only one part of setting up your business properly.

So, do you need a solicitor to register a company? Usually, no. But you may need legal help if the company structure, shares, founders or documents need to work properly from day one.

Do I Need A Solicitor To Register A Company?

No, you don't legally need a solicitor to register a company in the UK. You can incorporate a private limited company yourself through Companies House, or through approved company formation software.

For a simple company with one founder, ordinary shares and standard Companies House model articles, the registration process can be fairly quick. The current Companies House fee for standard online or software incorporation is £100. Paper incorporation is £124, and same-day software incorporation is £156.

The catch is that Companies House checks whether your filing meets the registration requirements. It doesn't advise you on whether the setup is right for your business.

That distinction matters. You might be able to register the company correctly but still end up with a structure that causes problems later, especially if you have co-founders, investors, different share rights or plans to issue more shares.

Legal help is most useful when you need advice on questions like:

• Who should own the shares, and in what percentages?
• Should shares vest over time, so a founder doesn't walk away with a large stake after a short period?
• Do you need a bespoke company constitution or articles of association instead of the model articles?
• Should you have a shareholders agreement or founders agreement?
• How will decisions be made if you and your co-founder disagree?
• How will intellectual property be transferred into the company?

Put simply, you don't need a solicitor just to submit a basic Companies House filing. You may want legal support to make sure the company you're registering actually matches how your business will run.

How Do You Register A Company In England And Wales?

You register a company in England and Wales by incorporating it with Companies House and choosing England and Wales as the company's registered jurisdiction.

A company registered in England and Wales is governed by UK company law, mainly the Companies Act 2006. It will need a registered office address in the same jurisdiction, so if you register in England and Wales, your registered office must also be in England and Wales.

Step 1: Choose Your Company Name

Your company name can't be the same as an existing registered company name, and it can't be too similar to certain names already on the register. Some words and expressions are sensitive and need approval.

It's also worth checking trade marks before you commit. Companies House may allow a name, but that doesn't mean you're free to use it as a brand if someone else owns a similar trade mark through the UK Intellectual Property Office.

Step 2: Choose Your Directors And PSCs

A private company limited by shares needs at least one director. You also need to identify people with significant control, often called PSCs. This usually includes anyone who owns more than 25% of the shares or voting rights, or who otherwise has significant influence or control.

From 18 November 2025, identity verification is mandatory for new directors and PSCs. If you're registering a new company, you'll need to provide the Companies House personal code for each director as part of the incorporation filing, and PSCs must also verify their identity under the Companies House rules. Existing companies have transition requirements linked to their confirmation statement and PSC status.

Step 3: Set Your Shares And Documents

Most startups use ordinary shares, but you still need to decide how many shares to issue and who gets them. You also need articles of association. Many companies use the model articles, but they don't cover every founder or investor scenario.

Since March 2024, companies also need to provide a registered email address and confirm they're being formed for a lawful purpose. You also need an appropriate registered office address, which means an address where documents can be delivered and come to the attention of someone acting for the company.

When Is A Basic Companies House Registration Enough?

A basic Companies House registration may be enough if your setup is simple and you understand the consequences of the choices you're making.

For example, say Tom is starting a freelance web design business. He'll be the only director and shareholder. He doesn't have a co-founder, he isn't raising investment, and he's happy using ordinary shares and model articles. In that case, he may be comfortable registering the company himself, then getting help later with client terms, privacy documents and contractor agreements.

A simple setup often looks like this:

• One founder owns 100% of the shares.
• There's one class of ordinary shares.
• The company uses the Companies House model articles.
• There are no outside investors.
• There are no special voting rights, dividend rights or exit arrangements.
• The founder isn't transferring valuable intellectual property from another person or company.

Even then, take care with the details. Your incorporation statement creates official company records. If you enter the wrong shareholdings, registered office, director details or PSC information, you may need to correct filings later. Some mistakes are simple to fix, but others can create confusion when you open a bank account, apply for funding or bring in another shareholder.

Also, registration doesn't cover your trading documents. After incorporation, you may still need:

• Terms and conditions for your customers.
• Supplier or contractor agreements.
• Employment contracts if you hire staff.
• A privacy notice if you collect personal data under the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018.
• IP assignment documents if someone else created your brand, website, code or content.

So, self-registration can work well for a straightforward company. Just don't mistake a Companies House certificate for a complete legal setup.

When Should I Get Company Setup Legal Help?

You should get legal help when the company structure could affect ownership, control, funding, tax planning or future disputes.

This is where many founders benefit from more than Companies House registration help. The issue usually isn't whether the company can be registered. It's whether the registration documents, articles and founder arrangements reflect the deal between the people involved.

Legal help is especially worth considering if:

• There are two or more founders.
• Founders are contributing different amounts of cash, time, assets or IP.
• You want shares to vest over time or be bought back if someone leaves.
• You plan to raise investment or issue shares later.
• You need different share classes, such as non-voting shares or preference shares.
• You want decision-making rules that differ from the model articles.
• You're setting up a holding company or wider group structure.
• You're moving an existing sole trader business, partnership or assets into a company structure.
• You're using contractors to build valuable IP before or after incorporation.

Here's a simple example. Amelia and Priya each take 50 ordinary shares in their new skincare company. Amelia works full-time on the business, while Priya helps one day a week. Six months later, Priya decides to leave but wants to keep her 50% stake. Without a founders agreement, vesting terms or buy-back mechanism, Amelia may struggle to regain control or attract investors.

A more tailored setup might have used 100 shares split 50/50, but with founder vesting over 4 years and a process for buying back unvested shares if someone leaves early. That sort of arrangement needs careful drafting because it affects ownership and company decision-making.

Templates can be a useful starting point, but they often miss the commercial detail that matters most to your business. Company documents work best when they're tailored to how you and your co-founders actually expect to work together.

What Documents Do I Need When Registering A Limited Company?

You need Companies House incorporation documents, but you may also need internal legal documents that aren't part of the basic public filing.

At a minimum, incorporation involves:

• Form IN01: The application to register the company, including directors, shareholders, PSCs, registered office and share capital.
• Articles of association: The company's constitutional rules. You can use model articles or bespoke articles.
• Statement of capital: Details of the shares being issued, their nominal value and rights.
• Statement of compliance: Confirmation that the Companies Act 2006 requirements have been met.
• Registered email address and lawful purpose statement: Required as part of the newer Companies House filing requirements.

Those documents get the company on the register. They don't usually settle the founder relationship in enough detail.

Founder Agreement Or Shareholders Agreement Outline

If you have more than one founder, a shareholders agreement or founders agreement is often the key document. Below is a practical outline of what it might cover. This isn't a finished legal document, and a lawyer should tailor it before you use it.

1. Parties And Company Details: List the company, founders and any initial shareholders.
2. Shareholdings: Record how many shares each person holds and whether there are different share classes.
3. Roles And Commitments: Explain what each founder is expected to contribute, including time, money, contacts or assets.
4. Vesting And Leaver Rules: Set out what happens to shares if a founder leaves early, including good leaver and bad leaver scenarios.
5. Decision-Making: List the decisions that need unanimous approval, majority approval or board approval.
6. Funding: Explain how the company will raise money and whether shareholders must contribute more capital.
7. Share Transfers: Set rules for selling, transferring or offering shares to other shareholders first.
8. Intellectual Property: Confirm that business IP belongs to the company, not an individual founder.
9. Confidentiality: Protect business plans, customer lists, pricing, designs and technical information.
10. Deadlock And Exit: Include a process for resolving serious disagreements and handling a sale of the company.

You may also need board minutes, shareholder resolutions, IP assignments or service agreements, depending on how you're setting things up.

How Much Does It Cost To Get Help Registering A Company?

The cost depends on whether you only need filing support or you need advice and tailored documents around the company structure.

There are usually three broad options.

Free Or Low-Cost Self-Registration

You can register directly with Companies House and pay the government fee. As mentioned, standard online or software incorporation is currently £100. This can be a good option for a simple one-person company where you're confident about the structure.

The trade-off is that you'll need to make the legal and commercial decisions yourself. Companies House won't advise on whether your share split is fair, whether model articles suit your plans or whether you need a founders agreement.

Online Fixed-Fee Legal Support

An online legal services provider may help you register the company and prepare related documents for a fixed fee. What matters is what's included. A useful package should be clear about whether it covers the Companies House filing, company constitution, shareholder or founder documents, IP transfers and any advice on share structure.

This can suit startups and small businesses that want certainty on price and practical guidance without engaging a traditional hourly billing model.

Traditional Hourly Legal Support

A traditional firm may charge by the hour, especially where the structure is more complex. That may make sense for sophisticated investment rounds, group structures or detailed tax-driven arrangements. If tax is a key part of your setup, you should also speak with an accountant or tax adviser, because company formation choices can have tax consequences.

Whichever option you choose, ask what you'll receive at the end. You don't just want a certificate of incorporation. You want company records, share documents and agreements that make sense for how your business will operate.

Common Mistakes To Avoid When Setting Up A Company

The biggest mistake is treating incorporation as an admin task only. It's admin, but it also sets the foundation for ownership and control.

Watch out for these common issues:

• Issuing shares without thinking ahead: A 50/50 split can feel fair, but it can also create deadlock if you disagree.
• Using model articles without checking them: Model articles are convenient, but they may not suit investor rights, bespoke share classes or founder vesting.
• Forgetting IP ownership: If a founder, contractor or agency creates your logo, software, website or product design, the company may need a written IP assignment.
• Ignoring PSC rules: Incorrect PSC information can cause compliance problems and delays when banks, investors or buyers review your records.
• Using the wrong address: Your registered office must be an appropriate address. Since the 2024 reforms, Companies House has tightened expectations around this.
• Skipping founder exit rules: Without written leaver rules, you may struggle to deal with a founder who stops contributing but keeps their shares.
• Not keeping company records: Keep your incorporation documents, registers, resolutions and share certificates organised from day one.

A good practical test is this: if someone bought, invested in or joined your company six months from now, would your records clearly show who owns what and what everyone agreed? If not, it's worth fixing the gaps early.

Key Takeaways

• You don't need a solicitor to register a basic limited company with Companies House.
• Companies House checks the filing, but it doesn't advise you on the best share structure, articles or founder terms.
• Legal help is most useful when you have co-founders, investors, vesting, different share rights or valuable IP.
• A shareholders agreement or founders agreement can prevent painful disputes about ownership, control and exits.
• Company registration fees are separate from the cost of tailored legal documents and advice.
• Getting the setup right early can make banking, hiring, investment and growth much easier later.

If you'd like help with registering your company, setting up your shares and articles, preparing founder agreements or protecting your business IP, you can reach us at 08081347754 or team@sprintlaw.co.uk for a free, no-obligations chat.