Company formation in Edinburgh

Starting a business in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is Scotland's capital and has a distinctive economy. The City of Edinburgh Council's economic evidence shows that financial and insurance work makes up a noticeably larger share of jobs here than across Scotland, and that accommodation and food, education, and professional, scientific and technical services are also more concentrated in the city. The same study names tourism, energy and renewables, creative industries, financial services, life sciences and biotechnology and the data sector as the sectors expected to drive future growth.

So a typical new Edinburgh company might be a financial or data consultancy, a software start-up spun out of university research, a festival or events business, a café or guest house, or a contractor working for one of the city's large employers.

A limited company separates your personal finances from the business and makes it easier to bring in partners. Whether it is the best choice for your tax position depends on your situation, so speak to an accountant if you are unsure.

Which registered office do you need?

An Edinburgh business will usually register its company in Scotland. The company number then starts with SC, and its registered office must be in Scotland.

This is the one city where we can offer something local: our office is in Leith, Edinburgh. Our Registered Office Address service (£250 a year) puts a central Edinburgh address on the public register instead of your home. We confirm the full address once your order and identity checks are complete. Official mail from Companies House, HMRC and the courts is scanned and emailed to you.

If you also want an address to show customers, the Edinburgh Virtual Office (£350 a year) lets you use a central Edinburgh address as your trading address on your website and invoices. It is a separate service from the registered office.

You are welcome to visit us, but by appointment only. Please call or email before coming. Most clients never need to: the whole formation is done online.

If you plan to trade mainly in England, you can register in England and Wales instead and use our central London registered office. A company cannot change nation later by moving its address, so decide at the start.

Local support for new businesses in Edinburgh

• Business Gateway Edinburgh delivers free advice, workshops and business information on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council. It also runs "expert help" sessions with specialist consultants on topics such as finance, HR, marketing and legal matters.
• City of Edinburgh Council lists its support for business on its website, including an Export Support Grant 2026 of up to £2,000 for already-trading companies headquartered in the city that want to sell overseas.
• Elevator is the delivery partner for Business Gateway Edinburgh's longer-term programmes.
• The Women's Business Centre, run by Women's Enterprise Scotland, offers online support for women from pre-start to growth.
• Find Business Support is the Scotland-wide directory of public sector help.

Check each scheme's current rules before you apply; grants open and close.

Example: a data consultancy in Leith

This is an illustration, not a real client. Marta has worked in risk analytics for an Edinburgh insurer and wants to go freelance as a data consultant. She lives in Leith and does not want her flat on the public register, and her first client wants a proper business address on invoices.

She chose the Privacy Package at £1,000, which includes our Edinburgh registered office and a director service address for the first year, plus a virtual trading address. She verified her identity with us online and her Scottish company was registered within 24 hours. Because our office is a short walk from her home, she booked an appointment to pick up her printed share certificate, but she could equally have received everything by email.

How it works

1. Search for your name and order online.
2. Verify your identity. We are a Companies House Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), so we check each director's and person with significant control's identity and help you obtain your personal code.
3. We submit the application. Most companies are registered within 24 hours of us receiving complete details.
4. Get your documents in your online account. We also register the company for Corporation Tax with HMRC.

Next steps

Choose the Digital Package at £290 if you will use your own Edinburgh address. Choose the Privacy Package, or add our Registered Office Address and Edinburgh Virtual Office, if you want our Edinburgh address instead. Start with a free company name check.

Frequently asked questions

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