In short: £1,900 forms a UK public limited company, including VAT and the £100 Companies House fee. We set up the PLC with at least two directors, a qualified company secretary and at least £50,000 of allotted share capital, and then help you apply for the trading certificate (form SH50) that a PLC needs before it can trade or borrow. Registration usually takes about 24 hours once we have your details; the trading certificate follows after you show that at least a quarter of the share capital is paid up.
What's included
- The £100 government fee Companies House charges to register a new company. It's already included in our price — there's nothing extra to pay.
- We check your proposed name against the Companies House register and the naming rules, and suggest alternatives if it's taken or needs approval.
- The memorandum records who founded the company; the articles are the company's rulebook — how directors make decisions, how shares work and more.
- Share structure set up with at least £50,000 allotted
- Check that your company secretary is qualified
- The official certificate from Companies House proving your company exists, with its name, number and date of incorporation.
- The legal records every company must keep: members (shareholders), directors, people with significant control and more. We set them up for you.
- Every director and person with significant control must verify their identity with Companies House. As an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) we can do it for you remotely and give you your personal code.
- A six-character code from Companies House that works like your company's signature for online filings. Keep it safe.
- Preparation of the SH50 trading certificate application
- We register your new company with HMRC for Corporation Tax, so you're set up to pay tax on profits from the start.
- Your certificate, articles and share certificates printed on quality paper — useful when a bank or authority abroad wants originals.
- Lifetime email and phone support
What a PLC is
A public limited company is a company limited by shares that is allowed to offer its shares to the public. That does not mean it is listed on a stock exchange — many PLCs are not. Companies choose PLC status to raise capital more widely, to prepare for a future listing, or because customers and partners expect it for large contracts.
The trade-off is stricter rules. If you do not need to offer shares to the public, a private limited company is simpler and cheaper — see company formation.
PLC requirements
- At least two directors, at least one of whom must be a person (not a company). Directors must be 16 or over and can live anywhere.
- A qualified company secretary. Under the Companies Act 2006, the secretary must have the knowledge and experience to do the job and be, for example, a chartered accountant, solicitor or chartered secretary, or have been the secretary of a public company for at least three of the last five years.
- At least £50,000 of allotted share capital (the "authorised minimum"), with at least a quarter of the nominal value of each share — and any premium — paid up.
- A name ending in "plc" or "public limited company" (or the Welsh equivalent).
- At least one shareholder.
A PLC cannot trade on registration
A new PLC is not ready to trade when Companies House registers it. Before it can do business or borrow, it must apply for a trading certificate using form SH50. In the application, a director or the secretary confirms that the allotted share capital is at least £50,000 and at least a quarter of it is paid up. If a PLC trades without the certificate, the company and its officers commit an offence, and the directors can be personally liable for losses.
How it works
- Check your name and pay online.
- Tell us about the directors, company secretary, shareholders and how the £50,000 (or more) will be split into shares.
- We check the secretary's qualifications against the legal requirements.
- We verify the identity of each director and person with significant control remotely, as a Companies House ACSP, and give each person their personal code. Anyone who prefers can verify through GOV.UK One Login instead.
- We submit the incorporation application.
- The shareholders pay at least a quarter of the share capital to the company — at least £12,500 on £50,000.
- We prepare the SH50 for a director or the secretary to sign, and send it to Companies House. The company can trade once the trading certificate is issued.
What you need to provide
- The proposed name
- Details of at least two directors and the company secretary, with evidence of the secretary's qualification
- Shareholder names, addresses and the number and value of shares each will take
- Confirmation that the paid-up share capital is in the company's bank account (for the SH50)
- A UK registered office address in the same nation as the company — see registered office address
- A registered email address for Companies House
Running a PLC
- Annual accounts are due 6 months after the year end (shorter than a private company), and must normally be audited unless an exemption applies
- An annual general meeting within 6 months of the year end
- A confirmation statement at least once every 12 months
- Offering shares to the public is regulated; take legal advice before you do
An existing private company can also re-register as a PLC instead of forming a new one, if it meets the same requirements. Ask us if that suits you better.
Common mistakes
- Trading before the trading certificate is issued.
- Appointing a secretary who is not qualified.
- Not paying up the quarter before applying for the SH50.
- Choosing a PLC just for prestige. The extra cost and rules only make sense if you need what a PLC offers.
Frequently asked questions
Is a PLC ready to trade when it is registered?
No. A new PLC must first get a trading certificate from Companies House by filing form SH50. Until then it cannot do business or borrow.
How much share capital does a PLC need?
At least £50,000 of allotted share capital, with at least a quarter of each share's nominal value (so at least £12,500 on £50,000) plus any premium paid up.
How many directors does a PLC need?
At least two, and at least one must be a person rather than a company. A PLC also needs a qualified company secretary.
Who can be the company secretary of a PLC?
Someone the directors judge to have the right knowledge and experience — for example a chartered accountant, solicitor or chartered secretary, or a person who has been secretary of a public company for three of the last five years.
Does a PLC have to be listed on the stock exchange?
No. A PLC may offer its shares to the public, but many are never listed. Listing has its own separate rules.
Can I turn my existing limited company into a PLC?
Yes, a private company can re-register as a public company if it meets the PLC requirements for share capital, directors and secretary. We can advise whether that or a new PLC suits you.
When are a PLC's accounts due?
6 months after the end of each financial year. The first accounts, if they cover more than 12 months, are due 18 months after incorporation or 3 months after the accounting reference date, whichever is later.
Related services
Share Issue and Share Transfer
Issue new shares or transfer existing ones, with resolutions, Companies House filing and registers handled.
Registered Office Address
Use our Edinburgh or central London address as your company's official registered office, with mail scanning.
Resolutions and Minutes of Meetings
Board and shareholder resolutions or meeting minutes, drafted correctly for your company's records.