What is Companies House?

If you’re starting a business in the UK, you’ll quickly come across the term Companies House – the official government agency responsible for incorporating and regulating limited companies. It plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency, accountability, and trust within the UK business environment.

In simple terms, Companies House is the central register of all UK companies. Every limited company small, large, active, or dormant must be listed here. Understanding what Companies House does, and your obligations as a director or business owner, is essential for staying compliant and avoiding penalties.

In this guide, we’ll explain what Companies House is, its key responsibilities, how it affects your business, and the steps you need to take to keep your company information accurate and up to date.

Whether you’re forming a new company, filing your first annual accounts, or updating your registered office address, knowing how to use Companies House effectively will help you stay on the right side of UK company law.

We help entrepreneurs and business owners register their companies correctly, manage filings, and maintain full compliance with Companies House requirements. Explore our company formation packages to get started with confidence.

What Is Companies House?

Companies House is the official government agency responsible for registering and maintaining information about all limited companies and other incorporated entities in the UK. It operates under the supervision of the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and forms a cornerstone of the UK’s corporate regulatory system.

In practical terms, Companies House acts as the UK’s central company register – every incorporated business must be recorded here. When you form a limited company, Companies House becomes your organisation’s official public record, storing key details such as:

• Company name and registration number
• Registered office address
• Director and shareholder information
• Annual accounts and confirmation statements
• Filing history and incorporation date

All of this information is publicly accessible through the Companies House register, ensuring transparency and accountability across the UK business landscape. This open access allows investors, customers, and other businesses to verify company details – a key factor in maintaining trust and integrity within the UK’s economy.

Understanding how Companies House works, and the information it holds about your company, is essential to meeting your legal obligations and demonstrating credibility in the eyes of clients and partners.

What Does Companies House Do?

Companies House plays a vital role in keeping the UK business landscape fair, transparent, and well-regulated. It ensures that every limited company operates within the framework of the Companies Act 2006 – the main piece of legislation governing corporate activity in the UK.

The agency’s core functions include:

• Company registration: Reviewing incorporation applications and issuing Certificates of Incorporation for new companies that meet all legal requirements.
• Public record keeping: Maintaining an accurate, up-to-date record of company information that can be freely accessed by investors, clients, and the public via the Companies House register.
• Compliance monitoring: Ensuring companies file statutory documents – such as annual accounts and confirmation statements – within the required deadlines.
• Company name oversight: Reviewing and approving company names to ensure they meet the legal standards, are not misleading, and do not duplicate existing names or contain restricted terms.

In essence, Companies House acts as the UK’s official corporate regulator and public record keeper. Its oversight promotes transparency, protects stakeholders, and upholds confidence in the UK’s business environment – making it one of the most respected company registries in the world.

For entrepreneurs, understanding these functions isn’t just about compliance – it’s about building credibility.

Who Needs to Register With Companies House?

In the UK, all limited companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) are legally required to register with Companies House. This process formally incorporates the business, giving it a distinct legal identity separate from its owners and protecting the company name under UK law.

By contrast, sole traders are not incorporated businesses and therefore do not register with Companies House. Instead, they must register for Self Assessment with HMRC to report their business income and expenses for tax purposes.

When registering your company, you’ll need to provide key details including:

• Proposed company name (which must comply with Companies House naming rules)
• Registered office address – your company’s official legal address in the UK
• Director and shareholder information
• Statement of capital and share structure (for limited companies)

Once approved, Companies House issues a unique Company Registration Number (CRN) and a digital Certificate of Incorporation. This certificate confirms your company’s legal existence and marks the point at which your business is officially recognised under UK law.

If you’re unsure which structure is right for your business – or how to complete your registration correctly – we can help. We provide expert guidance on forming limited companies and LLPs, ensuring your business is compliant and correctly set up from the very start.