Ryan Patrick

If you need to verify a UK company, investigate a potential business partner, review a competitor, check a director's corporate history or obtain financial information, Companies House documents can provide a useful starting point. Companies House is the UK's official company registrar, and many of the

If you want to check whether a UK company exists, find out who runs it, review its accounts, investigate its trading history or assess a potential business partner, Companies House records are one of the best places to start. Companies House maintains the UK's official register of companies

If you are setting up a UK limited company for the first time, two names quickly become impossible to avoid: Companies House and HMRC. They are both government organisations, both deal with businesses, and both require companies to submit information. That is where the confusion often starts. The simplest way

If you are starting a business in the UK, you will quickly encounter the name Companies House. It is the organisation responsible for registering companies, maintaining the UK company register and making important company information publicly available. But Companies House is more than a place where you register a business

Choosing the right UK company structure is one of the first major decisions an entrepreneur makes. It affects who owns the business, how profits can be distributed, how investment can be raised and what happens if the company eventually closes. For most commercial businesses, the answer is straightforward: a private

The UK has long been one of Europe's most important markets for financial technology. From payments and open banking to digital lending, wealth management, regtech and financial infrastructure, the country offers FinTech founders access to a mature financial sector and a large technology ecosystem. But opening a UK

Launching a cryptocurrency business in the UK involves more than registering a company at Companies House. For a crypto business, the company structure is only one part of the setup. Depending on what the business actually does, you may also need regulatory registration, financial crime controls, appropriate banking arrangements and

Starting a video production business in the UK can begin with little more than a camera, editing software and a strong creative portfolio. But once you start working with brands, agencies, broadcasters or corporate clients, the business side becomes just as important as the production itself. A UK limited company

Starting a photography business in the UK can be as simple as taking on freelance assignments, but creating a proper company can give you a stronger commercial foundation as your work grows. A UK limited company can separate your personal finances from the business, make it easier to work with

Starting an event management company in the UK can be an attractive business opportunity. Corporate conferences, weddings, exhibitions, private celebrations, product launches, festivals and networking events all create demand for organisers who can manage suppliers, budgets, venues and guests from concept to completion. But an event management business is more

Starting a travel agency can be an attractive business opportunity, particularly for founders targeting international customers, niche holidays, corporate travel, luxury experiences or specialist destinations. But unlike many service businesses, a travel agency can sit within a more complex regulatory environment. Opening a UK company gives you a recognised corporate

Starting a training business in the UK can be a relatively straightforward way to turn professional knowledge into a scalable company. Training providers can serve individuals, employers, government-funded programmes, professional organisations and international customers through classroom teaching, workshops, online courses, coaching and blended learning. But there is an important distinction

Starting an education business in the UK can be an attractive opportunity for founders who want to offer tutoring, online courses, professional training, educational technology, language instruction or other learning services. The important point is that opening a UK company and opening an education business are not necessarily the same

Opening a UK company for a pharmacy business is more involved than registering an ordinary limited company. A pharmacy can operate through a UK limited company, but company formation is only one part of the process. If the business will actually operate a pharmacy, dispense prescriptions or provide regulated pharmaceutical

For a medical consultant, setting up a UK company can be a practical way to structure private clinical work, consultancy services, medico-legal work, healthcare projects or other professional activities. But there is an important distinction between forming a company and being authorised to practise medicine. A company registered with Companies

Starting a healthcare business in the UK can be an attractive opportunity, from private clinics and homecare providers to healthcare consultancies, medical technology companies and specialist support services. But healthcare is not an ordinary business sector. Forming a company is relatively straightforward; obtaining the right professional registrations, regulatory approvals, insurance,

Starting a transport business in the UK can be an attractive opportunity, whether you plan to operate a delivery service, courier company, passenger transport business, haulage operation, private hire service, or specialist logistics company. But forming a company is only one part of the process. Transport businesses operate in a

Starting a logistics business in the UK can be an attractive opportunity, whether you plan to provide courier services, freight forwarding, haulage, warehousing, last-mile delivery, fulfilment, or logistics technology. But logistics is not an industry where company formation is the whole story. The right business structure, licences, insurance, tax registrations,

Opening a café in the UK can look deceptively simple: secure a premises, install an espresso machine, create a menu and start serving customers. In reality, a successful café sits at the intersection of company formation, food safety, premises rules, licensing, employment, taxation, insurance and tight day-to-day financial control. For

Opening a restaurant in the UK involves much more than registering a company and finding a premises. A restaurant business sits at the intersection of food safety, licensing, employment, taxation, premises management and customer service. For many founders, a private limited company is an attractive structure because the company is

The UK hospitality industry covers a wide range of businesses, from restaurants, cafés and hotels to bars, catering companies, event venues, food delivery operators and short-stay accommodation providers. For an entrepreneur entering the sector, setting up a company is only one part of the process. Hospitality businesses also have to

Starting a real estate business in the UK involves more than finding properties and arranging finance. The legal structure you choose can affect taxation, financing, ownership, reporting obligations and how easily you can grow your portfolio. For many property entrepreneurs, investors and overseas founders, a UK private limited company is

Investing in UK property through a limited company can be an attractive structure for landlords, property developers and international investors who want to build a long-term portfolio. But incorporating a company is only the beginning. The more important question is whether a company is the right ownership structure for your

Starting an import and export business through a UK company can give entrepreneurs access to one of the world's most connected trading markets. A UK limited company can contract with suppliers, invoice international customers, hold inventory, work with freight forwarders and customs agents, and build a recognisable business

Starting a construction business in the UK involves more than registering a company and finding your first project. Construction businesses operate within a regulatory environment that covers tax, health and safety, subcontractors, insurance, employment, VAT and, depending on the work, specialist licensing or competence requirements. For many founders, a private