How to register a company in the UK from Costa Rica

Registering a company in the United Kingdom as an entrepreneur based in Costa Rica offers many advantages. These include access to the UK startup ecosystem, bank accounts, international payment gateways, and funding opportunities from international investors.

It may seem daunting to understand how it works, but with the right information and guidance, you will fully understand how simple and easy it is. In reality, registering a UK company as a non-UK resident can be a very rewarding experience. Since 2020 many non-UK residents from Costa Rica are establishing their businesses in the UK through Incorpuk.

Opening a UK company through Incorpuk

Incorpuk is a pioneering UK business infrastructure platform, revolutionizing the process for international founders to start and manage a UK company anywhere. With its comprehensive suite of services, Incorpuk empowers entrepreneurs to gain access to UK business bank accounts, business growth tools, and payment gateways, enabling them to scale their businesses globally from anywhere in the world.

What are the advantages of Opening a UK company from Costa Rica through Incorpuk?

1. Internationally Recognized business: A UK company gives your business international credibility. UK companies are highly regarded internationally.

2. Global Reach: A UK company helps you plug into the UK startup ecosystem and give your business a global reach. All companies Incorporated in the UK can sell to worldwide customers.

3. Business Banking: A UK company gives you access to business banking in British Pounds, United States Dollar and Euro. A UK company can trade in any of these currencies. Incorpuk provides support and guidelines for business bank account opening.

4. Access to Payment Gateways: A UK company gives you access to payment gateways such as Stripe and Paddle even if you are not a resident of the UK. Incorpuk provides customers with guidelines and support for opening Stripe accounts after incorporation.

5. Perks and Rewards: Registering a company in the UK gives you access to the perks and rewards of some of the best software and business tools in the world. Incorpuk provides over 28 perks and rewards when you register your UK company. These perks give you over $300,000 in free credits and discounts to grow your business.

What are the requirements to register a UK company from Costa Rica?

The requirements for starting a UK company as a Costa Rican resident are to be at least 16 years of age and have one valid proof of ID and proof of address.

What are these proofs of ID?

You will need to have one proof of ID to incorporate your business or startup in the UK. The proof of ID we accept must be a government-issued ID from Costa Rica or any other country you are a citizen of.

Proof of ID can be one of the following:

• Passport
• National ID
• Voters Card
• Driving License

What Proof of Address do I need to get Started?

Proof of address can be one of the following:

• Electricity Bill’
• Water Bill
• Gas Bill
• Bank Statement
• Driving License
• Tenancy Agreement

What other requirements to open a UK company from Costa Rica?

You will need to have a UK-registered office address and a director service address. Incorpuk provides a UK-registered office address and director service address as part of the incorporation package. So you do not need to worry about these requirements.

What Is a Registered Office Address?

A registered office address is your company’s official address in the UK, where all your company's official mail will be sent to. Official mails include mails from UK Government agencies such as Companies House, HMRC, ICO, and others.

What is a Director Service Address?

The most popular company structure in the UK is the UK Limited (Ltd) company. This company structure requires a minimum of one director who must be at least 16 years old. By default your residential address will appear on the official UK public records as the director of the company. But with our director service address, your home address will be kept private. We will use our UK address as your address on public records to offer you the privacy of your residential address.

How do I get Started?

1. Choose an Appropriate Company Name:

Selecting an appropriate company name is crucial, as it represents your brand identity. Ensure that your chosen name is unique and not already registered. Incorpuk has a name search facility you can use to check the availability of company names in real time before placing your order.

2. Complete the online form

If your company name is available, you will need to complete the form by filling in your personal and company details. Then proceed to the checkout page and complete your payment.

3. Upload your proof of ID and proof of address

After completing the payment, the next step is to upload your proof of ID and proof of address to your account. After you have completed these steps, your company incorporation will be filed immediately. You will then receive your company incorporation documents within 1 to 2 business days. These depend on the Companies House workload.

4. Open a UK Business Bank Account

Having a UK business bank account is essential for managing your company's finances. There are several UK business banking platforms that you can open an account with as a non-UK resident. We have partnered with several UK banking providers to provide business bank accounts for our customers.

5. Open Stripe or any other Payment Gateway Account

After opening a business bank account for your UK company, you can proceed to open a Stripe account. Incorpuk provides step by step guidelines for opening Stripe accounts. Also, you can always engage with Incorpuk customer support during or after the process if you need help with anything else.

Frequently Asked Questions about Starting a UK Company from Costa Rica

Do I need to visit the UK to do anything?

You do not need to visit the UK to carry out anything. Incorpuk is a business infrastructure platform for non-UK residents to start and manage a UK company from anywhere in the world.

Is it legal to open a UK company from Costa Rica?

Yes, it is legal to open a UK company from Costa Rica. There are no country restrictions for UK companies. A resident and citizen of Costa Rica can open a UK company. The requirement is to be at least 16 years old and have proof of ID and proof of address in Costa Rica.

Can I be able to open Payment Gateway accounts from Costa Rica for my UK company?

Absolutely. You will be able to open Stripe and Paddle for your UK company. Incorpuk provides comprehensive guidelines and supports non-UK residents in opening payment gateway accounts. Incorpuk is the only platform that actively assists non-UK residents to open payment gateway accounts such as Stripe, Paddle, Shopify Payments, Gocardless, etc.

Do I need to be in the UK to open a UK business bank account?

You do not need to travel to the UK to open a business bank account for your UK company. You can carry out everything from the comfort of your home with our support and guidelines.

How do I manage my company's finances from Costa Rica?

You can manage your company's finances from Costa Rica through your UK company bank account. You can make transfers to your bank account in Costa Rica and also use your business bank account debit card to carry out expenses for your company.

Conclusion:

Registering a UK company as a non-UK resident is a feasible and rewarding endeavour with the right knowledge and guidance. By understanding the requirements, seeking professional assistance when necessary, you can establish and operate a successful business in the UK. Take advantage of the thriving UK startup ecosystem, favourable business environment, and global opportunities that the UK offers to non-resident entrepreneurs.