Company Formation Checklist

This is a checklist of the key points that need to be considered when setting up a private company. This checklist is partly based on the requirements of Companies House form IN01 (required in order to set up a company), but it goes further and considers other issues such as company assets, shareholder arrangements, the taking on of financing, the premises the company will operate from, the company’s tax position and the use of share option schemes, that are not considered in CH registration forms. 

This checklist has been updated to consider the increased administrative and compliance requirements of the Economic Crime & Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA). Some of these changes are already in force and need to be considered by customers as part of the incorporation process. Other changes will be phased in over the course of 2025/26 once secondary legislation has been passed and Companies House systems are appropriately set up.

These changes include that new companies are required to have a registered email address on incorporation (existing entities will need to give one when they file their next confirmation statement) and applications for company incorporation will require an additional confirmation that the company is being formed for a lawful purpose. From 18th November 2025, new companies must ensure that their proposed directors and PSCs are identity verified (IDV). In the case of directors, this must happen prior to incorporation. In addition, from 18th November 2025, all statutory registers (other than the register of members) are abolished and all information which would otherwise be recorded in these registers must be provided directly to Companies House. The register of members must be maintained internally by companies as a local register from 18th November 2025.

The ECCTA is a landmark legislation designed to give Companies House new and enhanced powers to help disrupt economic crime. The IDV regime is a key component of this.

This checklist is in the form of a table which sets out the action that needs to be taken or considered with commentary by us to assist you, followed by empty boxes for the customer to complete as to status and responsibility etc. depending on the customer’s individual circumstances.

This template is a useful guide when setting up a company to ensure that all the main points have been considered. This checklist is not exhaustive but does include all the main headline points. How you use it will depend on the size of your proposed company, e.g. small family run or larger organisation and the type of business the company is intending to run.

Once you have purchased access to the appropriate document folder click on the “Download Document” button below. You will be asked what you want to do with the file. It is recommended that you save the document to a location of your choice prior to viewing.

Company Formation Checklist is part of Corporate. Just £38.50 + VAT provides unlimited downloads from Corporate for 1 year.