1st Formations vs Rapid Formations vs Companies Made Simple: Best UK Company Formation Service 2026

1st Formations

Full-Service Compliance Partner

Founded 2001 in Cardiff. The philosophy: company formation is not a one-time transaction — it is the start of a 5–10+ year compliance relationship. Assumes founders need ongoing support beyond day-one incorporation.

Strongest when: you want “set and forget” compliance — annual reminders, automated filings, registered address renewed automatically — and are willing to pay £20–50 more for peace of mind.

Rapid Formations

DIY-Friendly Budget Option

Founded 2008 in London. The philosophy: experienced incorporators — second-time founders, accountants forming client companies, overseas entrepreneurs familiar with company registration — do not need hand-holding. They need low cost and fast processing.

Strongest when: you have incorporated before, understand UK company law basics, and will handle post-incorporation compliance yourself or via your accountant.

Companies Made Simple

Accountant-Backed Hybrid

Founded 2012 in London, owned by AccountsPortal (a cloud accounting firm). The philosophy: founders need more than incorporation — they need accounting, VAT, payroll, and ongoing compliance in one relationship.

Strongest when: you want formation + accounting in one relationship and prefer working with accountants (not pure formation agents) from day one.

Package Pricing

Key Add-Ons

• London registered address: +£68/year (vs regional included)
• Nominee director: £120/year
• Confirmation Statement filing: £54/year (£34 statutory + £20 agent)
• Director service address: £30/year per director

1. Registered Office Address Included (Year 1)

Every UK company must have a registered office — where HMRC and Companies House send statutory mail. 1st Formations includes this in every package (year 1 free). Regional addresses (Cardiff, Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester) included in Starter/Standard. London addresses (EC1, EC2, WC2) in Gold or add £68/year to any package. Mail scanned same-day and emailed as PDF. Physical forwarding weekly on request.

vs Rapid Formations: Address is a £44.99 add-on. At comparable spec, 1st Formations is actually cheaper. vs Companies Made Simple: £60/year add-on.

2. Digital Company Records — Unlimited Updates

UK companies must maintain statutory registers (Members, Directors, PSC, Secretaries). 1st Formations provides a 24/7 digital portal with automatic Companies House sync. Director resigns? Log in, update the register — 1st Formations files TM01 and AP01 automatically. Free unlimited updates. Cost saving: each Companies House filing is £13; digital portal prevents these accumulating.

vs Rapid Formations: Paper registers only in standard packages — no digital access. vs Companies Made Simple: Digital records via accounting portal (included for accounting clients).

3. Bank Account Support Letters

UK banks require proof of incorporation when opening business accounts. 1st Formations packages: certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles, bank verification letter (signed by 1st Formations confirming company details), SIC code confirmation, registered office confirmation. This reduces bank account opening time from 3–6 weeks to 1–2 weeks for most UK banks.

vs Rapid Formations: Basic documents provided; no dedicated bank support pack. vs Companies Made Simple: Accountant-signed letters included.

4. SIC Code Guidance — Avoids Costly Mistakes

SIC codes (Standard Industrial Classification) are mandatory at incorporation and affect HMRC inspector assignment, bank risk assessment, and statistical reporting. Common mistakes: using the catch-all code 82990 when a specific one exists; misclassifying consultancy (70221 vs 62020 vs 70229). 1st Formations provides a free keyword search tool, telephone support to describe your business, and a SIC change service (£13) if you get it wrong.

vs Rapid Formations: Search tool only; limited phone support. vs Companies Made Simple: Accountant advises directly.

5. Confirmation Statement Reminders and Filing

Every UK company must file a Confirmation Statement annually (£34 statutory fee). Late filing penalty: £150 per company + £150 per director personally. Persistent late filing: company struck off. 1st Formations sends automated reminders at 1 month, 2 weeks, and 1 week before deadline, plus a one-click filing service (£20 agent fee). You review, approve, 1st Formations files.

vs Rapid Formations: Email reminders sent but you file via Companies House WebFiling yourself. vs Companies Made Simple: Handled by accountant (included in accounting packages).

6. Nominee Director Service

Director details are public record on Companies House (full name, date of birth, service address, nationality). A nominee director keeps your name off the public register. 1st Formations provides individual or corporate nominees at £120/year. The nominee is the legal director; you remain beneficial owner with full control. Used for privacy, by overseas founders wanting a UK-resident director, or by those with personal security concerns.

Important legal note: You must still disclose yourself as PSC if you own 25%+ shares — nominee directorship hides directorship only, not beneficial ownership. vs Rapid Formations: Available at £99/year. vs Companies Made Simple: Not offered.

✅ 1st Formations Is Right When:

• Incorporating for the first time (SIC guidance + bank support + registered address worth premium)
• You want a registered address included (saves £40–60/year vs add-on)
• Privacy matters (nominee director, director service addresses available)
• You value ongoing compliance support (Confirmation Statement, digital records)
• London address desired (Gold package or add-on)
• You prefer an established, trusted brand (1M+ companies formed, 20+ years)

❌ 1st Formations Is Not Right When:

• Budget is very tight and Rapid’s £29.99 is genuinely the constraint
• You have incorporated before and do not need guidance
• You want formation + accounting bundle (Companies Made Simple better)

Package Pricing

Key Add-Ons and Real Cost

• Registered address: £44.99/year (regional) or £79.99/year (London)
• Nominee director: £99/year (cheapest of the three)
• Confirmation Statement: £53.99 (£34 + £19.99 agent)

✅ Rapid Formations Is Right When:

• Budget is genuinely tight — £29.99 is the cheapest reputable option
• You have incorporated before and know the compliance checklist
• Comfortable with DIY post-incorporation (Confirmation Statement, HMRC registration)
• Using home address — no registered address add-on needed
• Speed is critical — 3-hour priority is unique to Rapid
• Prefer transparent add-on pricing — buy only what you need

❌ Rapid Formations Is Not Right When:

• First-time incorporator — guidance from 1st Formations is worth the £23 premium
• You need a registered address — add-on cost closes the price gap significantly
• Ongoing compliance support is valued — 1st Formations reminders and filing services are meaningfully better

Package Pricing

Bundle Cost Analysis

Companies Made Simple is cost-competitive when you bundle. The value is in the all-in-one relationship — not the formation price alone (which is the most expensive of the three at £99).

✅ Companies Made Simple Is Right When:

• You want formation + accounting in one relationship (bundle pricing competitive)
• No accountant yet — need bookkeeping, VAT, payroll from day one
• You value accountant advice during formation (share structure, tax strategy)
• HMRC submissions overwhelm you — accountant handles everything
• You prefer working with qualified accountants from the start

❌ Companies Made Simple Is Not Right When:

• You already have an accountant — formation-only at £99 is expensive vs £52.99 (1st Formations)
• Budget is tight — £29.99 Rapid Formations is the cheapest option
• You want flexibility to switch accountants — you are locked into the AccountsPortal relationship
• You need a nominee director — not offered here

Scenario 1: First-Time UK Entrepreneur (Solo Founder, Pre-Revenue)

First incorporation. No UK company law knowledge. Wants privacy. Needs bank account quickly. Budget: £100–200.

Why not Rapid: First-time founder benefits from guidance — £23 premium justified. Why not CMS: No revenue yet; no need for £119/month accounting bundle immediately.

Scenario 2: Serial Entrepreneur (3rd Company, Knows Process)

Has incorporated twice before. Knows SIC codes, Confirmation Statements, HMRC registration. Uses home address. Wants to minimise cost.

Why not 1st Formations: Premium unnecessary — knows process. Why not CMS: Already has accountant; £99 formation-only is expensive.

Scenario 3: Overseas Entrepreneur (Non-UK Resident, London Company)

Non-UK resident incorporating for EU/UK market. Wants London address. Needs nominee director for UK bank account opening. Will hire UK accountant post-formation.

Alternative check: Rapid Professional (£119) + London address (£79.99) + nominee (£99) = £298 — £39 more. Why not CMS: No nominee director service offered.

Scenario 4: Founder Wanting Formation + Accounting Bundle

First company. No accountant yet. Expects £100K+ revenue year 1. Already VAT-registered. 2 employees needing payroll from month one.

vs 1st Formations + separate accountant: £52.99 + £200/month (bookkeeping + payroll) + £500/year (VAT/CT returns) = £2,953/year. CMS saves ~£1,165/year when bundling formation + accounting + payroll.

Choose 1st Formations if:

• First-time incorporator
• Want registered address included
• Value ongoing compliance support
• London address desired
• Nominee director needed (£120/yr)
• Prefer established, trusted brand

Choose Rapid Formations if:

• Budget very tight — £29.99 needed
• Experienced incorporator
• Comfortable with DIY compliance
• Using home address (no add-on)
• Speed is critical (3-hour priority)
• Prefer no-frills, add-on pricing

Choose Companies Made Simple if:

• Want formation + accounting bundle
• No accountant yet — need everything
• Value accountant advice at formation
• HMRC submissions handled for you
• Prefer accountants over agents from day 1

Q: Can I change my registered office after incorporation?

Yes. File form AD01 with Companies House (free if using your own digital authentication, £13 if via an agent). Takes effect immediately. You can switch from your home address to a professional service (or vice versa) at any time. You cannot have no registered office — you must have the new address confirmed before removing the old one. Full details: UK Registered Office Address Services 2026.

Q: What happens if I miss my Confirmation Statement deadline?

Companies House sends reminders 2 months before the deadline, then 2 weeks before. If you miss it: £150 penalty per company + £150 per director personally. Over 28 days late: escalating penalties. Over 6 months: company at risk of being struck off. Prevention: use 1st Formations or Companies Made Simple automated reminders and agent filing service.

Q: Do I need a UK director to incorporate a UK company?

No — non-UK residents can be sole director of a UK LTD. However, some UK banks prefer at least one UK-resident director for account opening purposes. Solution: nominee director service (1st Formations £120/year, Rapid Formations £99/year). You remain sole shareholder and beneficial owner; the nominee is legal director only. You must still disclose yourself as PSC if you own 25%+ shares.

Q: Can I use my home address as registered office?

Yes — it is legal. Cons: your full home address is permanent public record on Companies House (searchable worldwide for free), official statutory mail arrives at home, and historical filings with your address cannot be removed even if you switch later. Pros: free. If privacy matters or you might move, a professional registered office service from £39–52/year is worth it. See: UK Registered Office Address Services 2026.

Q: How long does UK company formation actually take?

Electronic filing (all three providers): same day — typically 3–6 hours. Submit by 2pm, incorporated by 5pm. Rapid Formations offers 3-hour priority on the Professional package (£119). Postal filing: 8–10 business days (not recommended). All three providers use electronic filing as standard. Your certificate of incorporation is issued electronically by Companies House when the company is registered.

Q: Can I get a refund if my company name is rejected?

Yes — all three providers refund minus processing costs (typically £10–15) if your name is rejected or you change your mind before submission. Common rejection reasons: name too similar to an existing company, name contains sensitive words (Royal, Bank, Insurance — these require approval), or names deemed offensive. Use the free name checker tools all three providers offer before purchasing to avoid this.