Form a UK Limited Company & Open a Business Bank Account
Launch your business with Tide’s integrated start up bundle. Registered company setup from only £14.99, including a free, FSCS-protected business current account.
- Secure your official Certificate of Incorporation within 1 business day.
- Everyday business banking with no monthly account fees.
- Identity verification handled seamlessly via Tide’s official ACSP status.
- Join over 2 million business owners
- Companies House Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP)
- Tide is FCA Regulated
Get Set up in in three simple steps
Tide makes company formation simple and easy, with hundreds of thousands of businesses registering their company with them each year.
Choose Your Name.
Check name availability and prepare your UK registered office address.
Submit to Tide.
Complete one straightforward digital application covering your business details and banking setup.
Get Incorporated.
Tide submits your documents directly to Companies House as an approved ACSP. Most registrations are active within 24 hours.
Companies House identity verification
You now need to verify your identity. Tide is now an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) which means they can verify your identity on behalf of Companies House.
Unified Validation
Fulfil your legal verification requirements for Companies House directly inside the banking setup, no secondary applications required.
ACSP Approved Pathway
Your identity check is processed securely by ACSP approved partner, Tide who holding active status on the official UK register.
Frictionless Onboarding
Avoid the typical multi-day delays of manual government verification channels by utilising automated digital identity matching.
Looking for Company Secretary Support?
Secure your limited company registration for an upfront cost of just £1 by pairing your initial setup with Tide’s dedicated Company Secretary subscription. Priced at £12.50+ VAT per month (subject to an 11-month minimum commitment), this add-on helps manage your confirmation statements, official deadline tracking and filings to corporate compliance professionals, giving you total freedom to focus entirely on scaling your new brand.
Everything you need to get your new business online
Accelerate your market rollout with a 30-day complimentary trial of Tide’s integrated ‘Own Website’ platform, the ideal toolkit for new founders aiming to build immediate digital authority and engage their target audience.
- All-In-One Toolkit: Build a polished web presence using an intuitive visual page editor, custom domain name registration, secure cloud web hosting and professional business email accounts, all managed from a single centralised hub.
- Zero Technical Barriers: You won’t need coding knowledge or prior web design experience; configure and launch your digital identity straight from your laptop, mobile phone or tablet.
- Centralised Control: Run and safeguard your start up’s web infrastructure via a highly secure, dependable environment built for growth.
How Tide Compares to Alternative Market Options.
In the UK there is more than one way to set up your new company and formally register it at Companies House. You can do it directly yourself with Companies House for a set fee of £100, but you can also save money and gain some great benefits through ACSP registered business account providers. This is where you need to be diligent, if you see offers for company formation services from a business account provider, then its important to understand if they offer the service as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) or offer it by using a third party formation agent.
Business account providers like Tide, Zempler and ANNA are ACSP’s, so company formation is fully integrated within their banking platforms and apps. This tends to bring the largest savings for new business account customers, with offers regularly available. Non ACSP’s such as high street banks will pass the registration on to formation agent services, which won’t be a fully integrated service.
Know Your Business is a private comparison and referral website. We are not the UK Government, Companies House or a government agency. Our service provides a information of B2B banking provider(s) who are Authorised Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs). While our partners may offer discounted or free formation as part of their business account packages, an official company incorporation can be completed directly via GOV.UK for a statutory fee of £100.
Frequently Asked Questions for New Founders
1. Do I need a business bank account immediately?
Yes. A limited company is a separate legal entity. It is a legal requirement to keep business finances separate from personal ones. Using a banking bundle ensures your account is ready the moment your company is incorporated.
2. What is an ACSP?
An Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) is a private entity registered with Companies House to verify identities and file incorporation’s. Business account providers like Tide use this authorised status to help you set up your business legally.
3. What details are required for a startup account?
To use a facilitated setup service, you will typically need your proposed company name, a UK registered office address, and identity documents for all directors.