0207 608 5500
Search ideas, news and case studies
Blog Categories
How Many People Do I Need to Form a Company?
Just one. You can register a UK limited company on your own, as long as you're 16 or over, regardless of your nationality or where you live, though your registered office still needs to be UK-based.
Key Takeaways
- A single person can form a UK limited company, taking on the director and shareholder roles themselves.
- There's no residency or nationality requirement for a sole director, though they must be at least 16.
- A company secretary is optional and doesn't add to the minimum headcount either way.
- If you appoint a company as your director rather than an individual, you still need at least one individual director alongside it.
- Since November 2025, any director you appoint also needs to complete identity verification with Companies House.
What Roles Does One Person Need to Cover?
If you're forming a company solo, you'll hold two roles at once:
- Director, the person who runs the company day to day.
- Shareholder, the person who owns it.
There's no conflict in holding both, and it's genuinely the most common setup for small and solo-founded UK businesses. A company secretary can also be appointed, but it's entirely optional and doesn't change the minimum number of people needed either way.
Do I Need to Live in the UK to Form a Company on My Own?
No. You can be a national and resident of any country and still form a UK limited company solo. The one fixed requirement is that your company's registered office needs to be a physical UK address, even if you personally live elsewhere.
Is There Any Situation Where One Person Isn't Enough?
Yes, one specific case: if you appoint a company, rather than a person, as your director. A corporate director can't be your company's only director, so you'd still need at least one individual director alongside it, even if you're otherwise a one-person operation in every other sense.
Does Forming a Company Solo Come With Any Extra Steps Now?
Yes, one worth knowing about. Since 18 November 2025, any director you appoint, including yourself if you're forming solo, needs to complete identity verification with Companies House. It's a separate step from the standard registration details, so it's worth sorting out as part of your formation rather than discovering it afterwards. Our identity verification service can help with this.
FAQs
Can I form a UK limited company by myself?
Yes, one person can be both the director and the shareholder, and that's a completely standard setup.
Do I need to be a UK resident to form a company on my own?
No, there's no residency or nationality requirement for a director, though the registered office itself must be UK-based.
Do I need a company secretary if I'm forming a company solo?
No, appointing a secretary is optional and doesn't affect the minimum number of people needed to form a company.
Can a company be my only director if I'm forming solo?
No, a corporate director can't be your only director. You'd need at least one individual director as well.
Do I need to verify my identity if I'm forming a company by myself?
Yes, since November 2025, this applies to any director, including a sole director forming their own company.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Companies House requirements can change, so it's worth checking current guidance on GOV.UK or Companies House before relying on the details above.
