Setting up a UK company for your African business

African companies and founders can own and run a UK company without living in the UK. We help you choose the structure, form the company through an authorised formation partner, complete Companies House identity verification, register for UK taxes, prepare for a bank account and keep the company compliant, with reports back to your African head office.

Delivered by SLONEC Advisory Group (UK).

Who this is for

African SMEs and exporters that want a UK trading company, often to contract with UK and European customers.
Established African groups adding a UK subsidiary, branch or holding company.
Founders and growth companies raising money from UK investors.

Choosing the right UK structure

Private company limited by shares: the usual choice for a trading subsidiary or a founder’s company.
UK branch (overseas company registration): the African company trades in the UK directly and registers its UK establishment with Companies House. A UK branch is usually taxed in the UK on the profits that belong to it.
Holding company: for groups that want a UK parent for investment or reporting reasons.
Company limited by guarantee: for non-profit purposes; see our UK charity page if the aims are charitable.

We explain the tax and reporting effect of each before you decide.

What UK law now requires of directors and owners

Since 18 November 2025, new directors and people with significant control must verify their identity with Companies House, directly or through an authorised corporate service provider, under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. Existing directors and people with significant control must also have verified their identity.
Every company needs an appropriate registered office address in the UK and a registered email address.
Companies House publishes the names, service addresses and some details of directors and people with significant control.

Tax registrations and first-year duties

Register for Corporation Tax within three months of starting to do business.
Register for VAT if your taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over the VAT registration threshold (currently £90,000), or if you expect it to go over in the next 30 days alone. You can also register voluntarily below the threshold.
Register as an employer for PAYE before the first payday if the company will pay employees or directors and HMRC’s conditions for registering apply, and set up workplace pension auto-enrolment for eligible staff.
File annual accounts and a confirmation statement with Companies House, and a Company Tax Return with HMRC, and pay Corporation Tax on time, each year.

Banking

Opening a UK business account is often the slowest part for owners who live outside the UK. We help you prepare the information banks and payment providers ask for and present it clearly. We cannot promise any bank’s decision.

After set-up

Bookkeeping, management accounts, statutory accounts, Corporation Tax and VAT returns, payroll and pensions, company secretarial work, and group reporting back to your African parent, coordinated by our UK team.

Frequently asked questions

Can a non-UK resident form a UK company?

Yes. Directors and shareholders don’t have to live in the UK, but directors and people with significant control must verify their identity with Companies House.

Do I need a UK address?

The company needs an appropriate UK registered office address, which can be provided through our formation partner.

Should we set up a subsidiary or a branch?

It depends on liability, tax and how customers want to contract. We set out the options before you decide.

When must we register for VAT?

When your taxable turnover for the last 12 months goes over the VAT registration threshold, or you expect it to go over in the next 30 days alone. You can register voluntarily before then.