Featured partner offer · checked 25 October 2026
Tide company formation: register a limited company for £14.99
Tide company formation registers your UK limited company with Companies House for a one-off fee of £14.99, with a Tide business account included. Use code STARTUP200 and you could also get up to £200 cashback**. Here's what's included, what costs extra and how to claim. *T&Cs apply
Tide company formation: £14.99 + up to £200 cashback*
One-off registration fee
Companies House registration, certificate, Memorandum and Articles, share certificates, PAYE registration and a Tide business account.
Cashback with STARTUP200
£75 when you spend £100 on your Tide card within 30 days, plus £125 for holding £5,000 in an Instant Saver for 30 days, funded within 7 days of opening*.
- Tide's page doesn't say whether VAT is included in the £14.99. Check the total before you pay.
- The cashback is for new Tide members, one reward per business, and is paid 6–8 weeks after you qualify.
Tide is our featured partner. We may earn commission from referrals. Disclosure
What is Tide company formation?
Tide company formation is Tide's service for setting up a new UK limited company. Tide prepares and files the registration with Companies House for you, and your new company gets a Tide business account at the same time. It's aimed at founders who want their company and their business banking set up in one go, from one app.
Tide company formation is a registration service, not legal advice. If your company has an unusual structure, several shareholders with different rights, or you're unsure whether to incorporate at all, speak to an accountant first.
What Tide company formation includes for £14.99
According to Tide's company registration page, the £14.99 package includes:
- your company registered with Companies House, with a Certificate of Incorporation sent by email
- a Tide business account for the new company
- PAYE registration with HMRC
- Memorandum and Articles of Association
- share certificates and company register documents
- co-directors added at no extra cost
The business account opens on Tide's Free plan, which has no monthly fee. "Free" here means no monthly plan fee: some services, like extra transfers or CHAPS payments, need a paid plan. Our Tide review explains what each plan includes.
Tide company formation: optional extras that cost more
| Extra | Price shown by Tide | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| Company Secretary service | £1 to register, then £12.50 + VAT a month | Unlimited director and PSC name and address changes, and Confirmation Statement filing |
| Virtual office address (London) | £22.99 a month or £190 a year | A central London address for your company |
| Paid Tide plans | 1 month free, then from £12.49 a month | More transfers and features than the Free plan |
None of these is needed to register your company or to claim the cashback. The company secretary service and paid plans carry ongoing monthly costs, so only add them if you'll use them, and cancel any trial you don't need before it ends.
Claiming the cashback with Tide company formation
Founders who use Tide company formation can earn the same cashback as anyone opening a Tide account, as long as they use code STARTUP200 and meet the conditions:
- £75: spend at least £100 on your Tide card within 30 days of your Tide account opening*.
- £125: open a Tide Instant Saver, pay in at least £5,000 within 7 days of your account opening, and keep at least £5,000 there for the first 30 days*. *T&Cs apply
The registration fee and the cashback are separate. Your 7-day and 30-day windows start when your Tide business account opens, not when you pay the £14.99. Tide says the cashback is paid 6–8 weeks after you qualify. Read the STARTUP200 key terms and our Tide promo code guide, which has a deadline calculator.
How to register with Tide company formation, step by step
- Check your company name. Search the Companies House register to make sure the name you want is available.
- Gather your details. You'll need details of each director, each shareholder and anyone with significant control (see the list below).
- Start your Tide company formation application through Tide's registration page and enter code STARTUP200 when asked.
- Choose any extras, or skip them. None are required.
- Pay the £14.99 fee and submit. Tide files the application with Companies House.
- Get your certificate. Once Companies House approves the company, your Certificate of Incorporation arrives by email.
- Start using your Tide account and work through the cashback conditions within the deadlines.
What you need before you start Tide company formation
To register a private limited company, Companies House needs, as set out on GOV.UK's guide to setting up a limited company:
- a company name that isn't already taken
- a UK registered office address, which will be public
- at least one director
- at least one shareholder
- details of people with significant control (PSCs)
- a SIC code describing what the company does
- Memorandum and Articles of Association (Tide's package includes these)
If you don't want your home address on the public register, Tide's virtual office address is one option, at extra cost.
Sole trader or limited company?
You don't have to form a company to start trading. Many people start as sole traders, which is simpler and doesn't involve Companies House. A limited company is a separate legal entity, which changes how you pay tax and what you have to file each year. GOV.UK: set up a business compares the options, and an accountant can help you decide. If you stay a sole trader, you can still open a Tide account and use STARTUP200: see our Tide promo code guide.
After Tide company formation: your first 30 days
- Days 0–7: if you want the £125, open the Tide Instant Saver and pay in £5,000*. *T&Cs apply
- Days 0–30: spend at least £100 on genuine business purchases with your Tide card, and keep the £5,000 in the saver.
- Company admin: note your company's key dates, such as your first Confirmation Statement and accounts deadlines. See Companies House for what's due and when.
- Tax: PAYE is set up as part of Tide company formation. Ask an accountant about Corporation Tax and VAT registration if they apply to you.
Tide company formation compared with registering yourself
You can register a company directly with Companies House yourself, and then open a business account separately. Tide company formation puts both steps in one place, includes the documents listed above, and gives you the STARTUP200 cashback route for your new account. Registering yourself gives you full control and no extras to decline. Compare the total cost, including Companies House's own fee if you file directly, before you choose.
Tide company formation FAQs
How much does Tide company formation cost?
£14.99 as a one-off fee, according to Tide's registration page. Optional extras, such as the company secretary service and virtual office, cost more.
Does Tide company formation include a business account?
Yes. Your new company gets a Tide business account, which opens on the Free plan with no monthly fee.
Can I get cashback with Tide company formation?
Yes. Use code STARTUP200 and meet the same conditions as any new Tide member: £75 after £100 card spend in 30 days, plus £125 for holding £5,000 in an Instant Saver for 30 days*. *T&Cs apply
Do I need a paid Tide plan after Tide company formation?
No. You can stay on the Free plan. Paid plans are optional.
Can I add co-directors?
Yes. Tide's page says co-directors can be added at no extra cost.
Is VAT included in the £14.99?
Tide's page doesn't say. Check the total at checkout.
Can sole traders use Tide company formation?
Tide company formation is for registering a limited company. Sole traders don't need to register with Companies House, but can still open a Tide account and use STARTUP200.