Summary
- Registration costs $50–500 (US) or £50 (UK) — the cheap part.
- Realistic first-year costs are $2,000–10,000 or £1,400–7,500.
- Open a dedicated bank account before the first transaction.
- Get advice on structure and tax treatment before you file.
- Budget for lead generation from day one, not after launch.
Quick answer
Registering a company costs about $50–500 in the US depending on the state, and £50 filed directly with Companies House in the UK. The real first-year cost is accounting, insurance and software — typically $1,500–5,000 or £1,000–3,500.
Step 1: Choose the structure
Step 2: Register the company
| Task | US | UK |
|---|---|---|
| State/registry filing fee | $50–500 | £50 |
| Registered agent / registered office | $50–300/year | £30–150/year |
| Formation agent (optional) | $200–500 | £60–200 |
| Federal tax ID (EIN) / company number | Free | Included |
Check name availability and secure the matching domain and social handles at the same time.
Step 3: Tax registrations
Step 4: Business bank account
Open a dedicated account before the first transaction. Mixing personal and business money is the single most common bookkeeping problem for new companies. Expect $0–30 or £0–15 per month.
Step 5: Insurance
| Cover | Typical annual cost |
|---|---|
| General / public liability | $400–1,200 or £100–400 |
| Professional indemnity | $600–2,500 or £200–900 |
| Employers' liability (required with staff in the UK) | £100–500 |
| Tools, equipment and vehicle | Varies by trade |
Step 6: Accounting and records
Step 7: Contracts and admin
Step 8: Get customers
Set up a business profile on search and maps, a simple website with clear services and pricing, and a presence where your customers actually look. For service businesses, a marketplace profile that produces enquiries from day one is usually faster than waiting for organic search.
First-year budget
| Item | US | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Formation and registry | $100–800 | £50–350 |
| Accounting and software | $1,000–3,000 | £700–2,300 |
| Insurance | $500–2,500 | £200–1,200 |
| Website and branding | $500–5,000 | £400–4,000 |
| Total, typical | $2,000–10,000 | £1,400–7,500 |
Summary
Registration is the cheap part. Budget for accounting, insurance and lead generation from the start, keep business money strictly separate, and get an hour of professional advice on structure before you file — it is the cheapest decision you will make.