As one of the leading economies in the European region, the United Kingdom attracts many foreign investors all the time. However, setting up a business in the UK as a foreigner could be a tricky task, considering the different visa requirements for different nationalities. In this guide Company registration UK, we will look at some of the most important considerations when planning to set up a business in the UK as a foreign investor.

Step number 1 – decide the legal structure of the company

Once an investor has a clear idea about the visa requirements applicable to his or her nationality, the next step is to decide the type of company he or she needs to establish in the UK. The most popular structure for foreign investors is the private limited company structure, but there are several other options to choose from as well.

• Public limited company
• Limited liability partnership
• Branch

Depending on the legal structure of the company an investor chooses, there are certain minimum thresholds to be met. Understandably, setting up a public limited company in the UK is the hardest for a foreign investor, as there are various regulatory requirements to be met before being able to trade shares publicly on the London Stock Exchange or the Alternative Investment Market.

Opening and setting up a branch is valid for a foreign investor who already has an established business outside the United Kingdom. The new branch should be registered with the Companies House in the UK, and the financial reports of the parent company should also be filed with the relevant authorities in the UK on an annual basis.

These are the different types of legal structures that an investor can choose from when planning to set up a business in the UK as a foreign investor, and the focus should be on identifying the legal structure that accurately reflects the size of the business and the nature of business operations Company registration UK.