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Company Formation · Structure Advice · HMRC Registration

Business
Start-Up Services

From company formation to your first set of accounts — we give new businesses the financial foundation they need to start right, grow fast, and avoid expensive early mistakes.

Business advisory consultation — DKAT Accountants
24 hrs
Typical company formation time via Companies House
£90K
Turnover threshold that triggers mandatory VAT registration
6 years
HMRC record-keeping requirement from day one
Free
Initial consultation — always
Overview

Starting a business is exciting. Getting it wrong is expensive.

Most start-up founders are rightly focused on their product, their customers and their team. The financial and legal admin can feel like a distraction — and it often gets left until it becomes urgent. But the decisions you make in your first few months have consequences that echo for years: the wrong business structure can cost you thousands in unnecessary tax; poor record-keeping from day one creates a nightmare at year-end; failing to register for VAT at the right time leads to penalties and a tangled liability.

At DKAT, we exist to make the financial side of starting a business genuinely simple. We handle every administrative step — from registering your company and setting up your accounting software to advising on your first salary and dividend strategy — so you can focus on building the business.

Our start-up service is not just about ticking boxes. We give you a genuine commercial understanding of your financial structure, what your obligations are, and what decisions lie ahead — so you can make them confidently, knowing you have the right support behind you.

Should you be a sole trader or a limited company?

  • Sole traders: simpler administration, profits taxed as income
  • Limited companies: more tax-efficient above ~£30k profit
  • Limited liability protects personal assets in a company
  • Companies are more attractive to investors and lenders
  • There are additional filing obligations as a director
  • We model both scenarios with your projected figures — free
24hrs
Company formation
Free
Initial consultation
Who This Service Is For

Support for businesses at every starting point

💡
First-Time Founders
If this is your first business, the number of things to set up and understand can be overwhelming. We handle the admin and explain every decision in plain English.
👔
Sole Traders Going Limited
If you're currently a sole trader and ready to incorporate, we manage the transition — including any asset transfers, VAT registration and the first set of accounts.
🤝
New Partnerships & LLPs
Setting up a partnership or LLP requires careful thought about profit sharing, liability, and tax treatment. We advise on structure and handle the formation and registration.
🌍
International Founders
If you're setting up a UK company from abroad, we navigate Companies House, HMRC registration, and UK banking requirements on your behalf.
🏗️
New Construction Businesses
CIS registration, VAT considerations for construction, and the specific record-keeping requirements for contractors and subcontractors — we handle it all.
📱
Digital & Tech Start-Ups
R&D tax credits, EIS/SEIS investor structuring, and IP ownership structure are critical early decisions for tech businesses. We advise on all of them from the outset.
What We Do

Everything to get your business off the ground properly

Our start-up service covers every financial and administrative step you need to take — and more importantly, advises you on the decisions that will shape your business for years to come.

01
Business Structure Advice
Sole trader versus limited company versus LLP — each has different implications for tax, liability and administration. We model the financial outcomes of each option based on your projected income so you can make an informed decision.
02
Company Formation at Companies House
We register your limited company, including selecting the appropriate SIC codes, establishing your share structure, drafting your articles of association, and setting up the registered office.
03
HMRC Registration
We register your new company for Corporation Tax with HMRC and advise on the correct timing for VAT and PAYE registration based on your business plan and projected revenue.
04
Cloud Accounting Software Setup
We set up your bookkeeping software (Xero, QuickBooks or FreeAgent), connect your business bank account, create your chart of accounts and configure your opening position — so you're capturing every transaction from day one.
05
First-Year Tax Strategy
We advise on your optimal director salary for the first year (designed to minimise NI while preserving State Pension entitlement), your dividend policy, and any expenses you can legitimately claim from your personal funds before company formation.
06
Investor Readiness (SEIS/EIS)
If you plan to raise investment, we advise on the SEIS and EIS schemes that give your investors generous tax reliefs — making your company significantly more attractive to angels and early-stage investors.
02
Structure Decision & Formation
We advise on the optimal legal structure, form your company at Companies House, and issue confirmation with your company number — typically within 24 hours.
03
HMRC & Software Setup
We register you with HMRC for Corporation Tax, advise on VAT and PAYE timing, and configure your cloud accounting software — so you're compliant and capturing records from day one.
04
First-Year Planning Session
A dedicated planning session covering your salary and dividend strategy, expenses policy, record-keeping requirements, key tax dates, and the financial goals for your first year.
05
Ongoing Support
Throughout your first year, we're available to answer questions, review your management accounts quarterly, and ensure you're on track for a clean and cost-effective year-end.
06
First Annual Accounts
We prepare your first statutory accounts and corporation tax return — using the clean records we've helped you maintain throughout the year to produce a fast, cost-effective filing.
What's Included

A complete start-up package

Book a Free Consultation →
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Should I start as a sole trader or form a limited company?
+
As a general guide, a limited company becomes more tax-efficient once profits exceed around £30,000 to £35,000 per year — though this depends on your specific circumstances and whether you want to retain profits in the business or extract them immediately. We model both scenarios with your projected figures during the initial consultation.
Can I register as a company before I start trading?
+
Yes. Many founders register a company in advance to secure their company name and establish their legal entity before they begin trading. There's no requirement to start trading immediately after incorporation.
What is SEIS and how does it help me raise investment?
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The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) gives investors 50% income tax relief on investments up to £200,000 in your company, plus CGT exemption on gains. This makes investing in your early-stage company significantly more attractive. We advise on structuring your company to be SEIS eligible and can assist with HMRC advance assurance.
What records do I need to keep from day one?
+
HMRC requires businesses to keep records for at least six years. From day one, you should be recording all income and expenses, keeping all receipts and invoices, maintaining records of all bank transactions, and documenting any assets purchased. Cloud accounting software makes this straightforward — and we set it all up for you.
Can I claim expenses I incurred before my company was formed?
+
Yes — you can claim pre-incorporation expenses that were incurred wholly and exclusively for the purpose of the business, provided the company was incorporated within a reasonable time of the expense being incurred. Common qualifying expenses include accountancy fees, software subscriptions, equipment and travel. We review and document these claims at your first year-end.
When do I need to register for VAT?
+
You must register for VAT when your taxable turnover in any rolling 12-month period exceeds £90,000. However, it may be beneficial to register voluntarily below this threshold — particularly if you plan to recover significant input VAT on start-up costs or if your customers are primarily VAT-registered businesses. We assess this during your initial setup.

Ready to get started with
your new business?

Book Your Free Consultation →
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