Company Formation Checklist
Are you considering registering a company? Take a look at our comprehensive eight-point company formation checklist to ensure you have all the necessary details before you begin the application process.
1. Company Name
Select a unique company name. If your company is a private limited company, it must conclude with “Limited” or “Ltd.”
2. Registered Office Address
To establish a limited company, you must furnish a registered office address to Companies House/CRO. This address must be a physical location, not a PO box, and will be where official documents from the Revenue Commissioner/HMRC and CRO / Companies House are sent. It’s essential to note that this registered office address will be publicly accessible, including to marketing agencies and the general public. Many company directors opt for our registered office address service to safeguard their residential address and benefit from a prestigious presence in central Dublin and London.
3. Business Activity / Type of Business (Nace Codes/SIC Code)
Nomenclature of Economic Activities (NACE) or SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) codes describe the nature of your business and its proposed activities. NACE / SIC codes cover a wide range of businesses, from video production and life insurance to financial management and childcare. During the company formation application, you will need to select a relevant NACE / SIC code.
4. Director Details
Provide the following information for each director:
- Full name
- Date of birth (must be at least 18 years old)
- Occupation (you can simply state “Company Director” if preferred)
- Nationality
- Residential address
- Service address (you can choose your home address or another physical address to receive official documents; however, note that this will be public via the CRO / Companies House website)
5. Shareholder Details
You must provide details of your shareholders. Every limited company must have at least one shareholder, which can also be the director. For shareholders who are not Persons of Significant Control (PSC) / Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) and own less than 25% of shares and voting rights, provide:
- Full name
- Service address (residential or alternative)
For shareholders who are UBO / PSCs and own 25% or more of shares/voting rights, submit:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Residential address (not public)
- Service address (public)
- Nationality
- Nature of control (e.g., the number of shares they hold)
6. Company Secretary Details
Appointing a company secretary is optional (UK/NI Companies only), and many limited companies choose not to have one, especially if they handle company secretary duties themselves. However, Irish Companies have to appoint a company secretary and need to provide the following details:.
- Full name of Individual or Company
- Date of birth (must be at least 18 years old), leave empty if a company is going as company secretary.
- Occupation
- Nationality
- Residential address
- Service address
7. Persons of Significant Control / Ultimate Beneficial Owner
Include information about any additional PSCs/UBO beyond the director, shareholder, or secretary (if applicable). Provide:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Residential address
- Service address
- Nationality
- Nature of Control (e.g., if the person controls a trust owning over 25% of shares)
8. Proof of ID
Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations may necessitate photo ID and proof of address. These documents will be requested in accordance with the law and must be provided. Refer to our identification requirements to understand which forms of ID are accepted.