FOREIGN COMPANIES IN BRITAIN:

Many organisations want to expand into the UK but for many reasons may not want to establish an incorporated entity in the UK. Instead they may wish to register a branch or place of business as an oversea company. Some companies receive tax breaks and government development grants by continuing to be incorporated in their home country while they attempt to establish a UK operation. The fact that a foriegn company is carrying on business in Great Britain does not automatically mean that the company has to register with Companies House. However, the Companies Act 1985 requires every oversea company which establishes some type of place of business in Great Britain to deliver certain documents to Companies House. To this end, a "place of business" is a premises where there is a physical or visible indication that the company may be contacted there. An oversea company also has to register if it habitually conducts business from a particular location in Great Britain even if there is no physical sign of the company's connection with it.

Please note: Registration is not required if there is no physical location in Great Britain.

WHAT IS REQUIRED?:

There are two regimes for registration in Great Britain. These are:

• a branch; and
• a place of business.

A 'branch' is part of an oversea limited company organised to conduct business through local representatives in Great Britain rather than referring it abroad.

A 'place of business' is for companies who cannot register as a branch because:

• they are from within the UK (Northern Ireland or Gibraltar); or
• they are not limited companies; or
• their activities in Great Britain are not sufficient to define it as a branch. Such activities might include internal computer processing, warehousing, or simply a representative office.

Rapid Companies can register your company with Companies House as an oversea company. To do this we will require the following information about you and your company

• certified copy of your company's constitutional documents (Charter, statute, operating agreement, etc);
• a copy of the latest set of audited accounts required to be published by parent law.

Rapid Companies will then complete the relevant documents, lodge them with the authorities and pay the lodgement fees on your behalf. You will receive a Companies House certificate which details your foreign company number and if applicable, your UK branch number.

	Our Fee	Registered Office
Price	£275	£275
We also accept payment in USD and EUR
Please contact us for more information regarding registering an oversea branch or place of business. +44 (0)870 750 98 90