Company Secretarial Services

From forming your company to filing at Companies House and everything in between, accurate, on-time, and fully compliant company secretarial support for UK businesses.

Compliant Company Secretarial Services, Handled for You

Running a UK company means keeping the public record at Companies House accurate and up-to-date, and the rules around that record have never been tighter. Our company secretarial services take that responsibility off your desk. From the day your company is formed to the day it’s wound down, Fair Accountants manages your filings, statutory records, and Companies House correspondence so nothing slips through the cracks.

Whether you’re a first-time director incorporating a company, an established small business that needs its confirmation statement and registers kept in order, or a contractor navigating the new Companies House identity verification rules, we handle the administrative side of company law in plain English. As a qualified accountancy practice and HMRC-approved agent, Fair Accountants acts as your authorised agent and files directly with Companies House on your behalf.

The result: no missed deadlines, no late-filing penalties, and no wrestling with WebFiling at 11 pm.

What Are Company Secretarial Services?

Company secretarial services are the professional administration and compliance tasks required to keep a company in good standing with Companies House and in line with the Companies Act 2006. This covers forming and closing companies, maintaining statutory registers, filing confirmation statements and changes to directors or shareholders, and, since November 2025, managing identity verification for directors and people with significant control (PSCs).

A company secretary was once a mandatory role. Since the Companies Act 2006, private limited companies in England, Wales, and Scotland are no longer legally required to appoint one, but the underlying duties still have to be carried out by someone. Most directors either take it on themselves or outsource it to an accountant. Getting it wrong carries real consequences: filing a confirmation statement late, failing to update the register, or missing an identity verification deadline can lead to penalties, a compromised public record, or, in serious cases, the company being struck off.

Who Uses Our Company Secretarial Services

We support company secretarial work for businesses of every size and stage across the UK, including:

First-time founders

First-time founders and start-ups incorporating their first company.

Contractors and freelancers

Contractor and freelancer limited companies need directors verified and confirmation statements filed.

Small and growing businesses

Small and growing businesses that want their statutory records kept in order without hiring in-house.

Property SPVs and holding companies

Property investment SPVs and holding companies with more complex structures.

Switching from DIY or another provider

Established companies switching from a DIY approach or another provider.

Winding down a company

Directors winding down a company who need it closed correctly.

Our Company Secretarial Services?

We cover the full lifecycle of a UK company. Everything below can be handled as a one-off task or as part of an ongoing fixed-fee arrangement.

Starting a company

Company Formation: Incorporating your new limited company with Companies House, usually on the same working day.

Company Incorporation & Setup: Share structure, memorandum and articles, certificate of incorporation, and your first statutory registers.

Opening a Limited Company: Guidance on structure, director and shareholder set-up, and registering for the right taxes from day one.

Running a company

Appointment of a Director: Adding a new director to your limited company and notifying Companies House correctly (with identity verification handled first).

Appointment of a Company Secretary: Setting up and recording a company secretary where you choose to have one.

Confirmation Statement Filing: Preparing and filing your annual confirmation statement so the public record stays accurate.

Companies House Filings: Director and shareholder changes, share allotments, registered office updates, and PSC changes.

Compliance & verification

Companies House Identity Verification: Managing the new ECCTA identity verification requirements for directors and PSCs.

Statutory Register Maintenance: Keeping your register of members, directors, and persons with significant control complete and current.

Closing a company

Closing a Company: Voluntary strike-off (DS01) for solvent, dormant companies.

Appointing Directors & Company Secretaries

Adding or removing an officer sounds simple, but it has to be recorded and filed correctly. We handle the appointment of a director to your limited company, the appointment of a company secretary where you want one, and the corresponding notifications to Companies House, updating your statutory registers at the same time so your internal records and the public record always match.

Under the new identity verification regime, a new director must have a verified identity and personal code before their appointment can be registered. We manage that sequencing so appointments aren’t rejected or delayed.

Name and share structure

Availability checked, structure decided

Memorandum and articles

Drafted and submitted to Companies House

Identity verification

Built in for every director and PSC

Tax and registers set up

Corporation Tax, PAYE, VAT, statutory registers

Company Formation & Incorporation

Setting up a limited company should be straightforward, and with the right help, it is. We handle your company formation from start to finish: checking name availability, deciding on share structure, drafting your memorandum and articles of association, and submitting the incorporation to Companies House. Under the current rules, every new director and PSC must complete identity verification before incorporation, so we build that step into the process from the outset.

Once you’re incorporated, we make sure you’re registered for Corporation Tax, PAYE, and VAT where relevant, and we set up your statutory registers so your company is compliant from day one. If you’re weighing up whether opening a limited company is the right move versus staying a sole trader, we’ll give you a straight answer based on your numbers.

Confirmation Statements & Ongoing Companies House Filings

How Our Company Secretarial Service Works

Free Discovery Call

We learn about your company, where it is in its lifecycle, and what you need, whether that’s a formation, a filing, verification, or a full ongoing arrangement.

Review & Quote

We check your current Companies House record, flag anything outstanding, and give you a fixed-fee quote.

We Take Over the Admin

We become your authorised agent, bring your registers up to date, and handle every filing going forward.

Ongoing Peace of Mind

Proactive deadline reminders, on-time filings, and a straightforward answer whenever a company law question comes up.

Companies House Identity Verification (New ECCTA Rules)

This is the biggest change to UK company law in a generation, and it affects almost every director. Under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA), Companies House identity verification became a legal requirement on 18 November 2025 for every new director, new PSC, and new incorporation.

Existing directors and PSCs must verify during a 12-month transition that closes on 18 November 2026, but in practice, most companies hit their deadline earlier, at their next confirmation statement.

Verification is a one-off check that links a real, named person to their role, after which they receive a unique personal code. You can verify directly through GOV.UK One Login, using a biometric passport or UK driving licence, or an Authorised Corporate Service Provider can verify identity and confirm it to Companies House on your behalf.

We keep track of when your directors and PSCs need to be verified relative to your filing calendar, so you’re never caught out by an appointment or confirmation statement that can’t be filed because someone isn’t verified yet.

Closing or Dissolving a Company

When a company has served its purpose, closing it down properly matters just as much as setting it up. Leave it dormant and unfiled, and penalties pile up. We advise on the right route for your situation.

DS01

Voluntary strike-off (DS01)

It is the simplest, cheapest route for a solvent company that has stopped trading and has no significant assets to extract.

MVL

Members' Voluntary Liquidation (MVL)

This is for solvent companies with retained profits, where an MVL can be far more tax-efficient than a strike-off.

We’ll model both, handle the paperwork and Companies House submissions, and make sure your final accounts and tax position are settled cleanly.

Why Choose Fair Accountants?

Qualified & Regulated

A fully qualified accountancy practice and HMRC-approved agent, working to strict professional and ethical standards.

Authorised Agent

We file directly with Companies House on your behalf, so you're not chasing WebFiling logins or deadlines.

Deadline Tracking

Confirmation statements, identity verification, and officer changes are all monitored against your filing calendar.

Joined-Up With Your Accounts

Your company secretarial work sits alongside your accounts, VAT, payroll, and bookkeeping under one roof, so nothing falls between two providers.

Fixed, Transparent Fees

Clear pricing with no surprise charges.

One Point of Contact

A dedicated accountant who knows your company, not a call centre.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What are company secretarial services?

Company secretarial services are the administrative and compliance tasks that keep a company in good standing with Companies House under the Companies Act 2006, including company formation, filing confirmation statements, maintaining statutory registers, recording director and shareholder changes, managing identity verification, and closing a company. They can be handled by a director or outsourced to an accountant.

How often do I need to file a confirmation statement?

At least once every 12 months, even if none of your company details have changed. It confirms your directors, shareholders, PSCs, registered office, and SIC codes are accurate. Filing late or not at all can lead to your company being struck off the register.

Can you form a new limited company for me?

Yes. We handle the full incorporation, name check, share structure, articles, identity verification, and submission to Companies House, usually on the same working day. We’ll also register you for the relevant taxes, so you’re compliant from day one.

Are you a Companies House authorised agent?

We are a qualified accountancy practice and HMRC-approved agent, and we file directly with Companies House on your behalf as your authorised agent. Forward us any letters or notices, and we’ll deal with them.

Does a UK limited company need a company secretary?

No. Since the Companies Act 2006, private limited companies are not legally required to appoint a company secretary. Public companies (PLCs) still must. Many private companies choose to appoint one or outsource the duties to an accountant to make sure filings and records are kept correctly.

Do directors need to verify their identity with Companies House?

Yes. Under the ECCTA rules, identity verification has been mandatory for new directors, new PSCs, and new incorporations since 18 November 2025. Existing directors and PSCs must verify during a transition period ending 18 November 2026, though most reach their deadline earlier at their next confirmation statement. We can help you complete and track this.

What's the difference between striking off and liquidating a company?

A voluntary strike-off (DS01) is the simplest, cheapest way to close a solvent company that has stopped trading with no significant assets. A Members’ Voluntary Liquidation (MVL) is used for solvent companies with retained profits and can be more tax-efficient because profits are typically treated as capital rather than income. We’ll recommend the right route for your circumstances.

Ready to Take Company Admin Off Your Plate?

Whether you’re forming a new company, need your confirmation statement and registers brought up to date, or want the new identity verification rules handled for you, our team is ready to help. Book a free, no-obligation consultation, and we’ll review your Companies House record, flag anything outstanding, and quote you a fixed fee.