Cost of Company Formation Services
across the UK

# Trade Body Accreditation for Company Formation Services

The main regulatory and accreditation bodies relevant to UK company formation services include Companies House, which is the official registrar and not itself an accrediting body but sets the legal framework all providers must follow, and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIT), and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), whose members often provide formation services as part of broader accounting or tax advisory work. Additionally, the Law Society regulates solicitors who offer company formation, while the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) oversees compliance. For non-regulated formation agents, membership of bodies such as the Institute of Directors (IoD) or the Association of Company Secretaries indicates professional standing, though these are primarily membership organisations rather than formal regulators. Understanding these distinctions matters because regulated bodies like the SRA and ICAEW enforce strict standards, continuing professional development requirements, and client money protection rules, whereas membership bodies primarily indicate professional affiliation without equivalent regulatory oversight.

To verify a provider's credentials, start by checking the relevant regulatory register online: use the SRA register for solicitors, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) register for regulated financial advisers, or ICAEW's member directory for chartered accountants. You can also ask the provider directly for their registration or membership number and verify it independently. Checking accreditation is important because it provides assurance that the provider meets defined standards, carries appropriate professional indemnity insurance, and has complaints procedures in place if something goes wrong. A genuine accredited provider will be transparent about their credentials and happy to provide verification details. Be wary of providers who cannot or will not provide clear evidence of their qualifications or who claim accreditation from bodies that do not exist.

Accredited company formation