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1st Formations Review (2026): The Non-Resident Choice
Company Formation & Address Service for Non-Residents
Summary
Best For:
Non-UK Residents who need the “Full Stack” (Address + Mail Forwarding).
Avoid If:
You live in the UK and don’t need international mail forwarding.
The Bottom Line:
1st Formations is the top choice for international founders because their Non-Residents Package is a dedicated bundle designed for overseas compliance. It includes the Registered Office, Service Address, and Business Address (Mail Forwarding)—the three things you cannot easily get elsewhere without a UK footprint.
Table of contents
The “Glasgow Warehouse” Mistake (Why I Use Them)
I didn’t start with 1st Formations. Seven years ago, when I registered my first UK Ltd company from India, I chose the cheapest agent I could find on Google. They offered a “Registered Office” for £19/year.
I felt smart—until a potential client in London Googled my company.
“I looked up your office address,” the client said on a Zoom call. “Are you operating out of a self-storage unit in an industrial estate in Glasgow?”
I lost that deal. The “cheap” address signaled risk and impermanence.
Since then, I switched to 1st Formations. They provide a Covent Garden (71-75 Shelton Street) address. When clients Google it, they see a prestigious London postcode in a business district. In the B2B world, perception is currency.
The Legal Necessity
Before we talk about pricing, you need to understand why you are buying this. This isn’t just a vanity purchase; it is a compliance necessity mandated by Companies House.
The Two Addresses You Legally Need
According to the Companies Act 2006, every UK Limited Company must provide two specific addresses. Both are public.
1. The Registered Office (Section 86)
- The Law: This is the “official” address of the company. It must be in the UK.
- The Risk: You cannot use a generic PO Box. It must be a physical location where official government mail can be signed for. If you fail to maintain this, the Registrar can strike your company off the register (Section 1000).
- Jurisdiction Rule: Your Registered Office must be in the same part of the UK where you incorporated. 1st Formations provides a London (English) address, which covers the majority of non-resident companies.
2. The Director’s Service Address (Section 163)
- The Law: Every director must provide a service address. This is where legal papers are served to you personally.
- The Risk: If you use your home address here, it is published on the Companies House Beta database forever. Data scrapers will index your home address globally.
- 1st Formations Solution: Their “Service Address” add-on allows you to use their London address here, keeping your home address 100% private.
The “Hidden Cost” Analysis (Non-Residents Package)
Most reviews discuss the “Privacy Package,” but if you are overseas, you likely bought the Non-Residents Package because it includes Business Mail Forwarding (which the Privacy Package lacks).
Here is the Real Math for the Non-Residents Package (Year 1 vs. Year 2).
The 2-Year Cost Projection
| Cost Item | Year 1 (The Bundle Deal) | Year 2 (The Renewal) |
| Non-Residents Package Price | ~£99.99 + VAT (Discounted) | N/A (Items renew individually) |
| Companies House Fee | £100.00 (Govt Fee) | 0 |
| Registered Office Service | Included | ~£39.00 + VAT |
| Service Address (Director) | Included | ~£26.00 + VAT |
| Business Address (Mail Forwarding) | Included | ~£96.00 + VAT |
| Confirmation Statement Service | Included (Via CoSec Service) | ~£75.99 + VAT (Inc. £50 Govt Fee) |
| TOTAL COST | ~£199.99 + VAT | ~£310.99 + VAT |
The Verdict on Value
Year 1 is a significant bargain. For £199.99 + VAT (which includes the mandatory £100 Companies House fee), you are getting approximately £517 worth of services. This includes your incorporation, prestigious London addresses, and a full year of professional compliance management.
Year 2 jumps to ~£311 + VAT. This renewal covers the three London addresses (£161.00) and the Full Company Secretary service (£149.99).
Is it worth it?
If you need mail forwarding (Business Address), yes. A standalone London mail forwarding service typically costs £200/year alone. With this package, you’re getting that plus legal compliance for a similar price.
Can you downgrade?
Yes. In Year 2, if you don’t need “Business Mail” forwarding (only government mail), you can cancel the £96 Business Address service. You can also cancel the CoSec service to keep only the £39 Registered Office and £26 Service Address, dropping your annual “maintenance” to just £65 + VAT.
Which Package Should You Actually Choose?
Don’t overpay if you don’t need to. Here is the exact decision framework I use for my clients:
- If you need business mail forwarded to your home country: Choose the Non-Residents Package (£99.99)
- If you ONLY need legal compliance (no daily mail): Choose the Privacy Package (£17.99)
- If you are a UK Resident: Choose the Digital Package (£2.99)
The Compliance Warning: Confirmation Statements (2026 Update)
Important Correction: Companies House increased their fees on February 1, 2026.
The Confirmation Statement (CS01)
- What is it? Every UK company must file a Confirmation Statement once a year to confirm their details (shareholders, directors, address) are correct. It is not a tax return.
- The Cost (Self-File): If you file this yourself directly with Companies House, the government fee is now £50 (Online) or £110 (Paper).
The Bundle Advantage
- Agent Service vs. Package Benefit: While 1st Formations’ standalone price for this service is £75.99 + VAT, it is important to note that the Non-Residents Package includes the Full Company Secretary Service for the first year.
- The Renewal Reality: When you renew in Year 2, the £149.99 Full Company Secretary renewal fee already includes the £50 Companies House filing fee.
- The Math: You are essentially paying for professional maintenance and filing for an effective service fee of ~£100 after the government tax is deducted.
My Advice: For non-residents, letting the agent handle this is worth the “Peace of Mind” tax. Missing a filing deadline can lead to automatic late penalties or your company being struck off the register.
Banking & KYC
1st Formations currently leads with a WorldFirst UK business banking referral for non-residents. This is a strategic pivot because WorldFirst offers local account numbers and sort codes for 15+ currencies, making it ideal for those selling on global marketplaces.
Fintech Integration (Wise & WorldFirst)
The partnership works through a direct API integration. Once your company is approved, 1st Formations sends an “Order Fulfilment” email with a link to sign up.
- The Benefit: Your business details are pre-filled, reducing the risk of data-entry errors that lead to KYC rejections.
- KYC Warning: Regardless of the referral, you will still need to provide a personal Passport and Proof of Address (like a bank statement) directly to the bank.
What Happens If You Don’t Renew?
This is the most dangerous risk for new founders. What happens if you forget to pay the renewal fees in Year 2?
- Service Termination: 1st Formations will stop accepting your mail and resign as your agent.
- The “Default” Address: Companies House will change your registered address to a “Default Address” (usually a default Companies House address).
- The Red Flag: Your public record will show a “Notice of Change of Address” to the government building. This signals to credit agencies that the company is “homeless.”
- Strike Off Timeline:
- Step 1: First Gazette Notice is published.
- Step 2: 2-month window for objections.
- Step 3: Final Gazette Notice dissolves the company.
- Consequence: Any assets left in the company bank account become Bona Vacantia (ownerless goods) and technically belong to the Crown.
Pro Tip: Set a Google Calendar reminder for 11 months from today. Do not rely solely on email reminders.
1st Formations vs. The Competition
When choosing an agent, you are buying the address, not just the paperwork
| Feature | 1st Formations (Non-Residents) | Rapid Formations (Non-Residents) | Your Company Formations (International) |
| Address Prestige | Covent Garden (WC2) | Shelton St (WC2) | City Road (EC1) |
| Mail Forwarding | Scan/Email (50p/item) | Scan/Email (50p/item) | Royal Mail + 40% fee |
| Banking Intro | WorldFirst Referral | Wise / WorldFirst | Barclays / Wise |
| Base Price | £99.99 + £100 Fee | £99.99 + £100 Fee | £98.48 + £100 Fee |
| Renewal Est. | ~£311 (inc. CoSec) | ~£303 (inc. CoSec) | ~£155 (Basic address only) |
⚠️ The “Consultant’s” Red Flag Checklist Regardless of which agent you choose, walk away immediately if you see any of these three red flags:
- They use a residential postcode for your Registered Office (this looks terrible to B2B clients).
- They charge a “per-letter” forwarding fee higher than £1.00 (1st Formations charges 50p).
- They do not have a verifiable Companies House agent registration number.
My Take
Because 1st Formations and Rapid Formations operate out of the exact same Covent Garden building and charge the exact same Year 1 fees, the deciding factor comes down to the operational stack. 1st Formations edges out the competition with its seamless WorldFirst banking integration and a highly reliable Full Company Secretary Service that completely automates your first-year compliance.
While Your Company Formations looks cheaper on paper for Year 2 renewals (~£155), their 40% handling markup on physical mail forwarding can quickly eat into those savings if you regularly receive physical documents or bank cards. For the most predictable long-term cost structure, 1st Formations remains the safest bet.
Final Decision: The “Peace of Mind” Tax
If you are sitting in Mumbai, New York, or Dubai, running a UK company feels abstract. You cannot drive to Companies House to fix a problem.
1st Formations acts as your “Ground Team.” They handle the mail, they satisfy the Section 86 requirement, and they protect your privacy.
Is it the cheapest option on the market? No.
Is it the safest option that avoids the “Glasgow Warehouse” perception problem? Yes.
FAQ
Can I visit the office in Covent Garden to pick up my mail?
No. 1st Formations operates as a strict mail-forwarding facility, not a coworking space. You cannot walk in to collect mail or hold meetings there.
Do they forward physical bank cards to my country?
This is critical: By default, they scan and email letters. They cannot scan a debit card. If a bank sends a physical card, 1st Formations will notify you. You must then pay a small postage fee (usually £5-£10) via their portal to have that specific item posted to your home in India/USA.
Does this address work for Stripe and PayPal verification?
Yes. When setting up Stripe UK, you must use your Registered Office address. Since 1st Formations gives you a real London address (not a PO Box), it passes Stripe’s Address Verification System (AVS).
How do I cancel if my business fails?
Cancellation is easy, but dissolution is a legal process.
1.) Stop paying 1st Formations: They will stop the mail service.
2.) File Form DS01: You must tell Companies House to close the company (Cost: £8 Online). If you just stop paying 1st Formations but leave the company “Active,” you risk fines for late filing later.
Do I have to pay UK VAT on the package?
It depends on your location.
If you are in the UK: Yes, you pay 20% VAT.
If you are outside the UK: You may still be charged VAT because the “service” (the address) is legally considered to be “consumed” within the UK. Disclaimer: VAT rules are complex; always confirm with a qualified VAT professional.
Disclaimer: This article is based on personal experience and publicly available information. I am not an accountant or solicitor. This is not legal or tax advice. Please consult a qualified professional for your specific business needs.
