United Kingdom vs Delaware, USA
Company formation costs side by side
EntityPrivate limited company (Ltd)LLC (or C-Corp for VC funding)
Legal minimum, year 1£170£475
Legal minimum, per year after£50£350
Typical year 1£1,585£1,455
Government fee£100 (£100 online)£85 ($110 Certificate of Formation)
Indirect setup£20 to 300£40 to 810
Running per year£50 to 2,600£350 to 1,540
Share capital£1None
Time to form1 to 2 days1 to 3 days (EIN extra)
AuditExempt for small companiesNone
DirectorsNo resident director neededNo local director; registered agent in Delaware required
Remote formationFully online; directors must pass Companies House ID verificationFully remote; EIN for foreign owners can take 2 to 6 weeks
Corporation tax25% (19% under £50k profit, marginal relief between)LLC is pass-through; C-Corp 21% federal. No DE tax on out-of-state activity
Dividend withholding0% on dividends30% (reduced by treaty, 15% UK individual)
VAT/GST20%No sales tax in DE
Foreign owner ease5 of 54 of 5
Banking3 of 5. High street banks often refuse non-residents; Wise, Revolut, Airwallex and Tide are usually fine3 of 5. Mercury, Relay, Wise work remotely once EIN is issued; traditional banks want a US visit
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