1st Formations Review 2025 – Do NOT Buy Until You Read This!

Last Updated on 1 week by Komolafe Bamidele

Are you looking for a detailed guide on company registration in the UK? You’re on the right page. 

While you can register directly through Companies House, many entrepreneurs choose formation agents to simplify the process. 

Among these services, 1st Formations stands out as one of the most popular options in 2025. But is it worth your investment?

This comprehensive 1st Formations review explores my experience with 1st Formations, weighing the pros and cons to help you make an informed decision before registering your UK company.

If you’re in a hurry to quickly register a limited company in the UK, let First Formations company do the work for you for almost state fee cost, which includes Ltd company formation paperwork

My Experience Using 1st Formations to Set Up My Business

Like many entrepreneurs, when I decided to launch my business, I was excited about the product and service aspects but dreaded the paperwork and legal requirements. 

After researching various options, I decided to give 1st Formations a try based on recommendations from several business contacts.

The initial impression was positive – their website was clean, modern, and significantly more user-friendly than the government’s Companies House portal. 

As I navigated to First Formations, I was immediately struck by the contrast between their streamlined interface and the outdated, confusing Companies House website I had used before.

Within minutes, I was able to check if my desired company name was available through their prominent search bar. 

The system instantly connected with Companies House to verify availability, taking the guesswork out of naming my business. Once confirmed, I was presented with their range of packages, each clearly outlining what was included.

I spent some time comparing the different options – from the basic Digital package at just £52.99 to their comprehensive All-Inclusive package. 

For my needs, I opted for their Privacy package, which provided digital documents plus privacy protection for my personal address – a feature I particularly valued as I was starting from my home office.

The form-filling process was remarkably straightforward. Where I anticipated confusion with legal terminology and requirements, 1st Formations provided helpful tips and explanations alongside each field.

 The sections for entering director information, share allocations, and company details were intuitive, with hover-over information icons providing additional guidance whenever I needed it.

What really impressed me was their additional quality control options. For a small fee, I added their pre-submission review service, where their team would check my application for common errors before submitting it to Companies House. 

This extra layer of verification gave me tremendous peace of mind that my incorporation was being filed correctly.

The entire registration process took under 30 minutes to complete – a stark contrast to what could have been hours of research and frustration doing it myself. 

After entering all my details and submitting payment, 1st Formations estimated a 3-hour processing time for my application.

Surprisingly, just 3 hours later, I received email confirmation that my company was officially registered. 1st Formations promptly followed up with electronic copies of all my official documentation – my certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles of association, and share certificates.

As part of my package, I also received a free business domain name for the first year and access to their secure company manager platform. 

This online dashboard proved invaluable in the weeks following registration, helping me track important filing dates and compliance requirements.

The streamlined experience completely exceeded my expectations, transforming what I had feared would be an administrative nightmare into a painless, efficient process. 

For anyone intimidated by legal paperwork or concerned about making costly mistakes, 1st Formations offers a level of guidance and support that truly justifies their modest fees.

So, what are you waiting for? Just get started. Check out the company’s official website.

Why Use 1st Formations Instead of Companies House

While Companies House offers direct registration for slightly less money, there are compelling reasons to consider using 1st Formations instead:

1. Avoid Costly Mistakes

The DIY approach through Companies House can be risky if you’re unfamiliar with company formation requirements. Simple errors in your application could result in rejection, delays, or even compliance issues down the road. 

1st Formations offers submission reviews and expert guidance to prevent these mistakes.

2. Time-Saving Features

Rather than spending hours figuring out Articles of Association, share structures, and SIC codes, 1st Formations streamlines the process with clear instructions and pre-filled templates. What might take days as a DIY project can be completed in under an hour.

3. Address Privacy Protection

Using Companies House directly means your personal address becomes publicly visible on the register. 1st Formations offers Registered Office and Service Address services that keep your home address private – a significant benefit for home-based business owners.

4. Additional Services Included

Even their basic packages include valuable extras like free domain names, access to their company management platform, and business bank account introductions – services you wouldn’t get going directly through Companies House.

5. Post-Formation Support

Formation is just the beginning. 1st Formations provides ongoing support for various compliance requirements that new business owners might otherwise overlook.

I’ll update the package selection information with the new pricing details. Here’s the revised section:

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How Does The 1st Formation Process Operate?

The 1st Formations process follows a straightforward sequence:

1. Name Availability Check: Enter your desired company name to instantly check if it’s available.
2. Package Selection: Choose from four main packages:
   • Digital (£52.99): Includes £50 Companies House fee, free business bank account, online company manager, domain name, and filing of first confirmation statement
   • Privacy (£67.99): Everything in Digital plus registered office and service address services in London WC2 for 12 months
   • Prestige (£89.99): Everything in Privacy plus hard copy documents, business address service, telephone answering, and managed live chat
   • All-Inclusive (£99.99): Everything in Prestige plus company secretary service, VAT registration, PAYE registration, meeting room hire, and GDPR compliance package
3. Additional Services Selection: Add any extra services like same-day processing or pre-submission review.
4. Payment Processing: Secure payment gateway with satisfaction guarantee.
5. Company Details Entry: Input company information including:
   • Company type (Limited by shares, etc.)
   • SIC code (business activity)
   • Directors’ and shareholders’ details
   • Share structure
   • Registered office address
6. Submission and Confirmation: The application is submitted to Companies House, with updates sent by email.
7. Document Delivery: Upon approval, 1st Formations delivers all company documents electronically (or physically, depending on your package).

Turnaround Time for Getting a UK Company Formed

One of the 1st Formations’ most impressive features is their processing speed. Standard processing typically results in company formation within 3-6 hours during business hours. Even during busy periods, most applications are completed within 24 hours.

For those with urgent needs, they offer a Same Day Guaranteed service (additional £29.99 + VAT), which ensures your company is formed the same day if submitted before 3 pm.

In my case, I received confirmation of my company’s registration just 3 hours after submission – significantly faster than I had anticipated.

First Formations Review: Pros & Cons

Pros:

1. Exceptional Value: Their Digital package costs just £52 + VAT, only slightly more than the basic Companies House fee (£50).
2. Outstanding Customer Service: Their support team is available via live chat, email, and phone. My questions were answered promptly and thoroughly.
3. Stellar Reviews: They maintain near-perfect ratings on both Trustpilot and Google Reviews, with thousands of positive testimonials.
4. Address Privacy Options: Their Privacy package and above include registered office services to protect your personal address from appearing on public records.
5. Comprehensive Packages: Options for every need and budget, from basic registration to all-inclusive business startup services.
6. Quality Assurance: An Optional pre-submission review service helps catch potential errors before filing.
7. User-Friendly Platform: Their website and company manager portal are intuitive and easy to navigate.
8. Fast Processing: Most companies are formed within 3-6 hours of submission.
9. Ongoing Support: Access to their company management platform helps with post-formation compliance requirements.
10. Special Services for Non-Residents: Dedicated packages for overseas entrepreneurs looking to establish UK companies.

Cons:

1. VAT Not Included in Advertised Prices: The prices shown on their website don’t include VAT, so the final cost will be 20% higher than initially displayed.
2. Information Overload: The wealth of options and information can be overwhelming for first-time business owners.
3. Renewal Costs: Some services like the Registered Office Address require annual renewal at additional cost (typically £39 + VAT).
4. Basic Package Limitations: The Digital package doesn’t include paper documents or privacy protections.

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Conclusion: Is 1st Formations Worth It in 2025?

After thoroughly testing their service and comparing it with competitors, I can confidently say that 1st Formations remains one of the best company formation services in the UK in 2025. They strike an excellent balance between affordability and comprehensive service.

For most entrepreneurs, especially those forming their first company, the Privacy package (£52.99 + VAT) offers the best value, providing essential privacy protection along with all the basics needed to start a company correctly.

What truly sets 1st Formations apart is their attention to detail, user-friendly process, and exceptional customer support. 

The time and potential headaches saved by using their service easily justifies the modest cost above direct Companies House registration.

If you’re looking to set up your UK company within 24 to 48 hours, let First Formation do everything for you. 

Guess what? I have partnered with them to get you a Discount of up to 33% OFF the Prestige package, 45% OFF All Inclusive, NEW PRICE for the Non-Resident package (Got the VAT, everything you might need — Very Important)..

For entrepreneurs looking to establish a solid foundation for their business venture, 1st Formations provides a streamlined, reliable, and cost-effective solution that removes much of the stress and uncertainty from the company formation process.

Whether you’re a sole entrepreneur, forming a partnership, or establishing a more complex corporate structure, their range of packages ensures you’ll find an option that meets your specific requirements.