Start a Consultancy in the UK
A consultancy can begin with skills and equipment you already have, but credibility does not require one universal legal structure. Define the offer, check each client’s procurement terms, choose a structure deliberately and review the risks your contract and insurance need to cover.
The short version
- Decide whether to trade under your own name or a distinct brand, based on how closely the offer depends on you personally.
- Check the name against the domain and Companies House at the same time.
- Choose between sole trader and limited company after checking tax, liability, administration and the client’s actual procurement requirements.
- Assess professional indemnity cover against the advice you provide and any minimum specified in the contract. Obtain current quotes before agreeing terms.
- Put up a one page site: who you help, what changes, how to reach you.
What it costs to start
- Limited company registrationBudget at least £100 for digital incorporation
- Professional indemnity insuranceget a current quote for your advice, turnover and contract limit
- Domain and one page websiteabout £160 total for the £149 Launch Site and a typical first-year domain
- Accounting supportcompare current software and adviser quotes for your chosen structure
Using equipment you already own can keep initial spending low. Structure, insurance and accounting costs depend on the engagement, so budget from written client requirements and current quotes.
Naming a consultancy
- Two camps: your own name or a coined brand. Decide which future you want before you check availability.
- Search Companies House for exact matches before choosing a coined name. Procurement teams look the company up before they sign, but Companies House makes the registration decision.
- Choose .co.uk, .com or both for the audience and markets you actually plan to serve. Test how the address reads in a proposal and when spoken aloud.
NameGenie reports current domain evidence and an exact-match Companies House search for every generated name. Verify both independently before acting. Companies House makes the registration decision, and incorporation does not grant trade mark rights. Generate names for your consultancy, then follow the start a business journey to register the domain, form the company, and get a website live within 7 days of OnPoint receiving your content.
The paperwork that matters
- Client procurement requirements vary. Ask for the onboarding and insurance requirements before choosing a structure for one opportunity.
- Review professional indemnity cover and the liability clauses before the first engagement; follow any agreed minimum cover level.
- If you provide services through your own intermediary, check whether the off-payroll working rules apply and who must make the status decision.
Questions founders ask
- Do consultants need a limited company?
- Not by law, and client procurement requirements vary. Ask the client or framework for its actual eligibility and onboarding rules. A limited company is a separate legal entity with filing duties, but incorporation does not grant trade mark rights in its name.
- How much does it cost to start a consultancy?
- It depends on equipment, structure, cover and client acquisition. Digital incorporation currently costs £100 through Companies House. Obtain current insurance, accounting and website quotes rather than relying on a generic total.
- Should I name the consultancy after myself?
- Your own name ties the offer closely to your reputation. A distinct brand can make room for a team or a wider service later. Check current domain evidence, Companies House exact matches and relevant trade marks before deciding.