Do consultants need a limited company?

Not by law. In practice, many corporate clients and most public sector frameworks only contract with limited companies. The company also protects your trading name on the register.

How much does it cost to start a consultancy?

Under £1,000 in most cases. Company formation is about £63 all in. Professional indemnity insurance starts around £100 a year. A professional website completes the picture. The real investment is your network.

Should I name the consultancy after myself?

Your own name builds personal authority fast. A coined brand grows beyond one person and is easier to sell. Check the domain and Companies House for either before deciding. The register fills fastest with surname firms.

The no nonsense guide

Start a Consultancy in the UK

Consulting is the cheapest business in this guide to start. Your expertise is the product. What it demands early is credibility: a limited company, professional indemnity insurance, and a name that looks right on a contract. Clients signing four figure agreements check all three. Here is what to do.

The short version

1.Decide the brand: your own name or a coined one. Your name builds authority. A coined name scales and sells.
2.Check the name against the domain and Companies House at the same time.
3.Form a limited company. About £63 all in. Many clients will not engage sole traders.
4.Buy professional indemnity insurance. From about £100 a year. Contracts often set a minimum.
5.Put up a one page site: who you help, what changes, how to reach you.

What it costs to start

Limited company registrationfrom about £13 plus the £50 Companies House fee
Professional indemnity insurancetypically £100 to £500 a year to start
Domain and one page websiteabout £305 all in through the NameGenie package
Accounting software or an accountantroughly £10 to £150 a month

Most consultancies start from home with kit they already own. The real cost is the credibility layer: company, insurance, website. Usually under £1,000 combined.

Naming a consultancy

Two camps: your own name or a coined brand. Decide which future you want before you check availability.
A coined name must clear Companies House exactly. Procurement teams look the company up before they sign.
The .com carries weight with international clients. Add the .co.uk if UK public sector work is on the roadmap.

NameGenie checks the domain and Companies House on every generated name, so the consultancy name you fall for is one you can register today. Generate names for your consultancy, then follow the start a business journey to register the domain, form the company, and get a website live in 7 days.

The paperwork that matters

Form a limited company early. Many client procurement processes will not engage sole traders.
Professional indemnity insurance before the first engagement. Many contracts specify a minimum cover level.
Leaving a job to consult for your old employer? Read up on IR35 or take advice first.

Questions founders ask

Do consultants need a limited company?: Not by law. In practice, many corporate clients and most public sector frameworks only contract with limited companies. The company also protects your trading name on the register.
How much does it cost to start a consultancy?: Under £1,000 in most cases. Company formation is about £63 all in. Professional indemnity insurance starts around £100 a year. A professional website completes the picture. The real investment is your network.
Should I name the consultancy after myself?: Your own name builds personal authority fast. A coined brand grows beyond one person and is easier to sell. Check the domain and Companies House for either before deciding. The register fills fastest with surname firms.

Starting something else? Start a cleaning business, Start a online shop, Start a café. Costs are typical ranges, not quotes, and this page is a general guide, not legal, tax, or financial advice.