TL;DR: UK formation costs as little as £50 with minimal ongoing fees. US formation (especially Delaware) costs more upfront and significantly more annually — but may offer strategic advantages worth paying for. Use the Cost Calculator to run your own numbers.
"Should I incorporate in the UK or the US?" is one of the most common questions founders ask — and one of the most poorly answered. Blog posts confidently recommend Delaware C-Corps for all startups, while others swear by UK private limited companies for global simplicity. Very few give you the actual numbers.
The UK vs. US decision involves genuinely different cost structures across three timeframes: formation costs (paid once), first-year compliance costs, and ongoing annual costs. Miss any of these and your budget is wrong before you've even opened a bank account.
For founders based outside both countries, the complexity doubles: you need to understand not just the domestic cost of each jurisdiction, but also what's required for non-residents — registered agents, nominee services, additional documentation, and banking workarounds that can dwarf the official government fees.
The MmowW Scrib🐮 Cost Calculator lets you run both scenarios side by side. Select UK and your preferred structure (private limited company), note the costs, then switch to USA and select your preferred state and entity type. The itemised breakdown makes direct comparison straightforward.
Running a UK Ltd estimate:
Running a US estimate:
The side-by-side output makes budgeting comparisons clear and gives you the right questions to take to a professional.
Use our free tool: Cost Calculator
Try it free →Sarah runs a consulting firm in Manchester and has been advised by a potential US client to "get a Delaware entity." She uses the Cost Calculator to understand what that actually means financially.
UK Ltd: £50 formation, £100-200/year registered office, £34 confirmation statement. Total year one: approximately £200-300.
Delaware LLC: ~$90 state filing fee, $50-150/year registered agent, $300/year minimum franchise tax (LLC annual tax). Total year one: approximately $440-540 before accounting for the US banking setup she'll need. Then there's the question of whether a US LLC serving UK clients is actually necessary for her situation — a conversation her accountant can now have with real numbers.
A San Francisco SaaS startup wants to expand into Europe and is considering a UK subsidiary as its EU-adjacent base (post-Brexit UK still offers English-language legal environment and familiar corporate law). Their CFO uses the Cost Calculator to model the cost of a UK Ltd subsidiary.
UK Ltd formation: £50. First-year registered office: £150. Annual confirmation statement: £34. Total first-year cost: £234 — well under $300 at any reasonable exchange rate. Compared to setting up an EU entity in Germany or France, the UK option looks significantly more cost-efficient for initial market testing.
Carlos is a Brazilian entrepreneur building a fintech product and wants to incorporate in an English-speaking jurisdiction that offers global credibility and relatively straightforward banking. He's been told the Cayman Islands, Delaware, and UK are all options.
Using the Cost Calculator for both UK and Delaware, Carlos can see that UK formation is dramatically cheaper for his first entity. He can always add a Delaware entity later if US institutional investors require it. The calculator helps him see formation as a phased decision, not a one-time bet.
| Jurisdiction | Formation Cost | Annual Cost | Non-Resident Friendly | Key Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK (Ltd) | £50 | £34-200+ | Yes, no residency required | gov.uk/companies-house |
| USA Delaware (LLC) | $90 | $300+ franchise tax | Registered agent required | corp.delaware.gov |
| USA Delaware (C-Corp) | $89 | $175+ franchise tax | Registered agent required | corp.delaware.gov |
| USA Wyoming (LLC) | $102 | $60/year | Registered agent required | sos.wyo.gov |
| USA (home state avg) | $50-500 | Varies widely | Varies by state | sba.gov |
Note: US state fees and franchise taxes change annually. Delaware in particular adjusts its franchise tax calculations regularly. Verify current fees at the official state portal before budgeting.
Cost Calculator is completely free — no signup required. Run UK and US estimates side by side in minutes.
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MmowW Scrib🐮 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult a qualified attorney or accountant for advice specific to your situation.
Q: Is a UK Ltd actually better than a Delaware LLC for most founders?
A: "Better" depends on your specific goals. UK Ltd formation is cheaper and simpler, and the UK Companies House system is highly regarded globally. Delaware C-Corps are preferred by US venture capital firms and are standard for equity-based fundraising in the US startup ecosystem. The right structure depends on your investor profile, client base, and tax situation — consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your circumstances.
Q: Does the Cost Calculator account for double taxation treaty implications?
A: The Cost Calculator covers formation and compliance costs — it does not model tax treaty implications, which require bespoke professional analysis. Understanding how the UK-US tax treaty affects your specific structure is an important consideration that goes beyond formation budgeting.
Q: If I form in Delaware but operate from the UK, what are the ongoing filing requirements?
A: A Delaware entity with operations in the UK may trigger UK tax residency rules and UK Corporation Tax obligations regardless of where the entity is incorporated. This is a complex area where you should consult a qualified tax advisor before forming. The Cost Calculator helps you understand the Delaware-side costs; UK obligations are a separate calculation.
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