StartMy vs Companies House
"Why struggle with government forms?"
myLO's Verdict
AI Analysis
AI-Guided: We speak plain English, not "Legalese".
The Insider Reality
""Going direct saves you £10 but costs you 5 hours of stress. StartMy limits your liability by ensuring you don't tick the wrong box by accident.""
The Context
Companies House is the official government registrar for UK companies. It is the raw database where your company lives. However, their direct web-filing interface is designed for professional accountants and solicitors, not first-time founders. It assumes you already know the difference between a "Person with Significant Control" and a "Shareholder".
The Why
The main issue with going direct is the lack of guidance. If you select the wrong SIC code, you might find it impossible to open a bank account later. If you allocate shares incorrectly, you could accidentally create a massive tax liability for yourself. StartMy connects to the exact same Companies House API but wraps it in an intelligent AI layer. We ask you simple questions in plain English ("What do you sell?") and map them to the correct legal codes automatically. We also generate your official Articles of Association and Memorandum instantly, ensuring you are fully compliant without needing a law degree.
The Verdict
Formning directly with Companies House is a false economy. You save a tiny admin fee but shoulder 100% of the compliance risk. StartMy removes that risk, guarantees your application is error-free, and provides the post-formation support (banking, insurance, planning) that the government simply does not offer.
Feature Showdown
Head to head