StartMy vs Do It Yourself (DIY)
"Is your time really worth £0?"
myLO's Verdict
AI Analysis
Speed: Done in 5 minutes vs 3 hours of Googling.
The Insider Reality
""You probably *could* fix your own plumbing too, but is it worth the risk of a leak? One mistake in your share structure costs £13 to fix plus hours of admin.""
The Context
The "Do It Yourself" approach is the default for many bootstrapped founders. It costs nothing but the £50 government fee (if filing by post) or £12 online. However, the hidden cost is your time and the potential legal cleanup costs later.
The Why
DIY formation requires you to read and understand government guidance on SIC codes, Persons with Significant Control (PSC), and share classes. A simple mistake here—like issuing 100 shares at £1 each but only paying for 1—creates a "Called Up Share Capital" debt that technically means you owe your own company money. Rectifying these mistakes requires filing separate confirmation statements (costs £13-£40 each) and wasting hours on the phone. StartMy's smart forms validate your data in real-time, preventing these common rookie errors before they are filed.
The Verdict
Your time as a founder is your most scarce resource. Spending 3 hours researching legal forms to save £19 is a poor return on investment. StartMy allows you to outsource the compliance headache and focus on your product, knowing the legal foundations are solid.
Feature Showdown
Head to head