Research by the World Bank shows that it takes just 13 days to set up a business in the UK compared to the European average of 32 days. It ranks the UK first in Europe and sixth in the world as a location for running a business.

The UK’s open, transparent and business-friendly system makes it easy to start up a new company and there are no separate rules for foreign business entities. For full details on registering a UK company or other business structure visit the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) site.

If you’re looking for a suitable location for your business, the UKTI website has information on the 12 UK investment regions including their comparative business strengths. You’ll also find contact details for the regional development agencies (RDAs) that provide business support in each region of the UK.

You can get information on the wide variety of commercial property options available in the UK – from affordable office space to specialist science park and business incubator facilities.

Detailed and practical background advice on key areas of investing in the UK, including signposts to further information sources.

• Forming a company (PDF, 209KB)
• Tax (PDF, 218KB)
• Skill development for R&D in the UK
• Grants for business undertaking R&D in the UK (PDF, 351KB)
• Labour environment (PDF, 228KB)
• Property: commercial and industrial in the UK (PDF, 231KB)
• Grants and incentives in the UK (PDF, 208KB)
• Science parks and business incubators in the UK (PDF, 194KB)
• Importing and exporting in the UK (PDF, 233KB)
• Business and domestic charges payable to local authorities (PDF, 754KB)
• Legal system in the UK (PDF, 206KB)
• FAQs (PDF, 2,586KB)