Register a company in any major jurisdiction. Guides for Australia, New Zealand, UK, USA, Canada, and Ireland — plus everything that comes after registration.
Registering a company is the easy part. A few forms, a filing fee, and you're incorporated. What most guides don't tell you is what comes next — the compliance calendar, annual reviews, beneficial ownership registers, director obligations, and the growing mountain of regulatory requirements that starts the moment your company number is issued.
This hub covers how to register a company in six major jurisdictions, and what you need to manage once you're registered.
Every jurisdiction that lets you register a company also has ongoing obligations attached to that registration. Miss them and you face fines, deregistration, or director liability. The list is longer than most founders expect:
EntityFlo is purpose-built for what comes after. If you're managing multiple entities across jurisdictions, Entity 360 gives you a single system of record — compliance deadlines, director registers, beneficial ownership, and registry sync in one dashboard.
Regulator: ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission)
Structure: Proprietary Limited Company (Pty Ltd)
Cost: AUD $538
Timeframe: Same day online
Key obligation: ASIC annual review, beneficial ownership register
Australia uses a federal registration system. A Pty Ltd is the standard structure for private companies. EntityFlo is an ASIC Digital Service Provider (DSP) — meaning your entity data syncs directly with ASIC in real time.
→ Full guide: Register a Company in Australia
Regulator: NZ Companies Office
Structure: Limited Company
Cost: NZD $115
Timeframe: Same day
Key obligation: Annual return, director with NZ or AU address required
New Zealand has one of the fastest company registration systems in the world. EntityFlo integrates natively with the NZ Companies Office for live entity sync and compliance tracking.
→ Full guide: Register a Company in New Zealand
Regulator: Companies House
Structure: Private Limited Company (Ltd)
Cost: £50 online
Timeframe: 24 hours
Key obligation: Annual confirmation statement, PSC register, HMRC Corporation Tax registration
The UK has a well-developed digital registration system via Companies House. Post-registration, directors must maintain a Register of Persons with Significant Control (PSC) and file annual confirmation statements.
→ Full guide: Register a Company in the UK
Regulator: State-level Secretary of State (Delaware most common for corporations)
Structure: LLC, C-Corp, or S-Corp
Cost: From $90 (Delaware)
Timeframe: 1 day (Delaware expedited)
Key obligation: Registered agent in each state, EIN from IRS, foreign qualification if operating in multiple states
The US doesn't have a single federal company register. Most businesses incorporate in Delaware — favoured for its legal protections and business-friendly courts — and then register as a "foreign corporation" in the states where they actually operate.
→ Full guide: Register a Company in the USA
Regulator: Corporations Canada (federal) or provincial
Structure: Corporation under CBCA (Canadian Business Corporations Act)
Cost: ~CAD $200 (federal online)
Timeframe: 1–5 business days
Key obligation: Annual return, 25% Canadian resident directors (federal), registered office
Canada gives you a choice: incorporate federally (right to operate in all provinces) or provincially. Federal is more common for companies intending to operate nationally or internationally.
→ Full guide: Register a Company in Canada
Regulator: Companies Registration Office (CRO — cro.ie)
Structure: Private Limited Company (LTD)
Cost: €50 online
Timeframe: 5–10 working days
Key obligation: Annual return to CRO, one EEA-resident director or Section 137 bond, mandatory company secretary
Ireland is a popular EU gateway for international businesses — particularly post-Brexit. The 12.5% corporation tax rate and English-speaking legal system make it attractive for companies wanting EU market access.
→ Full guide: Register a Company in Ireland
| Jurisdiction | Regulator | Cost | Timeframe | Local Director? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | ASIC | AUD $538 | Same day | 1 AU-resident director | |
| New Zealand | NZ Companies Office | NZD $115 | Same day | 1 NZ or AU-resident | |
| United Kingdom | Companies House | £50 | 24 hours | None required | |
| United States | State Secretary of State | From $90 | 1 day | None (Delaware) | |
| Canada | Corporations Canada | ~CAD $200 | 1–5 days | 25% must be Canadian | |
| Ireland | CRO | €50 | 5–10 days | 1 EEA-resident or bond |
Registration is day one. Here's what the first 90 days typically looks like across most jurisdictions:
Week 1–2
Month 1
Month 2–3
Miss any of these and the penalties can be severe — particularly around beneficial ownership disclosure, which carries criminal liability in Australia, the UK, and Ireland.
If you're registering in multiple jurisdictions — or already managing a group of companies — spreadsheets don't scale. One missed ASIC annual review, one unfiled confirmation statement, one director change not updated in the register — and you're exposed.
EntityFlo's multi-jurisdiction platform gives CFOs, company secretaries, and general counsel a single system of record for every entity in the group:
Can I register a company in multiple countries at once?
Not via a single application — each jurisdiction has its own registration process and regulator. You'll register separately in each country. EntityFlo then lets you manage all of those entities from one dashboard.
Do I need a local address to register a company?
In most jurisdictions, yes. You'll need a registered office address in the country of incorporation. This can be a service address in many cases — you don't need a physical office.
Do I need a local director?
Requirements vary. Australia requires at least one Australian-resident director. New Zealand requires one director with an Australian or NZ address. Ireland requires one EEA-resident director (or a bond). The UK and Delaware (US) have no local director requirement. Canada (federal) requires 25% Canadian-resident directors.
How long does company registration take?
Fastest: Australia and New Zealand — same day. UK — 24 hours. Delaware — 1 day (expedited). Canada — 1–5 days. Ireland — 5–10 working days.
What ongoing obligations do I have after registering?
Annual returns, financial statements, beneficial ownership disclosure, director registers, tax registrations, and licence renewals — all jurisdiction-specific. EntityFlo's compliance calendar automates these across your entire entity group.
What is EntityFlo and how does it help?
EntityFlo is entity management software for CFOs, company secretaries, and general counsel managing multiple entities. It syncs with ASIC and other registries, tracks compliance obligations, manages beneficial ownership registers, and gives you a single source of truth for your entire corporate group. Start a free trial.
Is EntityFlo an ASIC Digital Service Provider?
Yes. EntityFlo is ASIC DSP-licensed, giving it direct integration with ASIC's systems. Changes to Australian company details lodge directly with ASIC — no paper forms, no manual submission.
Managing multiple entities? EntityFlo gives you a single system of record.
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