Company secretarial services fees in the UK are usually charged as a fixed monthly or annual amount, with some providers adding separate charges for each filing. At Keystone, registered office plus company secretarial support costs £70 a month, and the statutory Companies House fees, such as £50 a year for a digital confirmation statement, are a separate government charge. The real question is not just the price, but what the fee actually covers.
This guide explains how fees are structured, which costs are set by law and which are set by the provider, and how to compare quotes if you run a UK company from overseas. If you want to know what the service itself involves, read our overview of company secretarial services first.
What do company secretarial services fees usually cover?
Company secretarial work means keeping a company's legal records and public filings correct. A private limited company does not have to appoint a formal company secretary, but the work still has to be done by someone, usually the directors.
A typical service will include some or all of the following:
- Preparing and filing the annual confirmation statement
- Recording changes to directors, shareholders and People with Significant Control (PSCs). A PSC is anyone who owns or controls more than 25% of the company, or otherwise has significant influence over it
- Keeping the company's statutory registers up to date
- Monitoring deadlines and sending reminders
- Handling official post at the registered office
- Answering questions about Companies House requirements
Some providers include all of this in one fee. Others charge a low base fee and then bill separately for each change. Neither model is wrong, but you need to know which one you are buying.
Which costs are statutory and which are the provider's fee?
This is the most common source of confusion in quotes. There are two types of cost.
Statutory fees are paid to Companies House. They are the same whoever files for you. From 1 February 2026 they include:
- Incorporation (digital) - Companies House fee: £100
- Incorporation (paper) - Companies House fee: £124
- Same-day incorporation - Companies House fee: £156
- Confirmation statement (digital) - Companies House fee: £50 per year
- Confirmation statement (paper) - Companies House fee: £110 per year
You can check current fees on the Companies House fees guidance page.
Provider fees are what the secretarial firm charges for its own time, systems, address and responsibility. These vary widely. A quote should make clear whether statutory fees are included or added on top. For more detail on the annual filing itself, see our guide to confirmation statement cost.
What are the common pricing models?
Fixed monthly or annual fee
You pay one predictable amount and the routine work is covered. This suits overseas directors who want certainty and do not want to approve an invoice every time a small change is filed.
Pay per filing
You pay a smaller base fee, or none, and then pay for each filing or change. This can look cheaper at first. It can become more expensive if your company changes directors, issues shares or updates its PSC details during the year.
Bundled with a registered office
Many providers combine the registered office address with secretarial support. This makes practical sense, because statutory post from Companies House and HMRC arrives at the registered office, and the same team can act on it. Read more about our London registered office address service.
What does Keystone charge?
Keystone uses simple fixed pricing:
- UK company incorporation - Fee: £600 one-off, including the Companies House fee, VAT, ID verification and a structure review
- Registered office address - Fee: £50 per month
- Registered office plus company secretarial support - Fee: £70 per month
Our registered office is at 167-169 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5PF. Full details are on our pricing page.
How do I compare company secretarial quotes?
When you receive quotes, ask each provider the same questions:
- Are Companies House fees included or charged on top?
- Is the annual confirmation statement filing included?
- Are director, shareholder and PSC changes included, or charged per change?
- Are statutory registers maintained for you?
- Is post scanned and forwarded, and how quickly?
- Who will actually handle your company? Is it a named UK-based specialist or a general support inbox?
- Can the provider act as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP) for identity verification?
- What is the notice period if you want to leave?
Write the answers in a simple table. The cheapest headline price is not always the lowest total cost over a year.
Why does identity verification affect fees?
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) introduced identity verification for directors and PSCs. From 18 November 2025, new directors and PSCs must verify their identity before incorporation. Existing directors and PSCs verify at their next confirmation statement during a 12-month transition period.
Verification can be done through GOV.UK One Login or through an ACSP. An ACSP is a UK firm registered with Companies House to carry out verification for clients. For overseas directors, using an ACSP is often simpler, because the provider can guide you through the documents. Some providers include this in their fees and some charge extra, so ask. Companies House explains the process in its guidance on verifying your identity for Companies House.
What happens if I try to save money by doing it myself?
Many directors manage their own filings successfully. The risk is not the filing itself, which is usually simple. The risk is missing a deadline.
Failing to file a confirmation statement on time is a criminal offence for the company and its directors, and Companies House can begin action to strike the company off the register. Late accounts also lead to automatic penalties. For directors living in another time zone, often with post going to an address they do not check, these deadlines are easy to miss. Our guide on what to do if a confirmation statement is overdue explains the consequences.
A fixed fee is often less about the work and more about having someone in the UK watching the dates for you.
Are company secretarial fees tax deductible?
Fees paid by the company for running its statutory affairs are generally treated as a business expense. However, your exact position depends on your circumstances, and this guide is not tax advice. Speak to an accountant or a local tax adviser about your company's specific situation. General information is available on the running a limited company page.
Frequently asked questions
Does a private limited company have to pay for a company secretary?
No. Since 2008, private limited companies do not have to appoint a company secretary. The directors remain responsible for the company's filings and records, so many choose to outsource the work.
Are Companies House fees included in Keystone's £70 a month?
The £70 monthly fee covers our registered office and company secretarial support. Statutory Companies House fees, such as the £50 annual confirmation statement fee, are a government charge. We will confirm exactly what applies to your company before you start.
Why do company secretarial fees vary so much between providers?
Providers include different services in their fees. Some charge per filing, some bundle everything, and some include a registered office. Compare what is covered, not only the headline price.
Can I pay for company secretarial services annually?
Many providers offer annual billing. Ask Keystone about the options that suit your company.
Do overseas directors pay more for company secretarial services?
Not at Keystone. Our fees are the same wherever you live. Overseas directors may simply benefit more from having UK-based support, because deadlines and post are handled locally.
Talk to a named UK specialist
If you want clear, fixed company secretarial services fees with no surprises, Keystone Secretarial Services can review your company and explain exactly what is covered. You may also find our guides on outsourced vs in-house company secretary and the UK limited company compliance calendar useful. Start your enquiry or call 0330 043 2654 to speak to a named UK-based specialist.
This article is general information about UK filing requirements, not legal or tax advice. Requirements change - we will confirm what applies to your company before anything is filed.
