# Setting Up Your Ltd Company

Before you start selling on Amazon, you need to decide how you're going to trade. Most serious sellers set up a **Limited Company (Ltd)** from the start, and for good reason.

You can sell as a sole trader, but it comes with real downsides — your personal finances aren't protected, many wholesale suppliers won't deal with you, and as your turnover grows, it becomes less tax efficient. A Ltd company solves all of that.

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**Why Ltd over sole trader?**

**Limited liability** — Your personal money and assets are legally separate from the business. If things go wrong, your personal finances are protected.

**Tax efficiency** — Once you're earning a decent amount, trading through a Ltd is usually more tax efficient than sole trader, especially if you already have income from elsewhere.

**Supplier credibility** — A lot of wholesale suppliers will only open accounts with Ltd companies. If you want access to the best stock at the best prices, a Ltd makes that conversation a lot easier.

**Fast to set up** — You can be incorporated and ready to trade within 24–48 hours.

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**How to register**

You have two options:

* **Companies House directly** — go to gov.uk and register yourself. It costs £50 online and usually processes within 24 hours.
* **Via a formation agent like Tide** — slightly quicker, and if you're planning to open a Tide business bank account anyway it's a convenient one-stop process.

Either way, the process is straightforward. You'll need:

* Your full name, address, and date of birth
* A proposed company name (check it's available on the Companies House register first)
* At least one director and one shareholder — both can be you
* A registered office address — your home address is fine if you don't have a business premises

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**Setting up a business bank account**

Once your Ltd is incorporated, you'll need a business bank account. Your personal account won't cut it — Amazon will ask for business bank details, and mixing personal and business finances is a headache you don't want.

Two solid options for new sellers:

* [**Monzo**](https://join.monzo.com/c/v7hcdwc) — quick to open, well integrated with business admin tools
* [**Revolut Business**](https://business.revolut.com/signup?promo=B2B-APR1-26-AR-L1\&ext=e40ca77d-ab75-e274-0040-49572a618887\&context=B2B_REFERRAL) — another strong option with good features

Both work well for FBA businesses at this stage.

***

**After you're set up**

A few things to do once your company is registered and your bank account is open:

* Keep your incorporation documents safe — certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles of association
* Register for Corporation Tax with HMRC within 3 months of starting to trade
* When you create your Amazon seller account, use your exact company name, registration number, and registered office address — consistency matters here


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