The right entity, in the right place, registered for the right taxes.
Forming a company takes a day. Forming the right one, in the jurisdiction that suits how you will trade, with the registrations that follow, is what stops you paying for a restructure two years later. We advise first and form second.
The whole job, not the visible half.
Everything below is in scope on the plan that includes company formation. Nothing on this list is an add-on.
- Jurisdiction and entity advice based on where your customers, staff and investors are
- Incorporation: Companies House, a UAE free zone or the DED, or a US Secretary of State
- Tax registrations: corporation tax and PAYE, UAE CT and VAT, EIN and state accounts
- Registered office, agent or licence address as required
- Bank account introduction and the documentation banks actually ask for
- Shareholder agreements, share structures and PSC or UBO filings
Three situations we see every week.
Founders choosing between the UK, UAE and US
Each has a case. The UAE has no personal tax and 9 percent corporate tax; the UK has deep investor reliefs; the US has the biggest market and the most complex compliance. The answer depends on the business.
Existing businesses expanding into a new market
A subsidiary, a branch or a new standalone entity each have different tax and liability consequences.
Ecommerce sellers who need an entity to sell on a marketplace
Amazon US, Amazon UK and Noon each have their own requirements for seller entities and tax registration.
Four steps, then a rhythm.
Advise
A structured call on where you sell, where you are based, who invests and where the money needs to end up. Then a written recommendation.
Form
Incorporation documents prepared and filed, name reserved, share capital and officers set.
Register
Tax registrations submitted in the correct sequence, because some cannot happen until others have.
Operate
Bank account, accounting software and the first filing calendar, so the company is ready to trade, not just to exist.
The rules differ. So does the work.
The same service, applied to each jurisdiction's law. Figures checked September 2026.
A private limited company forms at Companies House in 24 hours for a £50 fee. Directors and PSCs must verify their identity with Companies House, mandatory since November 2025. Corporation tax registration is due within three months of starting to trade.
Everything about the UK ↗Free zones such as IFZA, RAKEZ, Meydan and DMCC offer 100 percent foreign ownership and a licence in days; mainland licences through the DED now also allow full foreign ownership for most activities. Corporate tax registration follows incorporation and is mandatory.
Everything about the UAE ↗An LLC or corporation forms at state level; Delaware and Wyoming are common for non-residents. An EIN is obtained from the IRS by fax for foreign owners without an SSN. A registered agent is required in the state of formation and in every state where the company registers to do business.
Everything about the USA ↗One senior accountant. One flat fee. Three countries.
Group figures are Shaazford Global LLC's published numbers across all its service lines.
Can a non-resident own a UK, UAE or US company?
Yes to all three. The UK and US impose no residency requirement on owners or directors. UAE free zones allow 100 percent foreign ownership, and mainland ownership rules were opened in 2021.
Which UAE free zone should I choose?
It depends on the activity, whether you need a physical office, visa quota and cost. IFZA and Meydan suit service businesses and holding companies; DMCC suits commodities and trading; RAKEZ suits light manufacturing. We shortlist against your needs.
How long does a bank account take?
The UK: days for a fintech, weeks for a high-street bank. The UAE: two to eight weeks and heavily dependent on documentation and substance. The US: days with a fintech that accepts foreign owners, longer with a traditional bank.
What about a holding company?
A UAE, UK or US holding company above operating subsidiaries can simplify ownership and dividends, but adds filings and substance requirements. We only recommend it when the benefit outweighs the compliance.
Talk to us about company formation.
Thirty minutes, no pitch deck. Tell us the entities and the countries, and we will tell you honestly what applies and what it costs.