There is no minimum share capital for a UK private limited company. You can register with a single £1 share, and many overseas parents do exactly that before funding the subsidiary later.
The money you need to register is small: the £100 Companies House fee plus professional and registered office costs. The money you need to operate is a separate question. Fund the UK company to match its plans, not the legal minimum.
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UK business bank account →Is there a minimum share capital for a UK company?
Not for a private limited company, which is the structure almost every overseas business uses. One share worth £1 is enough to register. Public limited companies are different: they need at least £50,000 of share capital, with a quarter of it paid up, before they can trade.
How should an overseas parent fund a UK subsidiary?
Most parents use a mix of share capital and an intercompany loan. Share capital is the money the parent invests in exchange for shares. A loan lets the parent fund day-to-day costs and be repaid later, but it needs a written agreement and can raise tax questions in both countries.
The right balance depends on your plans and your home country's tax rules, so agree it with your advisers before money moves.
What will a UK bank want to see?
A UK bank will want to know how the company is funded and where the money comes from. Expect to show a short business plan, expected turnover and transactions, and evidence of the parent company's funds. A thinly funded company with no clear plan is harder to bank.
Do you need to show funds to sponsor overseas staff?
Yes, in practice. If you plan to bring staff to the UK, the company needs a sponsor licence first, and the Home Office checks that the business is genuine and can meet its duties, including paying sponsored workers properly. A company with no real funding or activity will struggle to pass.
How much working capital should you plan for?
Enough to cover the months before revenue arrives. That means salaries and employer National Insurance, rent and insurance, professional fees, and tax and VAT payments. Work out your monthly running costs, then fund the UK company for a sensible runway on top.
Sources: Companies House fees, GOV.UK · UK Expansion Worker visa, GOV.UK
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