Skip to main content

Business Paperwork for UK Companies

E
Written by Elvia Amelia
Updated over 4 months ago

To open a business account with Remoly Invoicing for a company registered in the United Kingdom, you’ll need to complete a verification process called KYC (Know Your Customer). This is required by law to confirm your business identity, structure, and ownership.

This means you must provide documents that:

  • Prove your business is active and legally registered

  • Confirm the identity of the people connected to your business

We’ve outlined below the documents you’ll need, depending on your business type.

1. Limited Company

Business documents required:

  • Certificate of Incorporation

  • Memorandum and Articles of Association (or equivalent company constitution)

Personal documents required:

  • Photo ID and proof of residential address of all Directors

  • Photo ID and proof of residential address of all Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs) (anyone with 25% or more ownership)

  • Liveness check of the authorised applicant

2. Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

Business documents required:

  • Certificate of Incorporation

  • Partnership Agreement

Personal documents required:

  • Photo ID and proof of residential address of all Limited Partners*

  • Liveness check of the authorised applicant

*If any Partner is a company (not an individual), we’ll contact you for more details about your structure.

3. Limited or General (Unlimited) Partnership

Business documents required:

  • Partnership Agreement

  • Proof of business address (recent utility bill or bank statement issued within the last 3 months)

Personal documents required:

  • Photo ID and proof of residential address of all Partners

  • Liveness check of the authorised applicant

*If any Partner is a company, we’ll contact you for more details.

4. Sole Trader

Business documents required:

  • Proof of business address (utility bill or bank statement issued within the last 3 months)

Personal documents required:

  • Photo ID and proof of residential address of the Sole Trader (with liveness check)

  • Photo ID and proof of residential address of the authorised applicant (if not the Sole Trader, also with liveness check)

More About Required Documents

Personal Documents (Photo ID)

We accept official, government-issued IDs such as:

  • Passport

  • Driving Licence

  • National ID

For best results, make sure the photo is clear, edges are visible, and there is no glare or blurring. Place the ID flat on a surface in good lighting.

Note: If the Director, UBO, or Partner is a Chinese citizen, only a Chinese National ID (身份证) is acceptable, and both front and back sides must be provided.

Business Documents

1. Certificate of Incorporation

Issued by Companies House, proving your company is legally registered.

2. Partnership Agreement

A legal document showing roles, responsibilities, and ownership between partners.

3. Proof of Business Address

A recent bill or bank statement showing your company’s legal name and address (within the last 3 months).

4. Authorisation Letter

Needed if the applicant isn’t a Director. Templates are available, including a Global version for companies with multiple entities.

5. Declaration of Beneficial Ownership

If ownership isn’t clear, you may be asked to provide a diagram with:

  • Full name, date of birth, nationality, and % ownership of each UBO (25%+)

  • Ownership structure if no one has 25% or more

  • Registration country and % ownership of intermediary entities

This must be on company letterhead, signed by a Director, and dated within the last 6 months.

6. New Business Supporting Documents

If your company is new, we may ask for:

  • Invoices, contracts, or statements

  • Business plan

7. Financial Institution Onboarding Questionnaire

If you’re in financial services, you’ll need to complete the relevant form depending on how you use your Remoly Invoicing account:

  • Third-Party Funds (Unregistered Clients) – for businesses handling client funds where clients don’t have their own accounts

  • Third-Party Funds (Registered Clients) – for businesses where clients each have their own account

  • Operational Use – for business expenses like salaries, rent, or supplier payments

8. High Value Goods Questionnaire

For companies trading luxury or high-value goods such as jewellery, art, or collectibles.

9. Live-Streaming Questionnaire

For businesses running live-streaming services.

10. Marketplace Questionnaire

For businesses operating a marketplace platform.

Key Definitions

  • Director: A person legally allowed to represent the company and make decisions.

  • Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO): Anyone who owns or controls 25% or more of the company, directly or indirectly. This includes ownership via trusts or holding companies.

Did this answer your question?