Your UK expansion is a significant step. Our local experts manage your tax, accounting, payroll and compliance - and can operate your entire finance function - so you can focus on building something great
The UK is full of opportunity. Navigating it shouldn't slow you down. Azets guides overseas businesses through every stage of UK market entry – from company formation to ongoing compliance – giving you clarity, control and confidence at every step.
End-to-end UK market entry support
From first incorporation to ongoing compliance – everything you need under one roof.
Tax, accounting, outsourcing and payroll in one place
Integrated support across your entire UK back office, delivered by one trusted partner.
Services that scale as you grow
From start-up entity to established UK operation – support that evolves with your business.
Flexible access to C suite expertise
From a commercial strategy and market entry planning to product launches, marketing capability build and FD support for an acquisition or rapid expansion.
Why businesses choose the UK for inward investment
The United Kingdom offers a compelling combination of stability, talent and market access that few economies can match:
A stable, globally recognised common law legal system globally recognised for its contract protections
A competitive tax environment, including research & development (R&D) reliefs, the Patent Box and other innovation incentives for qualifying businesses
Access to a highly skilled, English-speaking workforce across technology, finance, professional services and life sciences
London's position as a world-leading international financial centre
A gateway to broader European and global trade through UK bilateral agreements
That said, doing business in the UK requires practical local knowledge. Tax, employment law, company law and financial reporting obligations all differ from your home market. Our role is to remove that complexity – and help you move forward with confidence.
How we help you set up and grow in the UK
Whether you're exploring your first UK entity or scaling an established operation, Azets provides joined-up, end-to-end support:
We manage UK company incorporation, registered office services, statutory filings and ongoing company secretarial obligations - ensuring your UK entity is set up correctly from day one.
From Corporation Tax registration and planning to transfer pricing, R&D claims and annual compliance, our UK tax specialists ensure your business is structured efficiently and remains fully compliant.
We manage VAT registration, quarterly returns, Making Tax Digital obligations and import VAT – supported by practical advice on cross-border trading into the UK.
Management accounts, year-end statutory accounts and day-to-day bookkeeping, delivered as a scalable outsourced service that grows alongside your UK business.
PAYE registration, payroll processing, employer National Insurance, auto-enrolment pensions and expatriate payroll for internationally mobile employees - handled accurately and on time.
UK employment contracts, right-to-work compliance, IR35 guidance and ongoing HR advisory – protecting your business and your people.
Access to experienced C‑suite level specialists on a flexible, project or part-time basis across finance, marketing, sales, IT, operations and HR.
Why Azets for your UK expansion
We're one of the UK's largest accountancy and advisory groups, with experts across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. That means real local knowledge.
Truly national coverage - we support your UK operation wherever you choose to locate, from Edinburgh to Exeter
International network reach - we work alongside your home-market advisers to provide joined-up, cross-border support
A dedicated inward investment team - with deep experience supporting businesses from North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East
Scalable outsourced services - we can act as your entire UK back-office function, scaling up or down as your venture evolves
More than 100,000 clients trust Azets to meet their immediate and evolving needs.
We simplify complexity, reduce risk and deliver sustained outcomes – so you can move forward with confidence.
Get in touch
Ready to start your UK journey? Speak to our UK market entry team today. We'll listen to your objectives and give you clear, straightforward guidance on the right approach for your UK expansion.
Frequently asked questions about doing business in the UK
Foreign companies can establish a UK presence through a subsidiary (a UK limited company), a branch of the overseas parent, or a representative office. Each has different tax, legal and reporting implications. Azets will advise on the right structure for your objectives and manage incorporation, HMRC registration and all initial compliance on your behalf.
A UK limited company can typically be incorporated within 24–48 hours via Companies House. Full operational readiness including HMRC tax registrations, PAYE setup, VAT registration and a UK business bank account generally can vary depending on specific requirements. Azets manages this entire process to minimise delays and get you trading as quickly as possible.
UK companies are subject to Corporation Tax (25% for profits over £250,000; 19% small profits rate for profits under £50,000), VAT at 20% standard rate if turnover exceeds £90,000, and employer National Insurance at 13.8%. We provide advice on Transfer Pricing, Withholding Taxes and Cross Border considerations. Sector-specific levies may also apply. Azets provides comprehensive UK tax planning to ensure you're structured as efficiently as possible from the outset.
A UK subsidiary is a separate legal entity, legally distinct from the overseas parent, filing its own UK tax returns and financial statements. A UK branch is an extension of the overseas parent in the UK, with the parent remaining legally responsible. The right choice depends on your liability preferences, tax objectives and the nature of your UK activity - and it's one of the first decisions we'll help you make.
Yes. We support inward investment from businesses and investors across the Americas, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa and beyond. We work closely with your local advisers in your home market and can draw on our international network across to provide truly joined-up support.
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“We support businesses from around the world to establish and grow in the UK, providing practical, hands-on support across every stage of market entry.
Whether you are setting up a new UK entity, building a sales and marketing function, or securing the right operational footprint, including office space, we bring the experience, insight and network to get you up and running quickly and effectively.
Beyond initial setup, we continue to support your growth, helping you scale with confidence in the UK market. Through our membership with Allinial Global, we also connect you to a trusted international network – supporting seamless expansion beyond the UK and across key global markets.”
