Tools & Resources

Company Formation
Guide for Operators

How to legally register your business in the US, UK, Canada and Australia — before you take your first booking.

Important: Progressive83 is not a firm of solicitors, lawyers, or registered legal advisors. The information on this page is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Rules change and vary by state, province, and territory. We strongly recommend consulting a qualified professional before forming your company.

Step one

Choose your business structure

For most P83 operators, an LLC (US/CA/AU) or Limited Company (UK) is the right choice. Here's a quick comparison.

LLC / Ltd Company

Limited liability protects your personal assets. Simple to run, tax-efficient and credible with clients.

Personal asset protection Tax flexibility Professional credibility

Starting out

Sole Trader / Self-Employed

Fastest to set up. No separation between you and the business — higher personal risk as you grow.

Zero formation cost Minimal admin

Advanced

Corporation / PLC

For operators running multiple territories or seeking investment. Heavier compliance and accounting requirements.

Investor-ready structure Scalable ownership

Not sure which structure is right for you? Our advisors can walk you through the best option for your situation on a free call.

Work With Us →

Select your country

Form your US LLC with Bizee

Bizee (formerly Incfile) is our recommended partner for US LLC formation. They handle the state filing, registered agent and EIN application — so you can focus on the business, not the paperwork.

✓ Plans from $0 + state fee · ✓ Registered agent included free (year 1) · ✓ EIN application included

Form with Bizee →

Which state to form in? If you're operating in one state, form there. If you're unsure, Delaware and Wyoming are popular for their low fees and flexible laws — but you'll still need to register as a "foreign LLC" in your operating state, which adds cost. Most operators just form in their home state.

Step-by-step: US LLC formation

Choose your state and business name

Search your state's Secretary of State database to confirm your chosen name is available. Your name must include "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company". Avoid names too similar to existing businesses — this can trigger rejection.

File your Articles of Organisation

This is the legal document that creates your LLC. You can file directly with your state's SOS office (most have online portals) or use Bizee to handle it. State filing fees range from $50 (Kentucky) to $500+ (Massachusetts).

→ Let Bizee handle the filing

Appoint a Registered Agent

Every US LLC needs a registered agent — a person or service with a physical address in your state to receive legal documents. Bizee includes this free for year one. After that, it's typically $119/year.

⚠️ You cannot use a PO Box as your registered agent address

Get your EIN (Employer Identification Number)

Your EIN is your business tax ID — you need it to open a business bank account and pay employees or contractors. Apply free directly at IRS.gov or let Bizee do it as part of their package. Takes minutes online.

→ Apply free at IRS.gov

Create an Operating Agreement

Not legally required in all states, but strongly recommended. This document sets out ownership percentages, how profits are distributed and what happens if an owner leaves. Bizee provides a template as part of formation.

Open a business bank account

Once your LLC is formed and you have your EIN, open a dedicated business bank account immediately. Never mix personal and business finances — this protects your LLC liability shield.

→ See our Business Banking Guide

Depending on your state and service type, you may need a state business licence, sales tax permit, or home improvement contractor licence. Check your state's business portal — most have a one-stop licence finder tool.

📋 Some states require domestic cleaning businesses to collect sales tax on services

Item	DIY Cost	Via Bizee	Notes
State filing fee	$50–$500	$50–$500	Varies by state — you pay this either way
Articles of Organisation	Free (self-file)	Included	Bizee files it for you
Registered Agent (yr 1)	$0–$150	Free yr 1	$119/yr after year one
EIN application	Free (IRS.gov)	Included	Takes ~10 min online
Operating Agreement	$0–$300	Included	Bizee provides template
Total (typical)	$50–$500	$49–$549	Most operators pay ~$200–300 all in

Form your UK Limited Company

The UK has one of the simplest company formation processes in the world. You can incorporate directly through Companies House for £50, or use a formation agent who handles the whole thing in a few hours.

✓ From £12.99 via agent · ✓ Same-day formation available · ✓ Full digital process

Companies House →

Private Limited Company (Ltd) vs Sole Trader: A Ltd company separates your personal assets from business liabilities and often looks more credible to commercial clients. Sole trader is quicker to set up but offers no liability protection. Most P83 operators start as Ltd from day one.

Step-by-step: UK Ltd Company formation

Choose and check your company name

Your name must be unique and end in "Limited" or "Ltd". Search the Companies House register to check availability. Avoid names that imply government authority or are misleading about your business type.

→ Search Companies House register

Prepare your incorporation documents

You'll need a Memorandum of Association (legal statement of intent to form a company) and Articles of Association (internal rules). If you form online through Companies House, these use standard model articles automatically.

Create a Companies House account and complete the IN01 form. You'll need your registered office address (must be in the UK — can be a service address), director details and share structure. Fee is £50 online, typically approved within 24 hours.

→ Register at GOV.UK

💡 Formation agents like Rapid Formations do this for as little as £12.99 and often complete in under 3 hours

You must register for Corporation Tax within 3 months of starting to trade. Do this via your HMRC business tax account online. You'll need your Company Registration Number (CRN) from Companies House.

⚠️ Failure to register on time can result in a penalty from HMRC

VAT registration is mandatory once your 12-month rolling turnover exceeds £90,000 (2024/25 threshold). You can voluntarily register earlier — this can look more credible to commercial clients and lets you reclaim input VAT.

Open a business bank account

UK law requires Ltd company finances to be kept separate from personal finances. Open a dedicated business account as soon as your CRN is issued. You'll need your CRN, Certificate of Incorporation and proof of ID.

→ See our Business Banking Guide

Set up PAYE if taking on employees

If you hire employees (not self-employed contractors), you must register as an employer with HMRC and operate PAYE. For self-employed contractors, you do not need to operate PAYE — but check IR35 rules if there's any doubt about employment status.

Item	DIY Cost	Via Agent	Notes
Companies House filing fee	£50	£12–£50	Agents bundle this into their package
Registered office address	Free (home address)	£35–£100/yr	Many operators use a service address for privacy
Memorandum & Articles	Free (model articles)	Included	Standard model articles work fine for most
Accountant setup	Optional	£50–£150	Strongly recommended — saves money at year end
Total (typical)	£50	£50–£200	One of the cheapest places in the world to incorporate

Form your Canadian Corporation or Register as a Sole Proprietor

Canada offers both federal incorporation (Canada Business Corporations Act) and provincial incorporation. For most service businesses operating in one province, provincial incorporation is simpler and cheaper.

✓ Federal incorporation from CAD $200 · ✓ Provincial varies $100–$400 · ✓ Can be done fully online

Government of Canada →

Federal vs Provincial incorporation: Federal gives you the right to operate under your name across all of Canada and can look more prestigious, but requires extra-provincial registration in each operating province. Most P83 operators incorporate provincially in their home province — it's simpler and more than sufficient.

Step-by-step: Canadian incorporation

Decide: Federal or Provincial?

If you're only operating in one province, incorporate provincially. Ontario uses the Ontario Business Registry, BC uses BC Registry, Alberta uses the NUANS system. Each has a slightly different process but the core steps are the same.

Conduct a NUANS name search

NUANS (Newly Upgraded Automated Name Search) checks your proposed name against existing corporations and trademarks. Required for federal incorporation and most provincial incorporations. Costs ~CAD $13–15 per search.

→ Run a NUANS search

File your Articles of Incorporation

Submit your Articles of Incorporation to your provincial registry or Corporations Canada for federal. You'll need director information, registered office, share structure and the NUANS report. Most can be filed fully online.

💡 BC and Ontario have streamlined online portals that take less than an hour

Obtain your Business Number (BN) from CRA

Once incorporated, register with the Canada Revenue Agency for your Business Number. This is your tax ID — needed for GST/HST, payroll and corporate income tax. Register online at the CRA Business Registration portal.

→ Register with CRA

You must register for GST/HST once annual revenues exceed CAD $30,000. Some provinces have additional PST (BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) or QST (Quebec). Voluntary registration before the threshold is allowed and may be advantageous.

Open a business bank account

Open a dedicated business account right away — you'll need your Certificate of Incorporation and BN. Many Canadian operators use online banks like Relay or Wise Business alongside a traditional bank for day-to-day operations.

→ See our Business Banking Guide

Item	Typical Cost	Notes
NUANS name search	CAD $13–15	Required for most incorporations
Provincial filing fee	CAD $100–400	Ontario $300, BC $350, Alberta $275
Federal incorporation	CAD $200	Alternative to provincial if operating nationally
Registered office / agent	CAD $100–300/yr	Required in most provinces
Minute book setup	CAD $0–200	Some agents include this; DIY is fine
Total (typical)	CAD $300–700	Varies significantly by province

Register your Australian Business

Australia has a straightforward process managed by ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) for company registration, and the ATO for tax purposes. Most service operators start with an ABN as a sole trader, then incorporate as a Pty Ltd as they grow.

✓ ABN registration is free · ✓ Pty Ltd from AUD $538 via ASIC · ✓ Fully online process

ASIC — Register a Company →

ABN vs Pty Ltd: An ABN (Australian Business Number) lets you trade and collect GST as a sole trader — it's free and fast. A Pty Ltd provides limited liability protection and looks more professional to commercial clients, but has ongoing ASIC fees. Most growing P83 operators move to Pty Ltd by month 3.

Step-by-step: Australian business registration

Apply for an ABN (free, start immediately)

An ABN is your business identity number and is required to invoice clients, register for GST and hire staff. Apply free at the Australian Business Register. Takes 15 minutes and you typically get your ABN immediately if your details match ATO records.

→ Apply for ABN at ABR

If you're trading under any name other than your own legal name, you must register a business name with ASIC. Costs AUD $42/year or AUD $98 for 3 years. Search the ASIC register first to check availability.

→ Search ASIC register

Incorporate a Pty Ltd via ASIC (when ready)

When you're ready for limited liability protection, register a proprietary limited company via the ASIC portal or a registered agent. You'll need director details, shareholder information and a registered office address in Australia. Fee is AUD $538 for online registration.

💡 Company registration agents like ASIC Connect or Company123 simplify this process

You must register for GST once annual turnover reaches AUD $75,000. Register via the ATO's Business Portal or your myGov business account. Once registered, you charge 10% GST on your services and lodge quarterly BAS statements.

→ ATO GST registration guide

If you hire employees (not contractors), you must withhold tax from their wages and remit to the ATO. Register for PAYG Withholding at the same time as GST. Self-employed contractors manage their own tax obligations.

Open a business bank account

Open a dedicated business account as soon as you have your ABN (for sole traders) or ACN (for Pty Ltd). Keep business and personal finances completely separate from day one.

→ See our Business Banking Guide

Check state-specific licences

Some Australian states require a licence for certain cleaning or maintenance services (especially if working in aged care facilities or with chemicals). Check your state's fair trading or licensing authority for requirements in your industry.

Item	Sole Trader (ABN)	Pty Ltd	Notes
ABN registration	Free	Free (separate)	Free via ABR, takes minutes
Business name	AUD $42/yr	AUD $42/yr	Only if trading under a business name
ASIC company registration	N/A	AUD $538	One-off government fee
ASIC annual review fee	N/A	AUD $310/yr	Mandatory annual fee to ASIC
Registered office address	Free (home)	Free–AUD $200/yr	Can use home or service address
Total year 1	AUD $0–42	AUD ~$890	Pty Ltd has ongoing compliance costs

Tools & Resources

🏦

Business Banking

Open the right account once you're registered

📍

Territory Checker

Validate your local market before launch

🌐

Domain Generator

Secure your business name online

Ready to launch your service business?

We handle company formation, territory research, branding and all your systems — get you trading in 21 days.

Work With Us

Company FormationGuide for Operators

Choose your business structure

LLC / Ltd Company

Sole Trader / Self-Employed

Corporation / PLC

Form your US LLC with Bizee

Step-by-step: US LLC formation

Form your UK Limited Company

Step-by-step: UK Ltd Company formation

Form your Canadian Corporation or Register as a Sole Proprietor

Step-by-step: Canadian incorporation

Register your Australian Business

Step-by-step: Australian business registration

Ready to launch your service business?

Company Formation
Guide for Operators