---
title: "The November Companies House Shake-Up: What Creative Business Owners Must Do Now"
description: New Companies House rules start this month, with fee increases from Feb 2026. What creative business owners need to know and do now.
image: https://esxr.co.uk/hubfs/251125%20Companies%20House.webp
---

[Skip to content](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/the-november-companies-house-shake-up-what-creative-business-owners-must-do-now#main-content)

[![Eat Sleep Excel Repeat Logo](https://esxr.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/ESXR%20Tshirt%20Transparent.png?width=70&height=70&name=ESXR%20Tshirt%20Transparent.png "Eat Sleep Excel Repeat Logo")](https://www.esxr.co.uk)

- [Home](https://esxr.co.uk)
- Who I help 
    - [Creative agencies](https://esxr.co.uk/accountants-for-creative-agencies)
    - [Consultants](https://esxr.co.uk/accountants-for-consultants)
    - [Film, TV and media](https://esxr.co.uk/accountants-for-film-tv-and-media)
    - [Content creators](https://esxr.co.uk/accountants-for-content-creators)
- [Meet me](https://esxr.co.uk/book-a-meeting)
- [Reviews](https://esxr.co.uk/#customer-reviews)
- [Pricing](https://esxr.co.uk/#pricing)
- [Insights](https://esxr.co.uk/blog)
- [About](https://esxr.co.uk/about)
- [020 8938 3736](tel:+442089383736)

- [Contact](https://esxr.co.uk/contact-us)

# The November Companies House Shake-Up: What Creative Business Owners Must Do Now

![Two business owners looking at official forms](https://esxr.co.uk/hubfs/251125%20Companies%20House.webp)

- November 25, 2025

![Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience](https://esxr.co.uk/hubfs/Dean03.webp)

[Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/author/dean-shepherd)

This month marks the start of a **new era of corporate transparency** in the UK. Driven by the Economic Crime & Corporate Transparency Act (ECCT Act), Companies House has begun rolling out the biggest overhaul to business identity verification rules in decades. If you run a creative agency, a production outfit, or a small media business, some of these changes will hit your admin list very soon.

Here’s what you need to know, and what you need to do next.

 

 

### **1. Mandatory identity verification for directors and PSCs**

This is the headline change.

Every **director**, every **Person With Significant Control (PSC)**, and anyone who files information on behalf of a company will soon need to undergo **biometric identity verification**.

Some important implications for creative businesses:

- If your agency has two or three directors, **all must verify**, not just one.

- If a spouse, parent or investor owns >25%, **they must verify** too.

- If you use a creative producer or studio manager to file your Confirmation Statement through your company’s software or agent, they’ll need verified access.

- New directors **cannot be appointed** until verified.

Verification will be done either directly with Companies House, or via approved providers such as your accountant.

**Action point:**  
Have your passport or driving licence at the ready and let all directors and significant shareholders of your company know. 

 

 

### **2. Stronger checks on company formation**

If you’re one of those creative entrepreneurs who forms a new company for every project, be aware that:

- Companies House will now run **much stricter checks at incorporation**.

- You’ll need verification **before** you can file.

- New companies must provide a “**lawful purpose statement**”. A short declaration that you intend to run a legitimate business.

This finally puts an end to the old days of forming a company in 3 minutes with near-zero checks.

**Action point:**  
If you’re planning to spin up a new company for a new agency brand, production arm, or side project, allow a little extra time for the new checks.

 

 

### **3. New powers to query information — and reject filings**

Companies House now has the authority to:

- Query suspicious information

- Request evidence

- Reject filings entirely

- Remove incorrect information from the register

For creative agencies, the most common tripwires will be:

- **Incorrect PSC information** (for example, spouse ownership % not matching the share register)

- **Out-of-date registered office addresses** (agencies often move studios frequently)

- **Inconsistent director details**

- **Dormant companies that are actually trading**

**Action point:**  
Review your statutory records NOW — especially your share register and PSCs — before your next Confirmation Statement.

 

 

### **4. New obligations around registered office addresses**

Registered office addresses must now be **“appropriate addresses”**, meaning:

- You must be contactable there.

- Mail must reach you.

- It can’t be a purely “mail drop" provider.

For creatives working from shared studios or co-working spaces, be careful:

- Some co-working providers no longer allow use as a registered office.

- Some virtual office services won’t meet the new standard.

**Action point:**  
Check that your current registered office meets the new "appropriate address" criteria.

 

 

### **5. More scrutiny on micro-entities and creative side projects**

Many creatives operate multiple micro companies:  
– personal brand  
– agency  
– production vehicle  
– one-off film project  
– merch brand  
– digital product side hustle

Companies House changes mean increased scrutiny on:

- Dormant companies that shouldn’t be dormant

- Micro-entity accounts that look inconsistent

- Frequent changes to officers or PSCs

**Action point:**  
Ask your accountant to review your group of companies so you don’t accidentally fall foul of the new transparency rules.

 

 

### **Why this matters now**

Creative businesses often rely on speed: set up a brand, launch a project, collaborate quickly, scale fast. But with the new ECCT Act requirements, Companies House is no longer a passive filing cabinet, it’s an active regulator.

You will need:

- Verified directors

- Correct PSC records

- An appropriate registered office

- Cleaner statutory books

- Extra time for incorporations

- Higher-quality accounts and filings

This isn’t optional. Companies House will be enforcing.

 

### **What’s Coming Next: Companies House Fees Are About to Rise**

Alongside the transparency and ID-verification changes, Companies House has confirmed that many of its statutory filing fees will increase **from 1 February 2026**.

Here are the headline fee changes to note for creative businesses:

- The digital incorporation fee will increase from £50 to **£100**. 

- The digital Confirmation Statement filing fee will increase from £34 to **£50**. 

- Some paper-filing fees and less usual filings (overseas entity registration, ACSP registration) also see increases. 

- A few fees are actually reducing (for example the digital voluntary strike-off fee drops from £33 to £13). <https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/business/financial-reporting/companies-house-announces-major-fee-changes?utm_source=chatgpt.com>

**Why this matters for creative businesses:**

- If you’re spinning up a new company (for a production arm, new content brand, side-project) the cost to incorporate will double, so it’s worth doing it *before* February if feasible.

- Your annual cost for Confirmation Statement filings will increase, so you’ll want to budget accordingly.

- If you have multiple companies (common in media/creative world), the cumulative impact can be meaningful.

- The change reinforces the broader theme: compliance is becoming more expensive and more structured — so maintaining tidy statutory records (director/PSC data, registered office address, share registers) is now even more important.

**Action point:**  
If you’re planning to form a new company or file a Confirmation Statement in early 2026, consider doing it *before* 1 February 2026 to lock in the current (lower) fees. Also revisit your company structure now — ask whether each vehicle is serving a clear purpose given the increased cost of maintenance.

 

### **How ESXR can help**

We have tools and processes to streamline director and PSC verification, check your statutory records, and keep your compliance tight, so you can focus on running a creative business without the admin headaches.

If you want an early check-up on your statutory filings, just [drop us a message](https://esxr.co.uk/contact-us).

---

### Found that content useful?

 Why not sign up for more good stuff!!

[![Eat Sleep Excel Repeat logo](https://esxr.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/ESXR%20Tshirt%20(80x80blk).png?width=80&height=80&name=ESXR%20Tshirt%20(80x80blk).png "Eat Sleep Excel Repeat logo")](https://esxr.co.uk/)

I believe service-based businesses are the beating heart of the UK’s economy.

My mission is to free you from the financial and administrative burden of being in business.

### Pages

- [Home](https://esxr.co.uk)
- [Get a quote](https://esxr.co.uk/get-a-quote)
- [Book a meeting](https://esxr.co.uk/book-a-meeting)
- [Creative agencies](https://esxr.co.uk/accountants-for-creative-agencies)
- [Consultants](https://esxr.co.uk/accountants-for-consultants)
- [Film, TV and media](https://esxr.co.uk/accountants-for-film-tv-and-media)
- [Content creators](https://esxr.co.uk/accountants-for-content-creators)
- [About](https://esxr.co.uk/about)
- [Contact](https://esxr.co.uk/contact-us)

#### Resources

- [Insights](https://esxr.co.uk/blog)
- [MTD Guide for Creatives](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/making-tax-digital-for-income-tax-your-complete-guide-for-creative-freelancers)
- [HMRC Rules for TV and Film Freelancers](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/understanding-hmrcs-self-employment-rules-for-film-and-tv-freelancers)
- [Companies House ID Changes](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/companies-house-identity-verification-is-coming-are-you-ready)
- [Creatives Industries Tax Schemes](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/hmrc-approved-tax-schemes-for-creative-companies)
- [VAT Guide for Content Creators](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/vat-for-uk-content-creators-including-the-2025-eu-livestream-rule-change)
- [Tax Relief on Home Running Costs](https://esxr.co.uk/blog/how-to-put-your-home-running-costs-through-the-business)

#### Information

- [hello@esxr.co.uk](mailto:hello@esxr.co.uk?subject=Website%20enquiry)
- [020 8938 3736](tel:+442089383736)
- Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

---

- [Terms and conditions](https://app.usesocket.com/practice/01jp7zghc7mqrr7bgajh904w0t/eat-sleep-excel-repeat/terms-of-business)
- [Privacy policy](https://app.usesocket.com/practice/01jp7zghc7mqrr7bgajh904w0t/eat-sleep-excel-repeat/privacy-policy)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Dean Shepherd CTA FMAAT, Chartered Tax Adviser, ~30 years experience",
    "url" : "https://esxr.co.uk/blog/author/dean-shepherd"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2025-11-25T15:11:42.016Z",
  "datePublished" : "2025-11-25T15:11:28.000Z",
  "headline" : "The November Companies House Shake-Up: What Creative Business Owners Must Do Now",
  "image" : [ "https://esxr.co.uk/hubfs/251125%20Companies%20House.webp" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://esxr.co.uk/blog/the-november-companies-house-shake-up-what-creative-business-owners-must-do-now",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://esxr.co.uk/hubfs/ESXR%20Tshirt%20Transparent-1.png"
    }
  }
}
```