UK company law does not require you to live in the United Kingdom to own or direct a UK company. Thousands of non-UK residents own British businesses. The law is clear, and it is on your side. Hearthstone Supported Living is a complete, registered UK company — ready for you to own from anywhere in the world.
UK company law is some of the most business-friendly in the world. Here is what it means for you.
The Companies Act 2006 governs all UK limited companies. It does not contain any residency requirement for shareholders or directors. You can be a citizen of any country, living in any country, and legally own and direct a UK company.
This is not a loophole. It is the law as written. Thousands of non-UK residents own UK companies. It is a normal, everyday part of British business.
Shareholders: No residency requirement. Any person, anywhere in the world, can own shares in a UK limited company.
Directors: No residency requirement. Since October 2008, there is no requirement for a UK-resident director. You can direct a UK company from abroad.
Companies House: The company is registered at Companies House (Company No: 16XXXXXX). This is a public register. Anyone can verify the company exists. It is a real, registered UK business.
CQC: CQC requires a UK-based registered manager for regulated activities. You hire this person. They do not need to be a shareholder or director.
For more detailed information about foreign ownership, visit our Foreign Buyers guide.
You do not need to be in the UK to own and profit from this business.
The model is straightforward. You own the company. A UK-based registered manager runs the daily operations. Here is what that looks like in practice.
Year 2 projections. Passive ownership with hired management.
| Your Investment | £5,000 |
| Annual Revenue | £334,800 |
| Operating Costs (inc. manager salary) | £274,940 |
| Annual Profit (Dividends to You) | £59,860 |
| Operating Margin | 17.9% |
| Break-Even Occupancy | 55% |
Dividends are paid from the company to you, wherever you are. The £59,860 is the company’s profit after all costs, including the registered manager’s salary. This is your income for owning the business. The manager does the work.
Everything is built, live, and verifiable. This is what international ownership looks like.
From the outside, this is indistinguishable from any other UK care business. It has a company registration, a website, an email address, a phone number, and 206 professional documents. The fact that the owner lives in Lagos or Dubai or Toronto is irrelevant. It is a UK company, operating under UK law, serving UK residents.
A brief overview. We recommend consulting a qualified tax adviser.
The company’s profits are subject to UK corporation tax, currently 25% for profits over £250,000 and 19% for profits under £50,000 (with marginal relief between). This is paid by the company, not by you personally. It is already factored into the financial projections.
When profits are distributed to you as dividends, they may be subject to tax in your country of residence. Tax treatment varies significantly between countries. Some countries have double taxation agreements with the UK that prevent you from being taxed twice on the same income.
We strongly recommend consulting a tax adviser who understands both UK tax law and the tax law of your country of residence. This is standard practice for anyone with international business interests.
If you are already living in the UK on a sponsored visa, the rules are different.
This page is for people living outside the UK who want to own a UK business remotely. If you are already in the UK on a visa — Skilled Worker, Student, Graduate, or any other sponsored route — the situation is different because visa conditions may restrict your business activities.
Specific guidance on owning a Zundara venture while on a UK visa. What you can and cannot do.
No. You can own and direct the company entirely remotely. Board meetings happen over video call. Documents can be signed digitally. Dividends can be transferred internationally. There is no legal requirement for you to set foot in the UK to own a UK company. That said, visiting your business once or twice a year is sensible — it helps you understand the operation and build a relationship with your manager and team.
Yes. Since October 2008, there is no requirement for a UK-resident director. You can serve as sole director of a UK company while living in any country. Companies House requires a service address (which can be a UK registered office address), but the director themselves can be anywhere. This is standard practice and fully legal under the Companies Act 2006.
Profits are distributed as dividends from the company. The company’s UK bank account transfers dividends to your personal account — either a UK account you set up remotely, or an international account. International dividend payments are a routine banking operation. Your bank may charge a small transfer fee. The dividend amount is determined by the directors (you) at board meetings, based on the company’s available profits.
Yes. Completely, unambiguously legal. The Companies Act 2006 does not restrict company ownership by nationality or residency. The UK government actively encourages foreign investment in British businesses. Companies House registers thousands of companies with non-UK directors and shareholders every year. There is nothing unusual, grey-area, or questionable about this arrangement. It is how UK company law works.
The company will need a UK business bank account for receiving payments from local authorities and paying staff and suppliers. Opening a UK business bank account as a non-resident director is possible but can involve additional verification steps. Some banks specialise in serving companies with overseas directors. Your registered manager, as a UK resident, can also assist with the banking setup. We can advise on the best approach during the onboarding process.
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Hearthstone Supported Living — a complete, CQC Application-Ready UK care company. No visa required.
