How much does it cost to register a CIC?

CIC registration costs £115 online or £139 by post. This is the only mandatory cost to set up a CIC.

What are the annual costs of running a CIC?

The only mandatory annual cost is £34 for the confirmation statement. Filing accounts and CIC34 reports is free.

Do I need an accountant for a CIC?

Not legally required for small CICs. Many directors prepare their own accounts. An accountant typically costs £300-800/year.

Is a CIC more expensive than a regular limited company?

Yes. A standard limited company costs £100 online to register, while a CIC costs £115. However, CICs provide community credibility and access to social enterprise funding that standard companies don't.

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How Much Does It Cost to Set Up a CIC?

Last updated: August 2026

Written by Ben Ahern, Founder of CIC Tools & Co-founder of Homeless Aid UK CIC

Quick Answer

Setting up a CIC costs £115 if you register online, or £139 by post (as of February 2026). That's it - there's no other mandatory fee.

Quick question before you read on

Interested in an online guided CIC setup course?

Ben (who runs CIC Tools and his own CIC) is thinking about turning his experience into a step-by-step video course: setting up, staying compliant, and finding your first funding. He'll only build it if enough founders want it - your answer is the vote.

Watch: the real costs and all seven setup steps (7 minutes)

Registration Costs Breakdown

What	Cost
Online registration	£115
Postal registration	£139
Using CIC Tools	Subscription (includes formation + ongoing tools)

This fee goes to Companies House. The CIC Regulator doesn't charge separately for reviewing your community interest statement - it's all included in the registration fee.

Ongoing Annual Costs

What	Cost	Frequency
Confirmation Statement	£34	Annual
Filing accounts	Free	Annual
Filing CIC34 report	Free	Annual

Total mandatory annual cost: £34

That's just for the confirmation statement. All other filings are free.

For full details on what you need to file, see our CIC Annual Requirements guide.

Optional Costs

Things you might spend money on but don't have to:

What	Typical Cost	Notes
Accountant	£300-800/year	Not required for small CICs
Formation agent	£100-300	Does paperwork for you
Solicitor	£500-2,000	Usually unnecessary
Registered office service	£50-150/year	If you don't want to use home address
Insurance	£200-500/year	Public liability recommended

CIC vs Other Structures: Cost Comparison

Structure	Setup Cost	Time
CIC	£115	2-5 days
Ltd Company	£100	24 hours
Charity (CIO)	Free	8-12 weeks
Sole Trader	Free	Immediate

A CIC costs more than a standard company but gives you community credibility and access to social enterprise funding. Charities are free but take months to register. For a full comparison, see our CIC vs Charity guide.