Business Investment Account

It’s important to keep your company information up to date to ensure your Business Account remains secure, compliant, and accurately reflects your company’s structure. This article explains how to notify us of changes and what we may need from you.

What You Can Update

You can request an update if there’s a change to your:

• Company name
• Registered address
• Directors (additions or resignations)
• Shareholders or beneficial ownership (25%+)
• Company bank account details
   

These changes must align with what’s listed on Companies House – if they haven’t been updated there, we may ask you to do that first.

What We May Ask For

Depending on the change, we may require:

• A recent confirmation statement or Companies House filing
• Photo ID and proof of address for new directors or owners
• A PDF bank statement (if updating your company’s bank account)
• A new company document pack if your company has changed structure or name

We’ll confirm exactly what’s needed once you get in touch.

How to Request an Update

To update your company details, please email our Client Support team from your registered contact address, and include:

• Your company name and registration number
• A clear description of the change
• Any supporting documents (PDFs only ‑ no screen photos)

We’ll respond promptly and guide you through any additional verification steps.

Why Accuracy Matters

Accurate company information helps us:

• Meet our regulatory obligations (FCA and anti‑money laundering)
• Ensure all reporting and documentation is correct
• Prevent delays in transactions or withdrawals
• Protect your company’s account from unauthorised access
   

As part of your application to open a Business Account with InvestEngine, we’re required to verify your company’s identity, ownership, and banking details. This is a standard part of our regulatory obligations under UK financial rules.

Below is a full list of the documents we may request – along with guidance on how to provide them.

Company Verification

We’ll automatically pull company information from Companies House, but we may ask you to upload one of the following if we’re unable to verify it:

• Certificate of incorporation
• Company register or confirmation statement (showing directors and shareholders)
• Memorandum and Articles of Association (for certain business structures)

Director & Beneficial Owner Identification

We may require identity documents for:

• All directors
• Any individuals with 25% or more ownership

Accepted ID documents:

• Valid UK or international passport
• Valid UK photocard driving licence

These must be:

• Clear, in colour, and valid (not expired)
• Uploaded as original digital files – not photos of a screen

Proof of Address (for directors/owners)

If address verification is required, you may be asked for:

• A recent bank statement, utility bill, or council tax statement (dated within the last 3 months)

This must:

• Clearly show the name and UK residential address
• Be uploaded as a PDF or screenshot (not a photograph)

Proof of Company Bank Account

We require a digital bank statement from the company’s UK business account to confirm:

• The company name
• Sort code and account number
• Account is held with a UK‑regulated bank

Please note:

• This must be a PDF or original screenshot from online banking
• Photos taken of a screen will not be accepted
   

When Will These Be Requested?

You’ll be asked to upload your documents during the online application process. In some cases, we may follow up by email if further verification is required.

Our onboarding team will review your documents and get in touch if anything is missing or unclear.

Need Help?

If you’re unsure about a specific requirement or having difficulty uploading your documents, contact our Client Support team for assistance.

Setting up a Business Account with InvestEngine is straightforward, but as a regulated investment platform, we do carry out the necessary checks to verify your company and its directors.

This article outlines what to expect during the application process.

Step‑by‑Step: How to Apply

Create your InvestEngine login

Visit investengine.com/business and begin the application process by creating a company login with your company email address.

Select ‘Business Account’

When prompted, choose to open a Business Account rather than an Individual one.

Provide your company details

You’ll be asked for:

• Company name and registration number
• Registered office address
• Country of incorporation (UK only)
• Business bank account details (in the company’s name)
   

Add director and shareholder information

We require details of all directors and any shareholders with 25% or more ownership.
This is to meet UK anti‑money laundering (AML) and know‑your‑customer (KYC) obligations.

Submit required documentation

You’ll be asked to upload certain documents to verify your company and bank account — see Required Documentation for Business Accounts for a full list.

Wait for verification

Our onboarding team will review your application and documents. Most accounts are approved within a few working days. If anything is missing or unclear, we’ll contact you directly.

Once Approved

After your Business Account is approved, you’ll be able to:

• Create your first investment portfolio
• Choose between DIY ETF investing or a Managed Portfolio
• Set up AutoInvest and recurring contributions
• Access detailed performance reporting and account statements

Need Support?

If you have any questions during the application, our team is available to help. Please contact Client Support and let us know you’re applying as a business.

InvestEngine Business Accounts are built for UK limited companies seeking a cost‑efficient, long‑term investment solution for their surplus capital. Before applying, it’s important to ensure your company meets our eligibility requirements.

Who We Can Accept

To open a Business Account, your company must be:

• A UK‑registered private limited company (Ltd) or Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)
• In good standing with Companies House
• Equipped with a UK business bank account in the company’s name
• Managed by at least one UK‑based director or Person of Significant Control (PSC) (must be the applicant)

We also require a clear understanding of your company’s ownership and structure. All beneficial owners with 25% or more shareholding must be disclosed during the application process.

Business Types We Currently Don’t Support

At present, we are unable to open Business Accounts for:

• Sole traders or self‑employed individuals
• Partnerships
• Public Limited Companies (PLCs)
• Trusts, charities, or non‑UK entities
• Companies acting as nominees or holding assets on behalf of others
• Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs)

Further Information

• Only a director of the company can apply for a Business Account
• Additional verification may be required for complex ownership structures
• You’ll need to provide company documents ‑ see What documents do I need? for details

Learn more about the platform at our Business Accounts page
Already have an account? Visit the Business section in My Account FAQs

1. When are VAT invoices generated?
VAT invoices are automatically generated on the 5th of each month at the end of the business day. 

2. How will I receive my VAT invoice?
You will receive your VAT invoice via email. Additionally, you can access and download it from 'Reports' in your dashboard.

3. What period does each VAT invoice cover?
Each VAT invoice covers transactions from the previous calendar month. For example, the invoice generated on March 5th will cover transactions from February 1st to February 28th (or 29th in leap years).

4. What information is included in the VAT invoice?
Each VAT invoice includes:

• Your company name and address

• Your InvestEngine account number

• Invoice date and number

• A breakdown of your transactions

• The total amount, including VAT

5. Can I request an invoice for a specific transaction?
Yes, if you need an invoice for a specific transaction outside of the monthly VAT invoice, please contact our support team.

6. What should I do if I haven’t received my VAT invoice?
If you haven’t received your VAT invoice by the 6th of the month, please check your spam folder. If it’s still missing, contact our support team for assistance.

7. Can I update my information for future invoices?
Yes, you can update your address details in your account settings before the next invoice generation date.

8. What if there is an error on my VAT invoice?
If you notice an error on your invoice, please reach out to our support team as soon as possible so we can correct it.

9. How can I download past VAT invoices?
You can download previous VAT invoices from your account dashboard under the ‘Billing’ or ‘Invoices’ section.

10. Who should I contact for further questions?
If you have any additional questions, please reach out to our customer support team via email at support@investengine.com

There are two primary use cases for InvestEngine’s Business Accounts. These are: 

1. Utilising your VAT and Corporation Tax. Business owners typically put tax money aside ahead of time, ready to pay when the time comes. VAT is typically paid once a quarter, while corporation tax is typically paid once a year. 

During these periods, this money is idle and business bank accounts pay little interest. Instead, you can put the money to work in a low‑risk Money Market Fund or Bond ETF, for example, and aim for returns on investments. 

2. Long‑term investments for business owners. Rather than paying out business profits in the form of dividends – and being subject to dividend tax – business owners can invest business profits pre‑tax and use the investments later in their life. 

Situations will differ from person to person but many people have little income after retirement, so their dividends will most likely be taxed at a different (often lower) rate.

This FAQ entry is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute or be relied upon as investment, tax or accounting advice. If you are unsure about how to proceed, you should seek independent advice before entering into any transactions.

Limited companies and Limited Liability partnerships can open an InvestEngine Business Account. If you run another business type, please contact us to discuss.

Please note: we can not onboard business accounts if any of the Directors/Persons with significant control hold US citizenship. We hope to be able to provide our service to US citizens based in the UK in the near future.

We can not open business accounts if they are registered in British overseas territories, for example the British Virgin Islands.

As a regulatory requirement, all businesses must have a Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) to conduct financial transactions. An active LEI is required to open and maintain an InvestEngine Business Account.

Getting Your LEI with InvestEngine

• If you don’t already have an LEI, InvestEngine will provide one free of charge for the first year.
• The LEI will be automatically applied once you have funded your account with a minimum of £100.
• If your business already has an active LEI, you would need to provide the LEI number during registration

LEI Renewal After the First Year

• From the second year onwards, you must maintain an active LEI to continue trading.
• Business account holders can choose to renew their LEI independently.
• If you are unable to renew it yourself, InvestEngine can arrange renewal on your behalf for a fee of £45. We will contact you via email before charging this amount.

If no action is taken to renew your LEI, InvestEngine one of following will happen:

Option 1:

• We will liquidate holdings before the LEI expires and no trades will be executed on the account 
• If there is no response after multiple attempts to contact you, we will withdraw any remaining funds after 14 days and send them to the nominated bank account on file.

Option 2:

• If sufficient cash is available, we will deduct the £45 renewal fee from your account.
• If there is insufficient cash, we may generate the fee from your Managed Portfolio or liquidate an appropriate portion of your DIY portfolio.

Option 3 (no investments on the account):

• The account may be restricted until an active LEI is provided.

For further assistance, please contact our support team.