Business investing

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Investing through a Business Account with InvestEngine is cost‑effective and transparent, with no hidden charges. This article outlines how our fees work, the key tax considerations for companies, and what reports you’ll receive to help with your business accounting and compliance.

Platform Fees

We do not charge platform fees for Business Accounts.

You’ll only pay:

• The ongoing charges figure (OCF) built into each ETF‑ this is charged by the fund provider, not InvestEngine
• If you have a Managed Portfolio, there is a 0.25% annual management fee, deducted monthly from your cash balance 

There are no dealing charges, withdrawal fees, or charges for setting up or closing an account.

Tax Considerations

Investments made through a Business Account are subject to corporation tax on any capital gains, dividends, or interest earned.

You should be aware of:

• Dividend income: Dividends received by the company may be taxable
• Capital gains: Gains from selling ETFs may be included in your company’s profits
• Interest income: Any interest earned on uninvested cash is also taxable

We strongly recommend speaking to your accountant or a qualified tax adviser to understand how investment income will affect your company’s tax position.

Useful links:
Corporation Tax Overview — GOV.UK
HMRC guidance on company tax returns

Reports and Statements

To help with your business accounting and tax submissions, you’ll have access to:

• Valuation Reports — showing current holdings and performance
• Transaction Reports — detailing buys, sells, and income
• Capital Gains summaries — to support tax calculations
• VAT Report — available for eligible VAT‑registered businesses
• Annual Costs and Charges Report — required by FCA regulations

Reports can be generated and downloaded directly from your account dashboard.

See Understanding my reports for more on report frequency and where to find them.

Regulatory Compliance

As an FCA‑regulated platform, we meet all UK requirements for:

• Anti‑money laundering checks
• Client money and asset protection
• Transparent cost disclosure and reporting

Learn more in How we’re regulated and operate.

Need Help?

If you have questions about reporting formats or finding specific tax information, please contact our Client Support team. While we can’t provide tax advice, we’ll help you get the right documentation for your accountant.

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 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.