Overview
1st Formations is one of the UK's most established company formation agents, having incorporated hundreds of thousands of companies. Incorra is a newer entrant that treats formation as the starting point for an AI-powered company management platform. This comparison helps you decide whether you need a traditional formation agent or a full lifecycle tool.
| Feature | Incorra | 1st Formations |
|---|---|---|
| Formation fee | £24.99 | From £12.99 |
| Ongoing management | ✓ From £24.99/mo | ✗ Add-on packages |
| AI Agent | ✓ Incorra Agent | ✗ |
| Compliance tracking | ✓ Automated | ✗ (email reminders only) |
| Tax management | ✓ CT, VAT, PAYE | ✗ |
| Document management | ✓ AI-classified | Basic (PDF downloads) |
| Accounting integration | ✓ Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent | ✗ |
| Banking integration | ✓ Open Banking | ✗ |
| Registered address | ✓ Included in plans | From £39.99/year |
| Post-formation support | ✓ Full platform | Limited |
Formation speed and process
1st Formations has the formation process down to a science. Their basic package starts at just £12.99 (plus the Companies House fee), and standard formation typically completes within a few working hours. The process is simple: choose a package, enter your details, and they handle the filing.
Incorra also files directly with Companies House, with formation typically completing in the same timeframe. The process includes AI-assisted company name checking, SIC code guidance, and a step-by-step flow that explains what each decision means. It takes slightly more time because it is more educational, but you finish with a better understanding of what you have set up.
Pricing
This is where 1st Formations has a clear edge for basic incorporation. Their packages start at £12.99 for a digital-only formation. However, the base package is deliberately minimal, and most useful features are sold as add-ons or higher-tier packages:
- Registered office address: additional cost
- Service address: additional cost
- Confirmation statement filing: additional cost
- Banking referral: separate process
- Compliance reminders: not included
By the time you add the extras most businesses need, the price climbs significantly from that initial £12.99 figure.
Incorra charges a subscription that bundles formation with ongoing services. The upfront cost is higher than 1st Formations' basic package, but includes compliance tracking, tax management, AI assistance, document management, and financial analytics. There are no upsells or hidden add-on fees.
Post-formation support
1st Formations is primarily a formation agent. Once your company is incorporated, their job is largely done. They offer some ongoing services like registered office addresses and mail forwarding, but they do not provide a platform for managing your company day-to-day. You will need to find separate tools for compliance tracking, accounting, and tax management.
Incorra is designed for the years after formation. The dashboard tracks your compliance deadlines, monitors your financials, manages your documents, and provides AI-powered insights about your company's health. Formation is just the first five minutes of a long-term relationship with the platform.
Compliance tracking
1st Formations offers a confirmation statement service as a paid add-on. Beyond that, tracking your compliance obligations (annual accounts, HMRC deadlines, PSC register updates) is your responsibility.
Incorra provides a comprehensive compliance dashboard that monitors all statutory deadlines across Companies House and HMRC. It sends proactive alerts, shows your compliance status at a glance, and lets you take action directly from the platform.
AI features
1st Formations does not offer AI features. It is a traditional web-based formation service with forms and human processing.
Incorra is built around Incorra Agent, a conversational AI that understands your company context. It can answer questions about your obligations, help with decision-making, draft documents, and surface insights from your connected financial data.
Integrations
1st Formations does not integrate with accounting software, banking platforms, or other business tools. It is a standalone formation service.
Incorra connects to Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Stripe, and Open Banking via TrueLayer. All your financial data feeds into a single dashboard with AI-powered analysis.
Target audience
1st Formations is ideal for people who know exactly what they want: a cheap, fast company incorporation with no frills. If you have an accountant already, know your compliance obligations, and just need someone to file the paperwork, 1st Formations does that efficiently and affordably.
Incorra is built for founders who want an ongoing tool for managing their company. First-time directors, solo founders, and small teams benefit most from the guided experience, compliance automation, and AI assistance.
Verdict
Choose 1st Formations if you need a cheap, no-fuss incorporation and you already have your post-formation infrastructure sorted. They are fast, reliable, and have been doing this for years. If you just need a company number and certificate, it is hard to beat their basic package on price.
Choose Incorra if you want a platform that grows with you. Formation is one feature among many, and the real value is in the AI-powered compliance tracking, financial analytics, tax management, and document handling that come after incorporation. The subscription cost reflects an ongoing service, not just a one-off filing.
The comparison is less about which is better and more about what you need. A formation agent versus a management platform are fundamentally different products that happen to overlap at the moment of incorporation.