Ways to open
Find the route that fits the work you want to take on.
From an opportunity to being ready to trade
Compare what each route asks of you, who owns the next step and what still needs to happen before you can invoice.
| Your route | Licence and first income | Your time and the cost of a wrong turn | What you can see and what comes next |
|---|---|---|---|
| Use the authority portals yourself | Your timing follows the authority steps. Plan invoicing and collection separately. | You make the activity and approval decisions. A wrong choice can mean another application, new fees or delayed trading. | You see the status each portal provides. You plan operations and find customers separately. |
| Ask a freelance PRO or a contact | Ask which submissions they can handle and which milestones they can date. First income depends on the remaining work and a buyer. | Agree who will chase documents and who pays for a correction. | Ask for a written sequence and a named owner. Ask what support continues after issue. |
| Use a traditional setup agent | Ask whether the timeline ends at licence issue or covers readiness to invoice. | Check what you still need to arrange and how out-of-scope work is priced. | Ask for status access, the handover terms and how you will reach buyers. |
| Use a lawyer or consultancy | This may suit an ownership or regulatory question. Ask who handles filings and operating steps after advice. | Agree who implements the advice, what you must supply and the cost of further work. | Ask who owns the sequence across advisers and what continues after launch. |
| Wait | Your first lawful trading date may move with your start date. Waiting can make sense while you test demand. | You defer application work. A customer, lease or other deadline may move on. | Set a decision date and name what evidence you need. Your route and customer access stay open questions. |
| Take the Vantablack route | Your Light Path shows the route to licence, the steps before you can invoice and where first income depends on a customer. | Your Receipt shows the agreed scope and charges. Checkpoints show what needs your time. We bear the cost of correcting our own errors. | See who owns each step and what it is waiting on. After opening, eligible businesses can apply to list and pursue paid work through the Ecosystem. |
Apply this to your business
What should I check before choosing a setup package?
Why this matters
Products, services, delivery responsibilities, operating location and ownership influence your setup options. Assess these before comparing prices.
What could change the answer?
Changing the activity, service or business location can change your options, approvals and costs.
Check these details first
- What customers will pay the company for
- Who delivers each service or product
- Where the work and customers will be
- Owners, premises and initial visa needs
Choose your next step
Understand the decision ↗Understand what to check before choosing a setup option.See the reasoning in a case ↗See how the business needs and limits shaped the advice.Check relevant activities ↗Read the activity description. A listing does not mean your business is approved.Plan my business setup ↗Answer questions about your own business to prepare for a consultation.