Cost of Company Secretarial Services
across the UK

# Company Secretarial Services Accreditation

The main UK trade bodies overseeing company secretarial services include the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA), the most prominent body, whose members hold the Chartered Secretary qualification and demonstrate professional competence and ethical standards. The Association of Professional Company Secretaries (APCS) also sets standards for practice, while some providers operate under the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) or the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) if they offer broader compliance or legal services. The Chartered Institute of Secretaries in membership with professional bodies typically indicates that a provider has undergone rigorous training, maintains continuing professional development, and adheres to a code of conduct backed by disciplinary procedures. These credentials signal accountability and professional standing, though not all company secretarial providers are formally accredited—many operate legitimately without formal membership, particularly smaller or niche operators.

To verify a provider's accreditation, you should check their website for membership logos and verify membership directly on the relevant trade body's website, such as ICSA's members register or the APCS directory, where you can search by firm name or individual. It matters because accredited providers are bound by professional standards, carry professional indemnity insurance as a requirement of membership, and face potential sanctions or removal if they breach conduct rules. If a dispute arises—such as poor advice leading to missed filing deadlines or regulatory penalties—an accredited provider's professional body typically offers a complaints procedure and, in some cases, access to compensation schemes. This recourse provides genuine protection that you would lack with an unaccredited provider operating with no external oversight.

Accredited company secretarial service providers typically charge 10–30% more than non-accredited competitors, reflecting the costs of maintaining professional qualifications, insurance, and membership fees. This premium is usually justified because