Eligibility

Check if you’re eligible for an account

You can open up to two Countingup accounts for different businesses, depending on their nature and legal status.

Below we outline the minimum criteria to open an account with us. Note that meeting the criteria to apply for a Countingup account doesn’t guarantee that we’ll be able to offer you an account.

Business types we support

You can apply for an account if you are:

• a sole trader or the director of a limited company,
• at least 18 years old, and
• a UK resident

If you want a Limited Company account, your business needs to:

• be registered as active with Companies House
• be limited by shares
• have up to two directors, including yourself (we’re currently unable to support businesses with more directors)
• have all Persons of Significant Control be UK residents
• have all shares held by individuals, and not by a holding company or another business

Additional requirements

Countingup is app-based and has no physical branches. To open and use your account, you also need:

• a smartphone with the Countingup app installed (minimum supported version iOS 12+ and Android 5+)
• a valid UK mobile number
• a valid email address
• either a UK passport, driving licence or European ID card

Business types we don’t support

• Partnerships
• Charities
• Community Interest Company (CIC)
• Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIO)
• Trusts
• Company limited by guarantee/Private limited company by guarantee

Industries we don’t support

We’re on a mission to make it easier to run a small business and we want to help as many small businesses as possible. Currently, we aren’t able to help everyone though. These are the types of companies we don’t support yet:

• Trading of weapons, explosives or armaments
• Trading in cryptocurrencies & NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens)
• Stock Market/Forex Trading
• Money Service Businesses (such as foreign exchange, loan providers, money transfers)
• Gambling and betting activities including but not limited to; casinos, prize draws, lotteries, competitions
• Trading in precious metals and stones
• Trading in bullion
• Sale or trade of cannabidiol (CBD) products
• Activities of religious organisations
• Places of Worship
• Activities of political parties/organisations
• Social/Community Clubs
• Not for Profit services
• Escort services
• Regulated businesses where the applicant is unable to provide the licence required to operate

Please note that ‘Trading’ refers to all activities of the supply chain including sourcing, production/manufacturing, import/export, distribution, logistics, retail/wholesale and other associated activities.