Hire a UK Nominee Director for Amazon, Shopify & Company Formation

A UK nominee director is a professional individual appointed to your company’s board under a signed nominee director agreement, while you keep 100% of the shares and full control of the business. That distinction is the whole point: it determines whether the arrangement actually supports your Amazon or Shopify verification, or just adds a name to Companies House with no practical effect.

To hire a UK nominee director for Amazon, you register a UK limited company, sign a nominee director agreement with a licensed provider, pass its KYC and AML checks, and use the appointment to support (not replace) your own marketplace and banking verification.

At the end of March 2026, the UK companies register held 5,479,045 companies, and since 18 November 2025 every director and person with significant control (PSC) has had to complete identity verification directly with Companies House under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, a step many international sellers don’t expect when they start the process (Companies House, gov.uk).

Below, we cover when a nominee director actually helps an Amazon, Shopify or Etsy account, what it costs, the hiring process step by step, and the questions to ask before you sign anything.

Key takeaways

• A UK nominee director sits on your company’s board under a legal agreement; you remain the sole shareholder and beneficial owner throughout the arrangement.
• Appointing one can support the documentation banks and marketplaces ask for during KYC checks, but it never guarantees Amazon, Shopify or bank approval, that decision always sits with the platform.
• Since 18 November 2025, ECCTA requires every director and PSC to verify their identity with Companies House, and that includes nominee directors.
• Nominee director services at Activate Global Limited start from £1,300 a year; pricing varies elsewhere by scope, so compare what’s actually included before you sign.

What is a UK nominee director and do you actually need one for Amazon?

A UK nominee director is a professional appointed to your company’s board under a written agreement, while you keep full ownership and control as the beneficial owner and shareholder. Most non-residents do not need one to incorporate — Companies House has never required a UK-resident director for a standard private limited company. Where it becomes relevant is later, when a bank or payment provider wants extra assurance around your UK corporate structure during onboarding.

The legal mechanics behind this who actually controls the company, how the nominee’s duties interact with the PSC regime, and what “beneficial owner” means in practice, deserve a longer explanation than a hiring guide can give properly. We’ve covered that in full in our companion guide, “Who Controls a Company With a Nominee Director?”, including how the 2026 PSC guidance treats significant influence or control. If you’re weighing up whether a nominee director changes who runs your business, start there. This guide assumes you already understand the basic concept and want to know whether and how to actually hire one for an Amazon, Shopify or Etsy business.

Why do Amazon, Shopify and Etsy sellers hire a UK nominee director?

Marketplace and payment onboarding has gotten stricter, not looser. Amazon, Stripe, and UK banks all run KYC and AML checks that go beyond a passport scan, and a nominee director can form part of a properly documented response to that.

• UK business banking support
  

Banks assessing a non-resident-owned company sometimes ask for evidence of UK governance. A nominee director appointed under a clear agreement is one piece of that picture, not a substitute for the rest of your documentation.

• A professional UK presence
  

For sellers based outside the UK and EU, having a UK-resident director on the public record can make supplier and partner conversations easier, particularly for import-export and wholesale relationships.

• Continuity during setup
  

If you’re incorporating from a country where document turnaround is slow, a nominee director service that’s already familiar with UK filings can keep the process moving while you handle sourcing, listings and logistics.

• Administrative cover, not control
  

A nominee director doesn’t manage your Amazon Seller Central account, your inventory, or your customer relationships unless you specifically authorize it in writing. Day-to-day decisions stay with you.

None of this guarantees approval from Amazon, Stripe, or any bank. Those decisions rest entirely with the platform, based on its own underwriting policy.

When do you actually need a nominee director for your Amazon account?

Someone incorporating a straightforward, low-risk Amazon FBA business with a clean ownership structure and a strong personal KYC file often doesn’t need a nominee director at all. A UK company on its own, correctly registered and with accurate Companies House filings, is usually enough to get started.

A nominee director becomes worth considering if you fall into one of these situations:

• You’re based in a market where UK banks apply extra scrutiny to non-resident applications and you want a documented UK governance layer alongside your own KYC file.
• You’re building a multi-entity or holding structure where a UK entity needs local administrative continuity independent of your personal travel or availability.
• You’ve already had a banking or verification application stall and a professional, structured corporate presence is part of fixing that, alongside better documentation, not instead of it.

If none of those apply, spend your first budget on getting the incorporation, registered office, and your own compliance documentation right before adding a nominee director on top.

How much does a UK nominee director cost?

Pricing varies by provider and by what’s bundled into the service. A bare-bones nominee appointment with minimal support costs less than a package that includes registered office, compliance documentation, and banking assistance — but the cheaper option often leaves you preparing everything else yourself.

Service scope	What’s typically included	Approximate annual cost
Basic nominee appointment only	Director appointment, Companies House filing	From £600–£900
Nominee director + registered office	Appointment, filing, UK registered address	From £900–£1,200
Full-service (Activate Global Limited)	Appointment, KYC/AML documentation, registered office, ongoing compliance support, banking application guidance	From £1,300

Government filing fees are separate from any service provider’s fee — Companies House charges its own incorporation and confirmation statement fees regardless of which provider you use. When you’re comparing quotes, confirm whether the headline price is annual or one-time, and get a written list of exactly what’s included before you commit.

How do you hire a UK nominee director, step by step?

• Incorporate your UK company
  

You’ll need this in place, or in progress, before appointing anyone to its board. Non-residents can complete UK company formation remotely without travelling to the UK.

• Choose a provider and review the agreement
  

Ask for the nominee director agreement in writing before you pay anything. It should define the nominee’s authority, your rights as beneficial owner, confidentiality terms, and the termination process.

• Complete KYC and AML checks
  

Expect to submit a valid passport, proof of residential address, details of your business activity, and source-of-funds information where the provider’s risk policy requires it.

• Sign the agreement and appoint the director at Companies House
  

The nominee director’s appointment is filed publicly, alongside the standard identity verification now required under ECCTA for every director.

• Use the appointment as part of your wider application
  

Whether you’re applying for a UK business bank account or preparing Amazon or Shopify documentation, the nominee director supports the application, it’s one input among several, not a shortcut past the platform’s own checks.

What documents do you need to appoint one?

• A valid passport
  

Required for your own KYC file and, separately, for the nominee director’s statutory identity verification with Companies House.

• Proof of residential address
  

A recent utility bill or bank statement, usually dated within the last three months.

• Company incorporation documents

If the company already exists, the provider will need its certificate of incorporation and current officer details.

• A description of your business activity
  

What you sell, where, and through which platforms, this feeds directly into the provider’s AML risk assessment.

• Source-of-funds information
  

Not always requested, but common for higher transaction volumes or certain jurisdictions.

Additional documents may be requested depending on the provider’s own compliance policy and your country of residence.

What should you ask before signing a nominee director agreement?

• Who exactly is being appointed, and what’s their track record with international sellers?
  You’re entering a relationship, not just filing a form.
• What authority does the nominee actually have?
  Get this in writing, not as a verbal assurance.
• How is beneficial ownership documented and protected?
  Confirm your shareholding and PSC status are recorded correctly from day one.
• What happens if either party wants to end the agreement?
  Ask about the resignation and replacement process before you need it.
• Is the annual fee genuinely all-inclusive, or are there renewal and admin charges on top?
• Does the provider make any approval guarantees for banks, Amazon, or Stripe?
  If yes, treat that as a warning sign — no provider controls a third party’s decision.

UK nominee director vs no nominee director: which is right for your Amazon business?

Your situation	Better fit
Clean personal KYC file, straightforward FBA business, first UK company	Standard UK company formation, no nominee director needed
Bank or payment provider has requested additional UK governance documentation	Nominee director as part of a documented compliance package
Complex or multi-entity ownership structure	Nominee director plus dedicated compliance advice
Provider promises guaranteed marketplace or bank approval	Avoid — no legitimate provider can make that promise

A straightforward business rarely needs a nominee director on day one; a business that’s already hit a documentation wall with a bank or payment provider often does.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a UK nominee director to sell on Amazon UK?

No. Amazon does not require a UK-resident director to open a seller account. A nominee director is an optional addition some sellers use to strengthen their UK corporate documentation, not a marketplace requirement.

Can a UK nominee director guarantee my Amazon seller verification?

No. Verification decisions are made by Amazon alone, according to its own policy. A nominee director can support your documentation but cannot influence or guarantee the outcome.

Does hiring a nominee director mean I lose control of my company?

No. You remain the shareholder and beneficial owner throughout. The nominee director’s authority is limited to what’s written into the agreement, and day-to-day business decisions stay with you.

How long does it take to appoint a UK nominee director?

Once your KYC documents are submitted and approved, the appointment itself is usually filed within a few working days. The overall timeline depends on how quickly your documents clear the provider’s compliance checks.

Can I switch or remove my nominee director later?

Yes, subject to the terms of your agreement and the standard Companies House filing for a change of director.

Is a UK nominee director the same as a company secretary?

No. A nominee director holds a director’s statutory duties and appears on the public register as a director. A company secretary, where one is appointed, handles administrative filings and has a different legal role entirely.

How Activate Global Limited can help

We work with Amazon, Shopify and Etsy sellers from more than 95 countries who need a UK corporate structure that actually holds up to scrutiny, not just a name on a certificate.

• UK Nominee Director Service documented through a clear written agreement, with KYC and AML checks handled upfront.
• UK company formation for non-residents, completed remotely with no requirement to travel.
• Guaranteed UK business bank account, or a full refund if we can’t get you approved — a commitment few providers make.
• Ongoing compliance support, so your Companies House filings and identity verification stay current after the appointment, not just at signup.

Ready to hire a UK nominee director for your Amazon, Shopify or Etsy business? Talk to our team about the UK Nominee Director Service to get started.