Types of Company Formation

UK companies are not expensive and the most flexible of companies within the European Union. For this reason, thousands of business leaders all over Europe don't think about incorporating a local company, but do all their local business through a British company.

As elsewhere in Europe there are two types of company.

  • The standard one is the Private Limited Company - 99% of incorporations are of this type
  • The larger one is the Public Limited Company - with a minimum share capital of £50,000

The British offshore option is the fiscally transparent Limited Liability Partnership which is rapidly eclipsing the North American LLC and European equivalents.

Same Day Incorporations

Should you require a company to be incorporated on a specific day - The Registrar of Companies offers a premium service, where we attend Companies House with all the documents for incorporation and we wait for the Certificate of Incorporation to be issued.

Tailor Made Private Limited Company

Our tailor made company formation service allows you to choose the name of your new company, subject to availability.

  • Private Limited Company
  • Normal commercial trading purposes
  • Suits the majority of requirements in the UK
  • Can undertake any nature of business
  • Can operate anywhere in the world
  • Members have limited liability
  • Can have a sole director and sole shareholder
  • Can be incorporated in most circumstances within 4 hours
  • Own choice of name

Ready Made Private Limited Company

A Ready Made company will be beneficial if a company is required urgently, for instance if a company registration number is needed immediately in order to complete an important contract and no time can be allowed for the incorporation process to be completed. We keep an extensive stock of ready-made names available for immediate purchase. All our ready-made companies are available immediately and fully inclusive of all documentation - please see our list of established companies.

These companies were incorporated then filed non trading/dormant accounts every year together with the Annual Returns - please click on the link to get further details of each established company, some of whom have a web site registered.

  • Private Limited Company
  • Normal commercial trading purposes
  • Suits the majority of requirements in the UK
  • Can undertake any nature of business
  • Can operate anywhere in the world
  • Members have limited liability
  • Can have a sole director and sole shareholder
  • Can have corporate officers
  • Recent changes to corporation tax make private limited companies advantageous to most businesses
  • Can be incorporated in most circumstances within 4 hours
  • Registration number available immediately
  • Restricted choice of name

Public Limited Company

If you require PLC after your company name - we can incorporate for you. With a PLC there are capital requirements and slightly different director and shareholder structure. However the prestige of having PLC at the end of your name is substantial.

As with standard limited companies, these are created in a format suitable for general operation, if necessary we can tailor the company's main objects to suit specific requirements. A PLC must have a minimum authorised and issued capital of £50,000. At least £12,500 of this minimum must be fully paid up before the Registrar of Companies can issue a Certificate for Commencement of Trading. This Certificate must be issued before the company commences any business transactions.

  • Necessary if the company is to trade its shares to the public
  • Can undertake any nature of business
  • Can operate anywhere in the world
  • Members have limited liability
  • Incorporation within 1 - 2 days
  • Own choice of name
  • Must have at least two directors and two shareholders
  • A private company can be converted to a PLC, so most PLC's start life as normal private companies and convert at a later date

Private Company Limited by Guarantee

An alternative type of incorporation used primarily for non-profit organisations that require corporate status. A guarantee company does not have a share capital, but has members who are guarantors instead of shareholders. The guarantors give an undertaking to contribute a nominal amount towards the winding up of the company in the event of a shortfall upon cessation of business. It cannot distribute its profits to its members, and is therefore eligible to apply for charitable status if necessary. Common uses of guarantee companies include clubs, membership organisations, sports associations and charities.

  • Non-profit corporate entity
  • Suitable for clubs, membership organisations, sports associations etc
  • Can apply for charitable status
  • Members have limited liability
  • Incorporation in 2 - 3 days

Limited Liability Partnership

LLP's are a recent development - The main difference is that a limited liability partnership has the organisational flexibility of a partnership and is taxed as a partnership. In other respects it is very similar to a company.

Suitable for new and existing partnerships wishing to obtain limited liability status, and aimed particularly at professional partnerships such as accountancy and solicitors firms. Incorporation is a very simple process. We will then ensure that the requirements of the Registrar have been met and submit the necessary documentation to Companies House to incorporate the new LLP.

  • A new type of structure introduced in 2001 in the UK
  • Suitable for new and existing partnerships wishing to obtain limited liability status
  • Aimed particularly at professional partnerships such as accountancy and solicitors firms
  • Maintains tax status of a partnership
  • Members have limited liability
  • Incorporation in 2 - 3 days
  • Suitable for most commercial business activities

The following companies fall outside our standard Ready Made or Tailor Made companies:

Flat / Property Management Companies

When there are multiple tenants a Flat Management Company is normally used to protect the interests of the leaseholders. The company can either be incorporated as a limited liability company or limited by guarantee - either your solicitor or we can advise you on the best for your particular needs.

Offshore & Overseas Company Formations

We can incorporate an overseas company to your specific requirements or you can purchase a Ready Made Company.