Archive for the ‘company formation’ Category

Setting up a public ltd company (PLC)

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

In this article, we are going to discover the process that is associated with setting up a public limited company. However, before the formation process begins, it can be incredibly important to remember that once the status of public limited company has been achieved, the suffix ‘PLC’ needs to be placed on the end of the company’s trading name and all future official correspondence.

If you are in England, Wales or Scotland, the process of establishing a public limited company is done through an independent body from the Government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. If you were not aware already, this organisation is known as Companies House, and will be one of the main authorities that you are dealing with during this process.

There are two main types of management that can be vital when setting up a public limited company. They are the directors and secretaries who are at the helm of the organisation. Most people can be a director pending that they are not disqualified because of certain factors that can include bankruptcy, and the fact that a director is not a British citizen. Additionally, there also has to be at least two directors in a PLC.

Meanwhile, the secretaries of a company need to have experience in the capacity they are working under, and this can be established by the way that they have accreditation from an official organisation such as The Institute for Chartered Accountants, or an equivalent.

The intricacies of a PLC can vary depending on the types of shares which are being used within the company, as well as the distribution of shares amongst shareholders. Regardless of this structure, the process for setting up a public limited company is more or less the same.

If the process is being done offline, the same forms need to be filled in as with a private limited company. This means that Forms 10 and 12, the Articles of Association and the Memorandum of Association all need to be filed with Companies House.

In recent times, Companies House have enabled the process of filing to become a public limited company to be completed online, saving a significant amount of time and reducing the amount of paperwork which needs to be filed by the business. For example, those who use an online route will no longer require to fill in Form 12, or to have a witness in order to acknowledge the declaration which has been made.

By going to the website, the process of boosting the profile of a company can be established. Once a company is a public limited company, there is no reason why shares can’t be distributed amongst the public and why shares can’t be traded on the stock markets. For this reason, it could be argued that the advantages of being a PLC can begin to show themselves as soon as the documentation has been filed with Companies House and everything has been fully completed.

The process involved with setting up a private limited company

Monday, March 8th, 2010

As the name suggests a private limited company in its very nature is a business model which cannot publicly trade its shares – or be active on the stock market. This is because of the fact that all of the shares are privately owned, as the name suggests.

Because of the set-up of the business, it can be a lot easier for small businesses to operate this way, and there is no reason why such a company can just have one director if the shareholder feels that this is the right way to move forward.

There is a lot of paperwork associated with establishing a private limited company, however. When a PLC is registered with Companies House, a process which can be quite long-winded in itself, the accounts concerning the business’ activity need to be kept up-to-date and meticulously monitored.

The process of setting up a private limited company all starts with a registration fee which is sent off to Companies House, along with the corresponding forms which allow a record of the company’s existence to be made. Form 10, the first form which is required, aims to inform those concerned about the directors who are in control of the business. In addition, the registered address of the company is also needed. In order for the form to be recognised, each director needs to give a litany of information concerning previous employment and activity five years to their incumbent position.

Form 12 can be compared to the terms and conditions which are signed before you download a piece of software onto your computer, albeit incredibly more significant. This form needs to be signed by the solicitor who is representing the business, as well as all of those who are directly concerned with the business forming. Once this has been achieved, there is official documentation that the business is willing to comply with all of the legislation associated with running a company in the UK.

In addition to this, the Articles of Association need to be supplied. This concerns the shares which may be in a private limited company, and the processes which are involved with the transferral of shares amongst shareholders. It also outlines the criteria which might be associated with the different types of shares. There are further criteria which are outlined in this document that includes the rules of any board meetings which will take place once the private limited company has been formed.

The second document, the Memorandum of Association, is nowhere near as important now as it was before October 2009. It used to form part of the Constitution for a British company but this is not the case anymore.

Here, we have outlined the processes which are associated with setting up a private limited company. As difficult as it may seem, it can be incredibly worthwhile once everything has been done and the business you have established is running like clockwork. Altogether, it is one of the biggest steps your business can take.

Incorporate A Company in the UK

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

Right now, you probably know that registering a UK limited company is advantageous. But you’re probably terrified at the idea.

Well, here’s the good news: it’s actually really easy.Firstly, you need to pick a limited company name. This will appear as “Your Company Limited” once formed.

Provided the name hasn’t been registered before, and isn’t flagged as illicit content by Companies House UK, you should be able to trade within a few days of submitting your application. Just buy your limited company – and wait for the approval to go through.

And setting up a limited company in the UK isn’t just fast, its straightforward. You can buy through Companies House or go to one of many formation agents on the market. These formation agents don’t just sell limited companies – they provide support too.

Not sure what a nominee director is? No problem. These guys will explain. Don’t know the difference between a limited company and a company name search? Your formation agent will break it down for you.

Setting up a private company in the United Kingdom is downright simple in 2010. You can get your limited company, bank account and even VAT registration number  cheaply and easily right here, online.

Juse start by searching for your new company name. Then sit back, wait, and get ready to start trading with your new, limited company.

Company Formation – should you set one up now?

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

setting up a company right now is tough.

many commentators say its only getting harder.

The UK government is billions of pounds in debt, as are UK consumers and residents. Businesses are going bust everyday, and the media coverage of the pain is casting gloom over the public.

So should you incorporate your UK small business today? Surprisingly, the answer is yes. There has never been a better time to set up your new company.

Firstly, it couldn’t be cheaper. You can buy a company registration for as little as £15.

Secondly, its extremely simple. Formation agents make the process extremely easy – just enter your information and, provided you pass the basic checks at Companies House, you will be able to register your new company, and start trading within a few days.

Buy Ltd Company Formations – The Easy Way

Monday, December 28th, 2009

Do you want to be a company director and buy your own company formation?

Making a limited company purchase is actually relatively simple: just choose one of the many formation agents out there, and your company will be setup often within a few hours.

The first thing you will want to do is a company name search – to see if anyone else has incorporated using the name you want to form your ltd company with.

Also, bear in mind that Companies House won’t allow you to incorporate with a name similar to anyone else. For example, if someone has already incorporated Blue Widgets Limited, you won’t be able to register Blue Widget Limited.

Also, there are certain words that Companies House won’t let you use in your limited company name- certain “protected words” – along with certain words you will need to prove you can use. For example, if you tried to incorporate your limited company formation with “Blue Widget International Limited”, you will need to show Companies House that you trade in several companies.

These issues making setting up a company a little more complicated, but the process is still relatively simple with e-filing – at least compared to what incorporation was like before the net.

Buying a limited company name

Friday, December 25th, 2009

Buying a limited company name is easy nowadays.

There are literally dozens of company formation agents out there, willing to setup your new limited company for you.

However, before you rush to setup your new company with one of them, you need to understand something.

They don’t actually process the incorporation themselves. Instead, they interact with Companies House’s own database and setup your company indirectly as an “agent”.

Now here’s why that’s relevant: in most cases, the submission to Companies House is instant – although the actual incorporation processing and company setup may take a few days.

Some company formation agents will “fast-track” your incorporation – making same day company formation likely in many cases.

Ask your formation agent if they provide this fast-tracked service.  If so, incorporation can take just a few business hours.

One final note: Companies House do allow you to incorporate via their own website.

You can check it out here:

Buy Limited Companies via Companies House

However, be sure to shop around. Many agents include many bonuses that CH don’t offer on their own direct service.