Website design and IT consultancy
What are UK Companies?
A UK company is a legal entity of its own right created
by registration at Companies House. Once incorporated, the
Registrar of Companies provide a certificate of incorporation.
This document is important as it is proof that the company
exists and has been formed in accordance with Companies
House regulations.
You can change the company's name at any time but you still
keep the company registered number. All items purchased
by the company belong to it not directly to the person(s)
who have ownership of the shares in the company.
The company is owned by its shareholders and run by the
directors. This gives the directors Limited Liability. Should
the company be unable to pay its debts, the shareholders
personal assets do not form part of the companies assets
unless they have personally provided guarantees for the
company's activities.
Because a company is a separate legal entity, the business
continues to trade irrespective of whether the original
director(s) remain as part of the company.
How long does a company formation take?
Companies Made Simple uses the Electronic Filing facilities
at Companies House. This means that when you place an order
on our website your request is sent instantly to Companies
House for processing.
The Registrar of Companies generally complete the incorporation
within 3 working hours. This can mean if you placed an order
before noon on a normal working day, we will have your company
incorporated by the end of that same day.
Are all names acceptable for Companies?
Most names are acceptable to Companies House when forming
a limited company, but there are a few exceptions. These
exceptions fall into the following categories:
- Your proposed name must be different from that of a
company already incorporated.
- Certain words like "Group" or "International" must
be substantiated by providing evidence of other related
companies or companies operating in at least two different
countries.
- Names containing words likely to cause offence are notallowed.
Can anyone be a company director?
In general terms, yes, but there are some rules. You can
not be a UK Limited company director if:
- You have been declared bankrupt or banned from being
a company director by a court. The courts can reverse
their ban for one or more companies.
- There is no minimum age limit in the Companies Act for
a director to be appointed in England and Wales. However,
he or she must be able to consent to their own appointment.
You should seek legal advice if you intend to have a very
young person as a director of your company.
Does the company name have to be shown on all documents?
The company must display its name clearly, on all the following:
- all the company's letters;
- all of its notices and other official publications;
- all bills of exchange, promissory notes, endorsements,
cheques and orders for money or goods purporting to be signed
by, or on behalf of, the company.
On what must the company name be displayed?
Every company must paint or fix its name on the outside
of every office or place in which its business is conducted
- even if it is a director's home. The name must be kept
painted or fixed and it must be both conspicuous and legible.
Will you give me a form for my shares?
Share transfers are completed as part of our online integrated
company formation procedure therefore there is no need for
initial share transfer forms. We can provide you free of
charge Form 88(2) should you wish to make further share
allotments following your company registration.
Tell me about company year end dates?
A company accounting reference date (ARD)is the date in
each year to which a company's financial accounts are prepared.
The accounting reference date usually ends at the end of
a particular month.
The month that is initially selected for your company will
be the last day of the month in which the anniversary of
incorporation falls. For example, if company registration
takes place on 25 September, the accounting reference date
will be 30 September.
Can an ARD be changed?
You may change your company's accounting reference date
by sending Form 225 freely available from us to the Companies
House Registrar.
The Form must be submitted during the accounting period
affected by the change or during the period allowed for
delivering the associated company accounts.
What are authorised shares?
These are the total number of shares that it is possible
for your company to issue. On incorporation the number of
authorised shares is usually 1000.
The number of authorised shares is often different from
the number of issued shares. Issued shares are those authorised
shared that have actually been issued. In terms of who owns
the company, the number of issued shares owned will be the
determining factor.
How do I distribute more company shares?
Additional shares can be issued up to the amount of the
authorised share capital using Form 88(2). Once completed
the form should be sent to the Registrar at Companies House.
Note: You can increase your company's authorised share capital
by passing an ordinary resolution at a general meeting.
A copy of the resolution minutes and Form 123 detailing
the proposed increase must then reach Companies House within
15 days of the resolution being passed.
The authorised share capital of a company can also be reduced
using a similar procedure.
What if I no longer need my company?
UK limited companies that have not traded or otherwise
carried on business for at least three months may apply
to Companies House to be struck off the register. Company
Dissolution is a service Companies Made Simple are able
to carry out on your behalf. See Other Services.
What is a company registered office?
The company registered office is an address in England
or Wales (or Scotland if your company is registered there)
where the company's statutory books must be available for
inspection and where documents can be delivered to the company.
A company's registered office address must be displayed
on all company literature and documents.
Can I change my company registered office?
If a company wishes to change its registered office address
the new address must be notified to Companies House on Form
287.
Do you offer a registered office service?
We offer our UK office as your registerd office address
for £ 60 per annum.
Will my company be registered for value added tax?
We are able provide you with a VAT registration service
in-house for £35. Select this product from our Other Services
menu and we will do the rest.
Where can I obtain information about taxation?
We are able provide you with help and advice on all Inland
Revenue matters. Email or phone us using the information
on our contact us page.
What if the Registrar does not accept my submission?
If Companies House reject your application our system will
automatically email you informing you of this. They will
tell you why your company registration application was not
accepted. You just need to contact us with any amendments
and we will resubmit your application to Companies House
immediately.
Do you have any other allied services?
We can offer you following related services:
- Accountancy Services
- Virtual Office Services
- Company Secretarial Services
- Vat Registration
- Bank account
- Company Seal
- Name Plate
- Printing Business Cards & other printing requirements.
- Website design and IT consultancy
- UK Payroll services
- Please phone or email us telling us your requirements
Contact us
Top of Page
