Limited by guarantee companies are an alternative type of business structure that are normally used by non-profit organisations. They don’t have share capital or shareholders. Instead, they are owned by one or more ‘guarantors’, each of whom guarantees a fixed sum of money to the business in the event of insolvency. Typically, guarantors do not take…
Before we discuss how to change a SIC code, it is important to understand what it actually is! What is a SIC code? Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes are used to classify and identify a company’s main business activities, i.e. what the company does. Limited companies are required to choose up to four SIC codes and…
You can change a company name any time after incorporation. This can be done either by having the members (be they shareholders or guarantors) pass a special resolution or (if the company’s Articles permit it) by the Directors resolving to do so. The first thing you should do is check the articles to see which…
A dormant company is one that is currently not trading, which means it is inactive for Corporation Tax purposes. You do not have to tell Companies House that your company is dormant until it’s time to file your annual accounts. However, you must tell HMRC as soon as possible. You can do this by contacting the Corporation Tax…
There is no legal requirement for a private limited company to appoint a secretary, unless their articles states otherwise. This follows amendments to the Companies Act 2006 in April 2008. If a secretary is required under the articles, you must have one at all times. If there is no such provision in the articles, you…
The Return of Allotment of Shares is the name of Companies House form SH01. This form must also be completed if you issue (‘allot’) new shares after company formation. It should then be delivered to Companies House within one month of an allotment.
It is not possible to convert an existing limited company to an LLP because they have completely different internal structures and taxation requirements. If your business is currently set up as a limited company and you want to change it to an LLP, you will have dissolve your existing company and register your business as a Limited Liability Partnership.…
A holding company is a very specific type of business that usually conducts no activity other than owning (‘holding’) shares in other companies, managing other businesses and receiving dividends from its subsidiaries. Section 1159 of the Companies Act 2006 states that: A company is the “subsidiary” of another company, its “holding company”, if that other company –…
Company profits are distributed according to the provisions of the articles of association. Limited by shares companies are set up by profit making businesses, which means that surplus income is normally paid to shareholders in relation to the number and value of their shares. Companies limited by guarantee, on the other hand, are usually set up…
Private limited companies are owned by individual people, trusts, associations and/or other companies. The owners of a company limited by shares are known as ‘shareholders’ because they each own at least one share in the company. The owners of a company limited by guarantee are known as ‘guarantors’ because they guarantee a sum of money…
Contractors, freelancers and consultants. These terms are used frequently in the world of company formation, but what do they actually mean? It’s particularly confusing because these labels are often used interchangeably when discussing self-employment, but there are significant differences between all of them. Consultants Generally, the role of a consultant is to advise or consult.…
Section 97 through 101 of the Companies Act 2006 allows for companies to change their legal status from a UK public limited company (PLC) to a private limited company (LTD) in one of three ways: passing a special resolution of the shareholders; obtaining a court order to reduce the capital of your company; or following…
