Limited companies issues share certificates to their shareholders when they purchase shares after company formation. This document certifies ownership of a share from a particular date. It is essentially a receipt of ownership. Recording original shareholders (subscribers) The Companies Act 2006 prescribes that a company must issue a share certificate when any shares are allotted (issued).…
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…
Prior to the Companies Act 2006 coming into full effect on 1st October 2009, companies were restricted to a maximum amount of share capital they could issue. This was known as the authorised share capital, which was stated in the company’s constitution. Companies registered under the 2006 Act are not required to have this provision…
An audit is an in-depth review and analysis of accounting records and bank accounts. It will also involve a full stock take of all assets. The purpose of auditing a limited company is to confirm the accuracy of the financial transactions and figures stated in your annual accounts. It an excellent way to reassure HMRC and investors…
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.…
A limited company is one of the most popular business models for all sizes of organisation. This is due to the many benefits it provides over other types of legal business structures. Whether you choose to register a commercial (‘for-profit’) company limited by shares or a non-profit company limited by guarantee, there are a number…
There is no legal requirement to take out any kind of business insurance when you set up a UK limited company. However, you must be adequately insured if you employ people other than yourself and family members, you own commercial premises, operate company vehicles, are part of a recognised profession, your business activities present a…
The vast majority of first-time entrepreneurs underestimate the unyielding power of branding. They do so at their own peril. Branding cannot be treated in the same way as marketing or advertising. But what exactly is branding and why is it so important? According to the American Marketing Association (AMA), a brand can be defined as…
You have a significant degree of freedom when you’re deciding what to call your limited company, but there are some important rules and restrictions to be aware of. Your first port of call should be an online name-checker. This will tell you if your desired company name is available and whether you need to provide supporting…
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…
Non-UK residents from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland can apply for a Business Visitor visa if they need to visit the UK for a short period of time for any business related activities. EEA and Swiss nationals do not need a UK visa. The need for a visa will apply if you have…
