Legal status

How is a limited company set up?

A limited company must be registered with Companies House. This requires the completion of certain documents, available from Companies House, which must be submitted with a registration fee of £20. Alternatively, it may be possible to buy an 'off-the-shelf' business. An accountant or solicitor can help to draw up and submit the necessary documents and advise on off-the-shelf company purchases. You must register your company name with Companies House before you begin trading. There are certain restrictions on the business name used by a company: it cannot be registered in the same name as another company, certain words are restricted and offensive names are not permitted. Further details are available from Companies House.