Information to prepare before forming a limited company

Before you incorporate

A limited company is a separate legal person. Incorporation creates ongoing duties, public records and responsibilities for directors, so first confirm that this structure fits the owners, risk, customers and plans.

Information to prepare

• The approved company name and the part of the UK where the registered office will be situated.
• A suitable registered office and registered email address.
• Each director's required personal details and service address.
• Shareholders, share classes, number and value of shares, and how ownership will be divided.
• People with significant control and the reason each person meets a control condition.
• The main business activity code or codes.
• The articles of association and any separate shareholders' agreement needed.
• Identity-verification actions required for directors or people with significant control under the current Companies House process.

Do this now

Create a one-page incorporation brief. Ask every proposed director and owner to confirm their details, share allocation and responsibilities before anyone submits the application. Decide who will keep the statutory records and who will receive official correspondence.

What good looks like

The legal name, people, addresses and ownership numbers agree everywhere. Everyone understands that information may appear on the public register. The total shares and percentages reconcile, and no address has been chosen simply because it was convenient without considering privacy and reliability.

Common mistakes

• Using a home address without understanding public disclosure.
• Issuing shares without understanding control, voting or tax implications.
• Assuming a formation agent replaces the directors' responsibilities.
• Losing the authentication and incorporation records after setup.

When to get professional help

Use a solicitor or accountant where there are several owners, different share classes, outside investment, intellectual property transfers, overseas people or material tax consequences.