Want to register a business in United Kingdom? You need to register your business with the Companies House (Registrar of Companies). If you are starting a business in Scotland, you need to register your business with the Companies House in Edinburgh. If you are starting a business in Northern Ireland, you need to register your business with the Companies Registry in Belfast. In all cases, the first step is to choose and register a business name, a process that often requires a name search. After that, it is a matter of filling out the appropriate forms (and paying the appropriate fees) to register your business. One of the early decisions to make when establishing a new business is what would be the best legal format for it. It will most probably be a sole trader, a partnership or a limited company. Most of the restrictions - and dangers - in selecting trading names apply to all these types, though the display requirements under the Business Names Act can vary according to the actual business name used.
Registering your company involves many things: constitutions, directors, certificate of incorporation, registered offices; it can all be quite confusing. In addition, there are many legal requirements such as The Companies Act to be aware of, so why not get help with registering your company?
We electronic company registration and electronic filing of documents. We also offer nominee secretary and registered office address facilities in addition to company formations. We always hold in stock at least 100 off-the-shelf companies available for immediate dispatch. Allow us to help you establish your corporation and get it running, to select the best business for incorporation, or to register your firm with the Companies House. Same day company establishment for £32.00. Company formations usually completed in 4-6 hours using Companies House online business registration services. We supply expert advice in navigating English legal and business systems helping you set-up a business in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and/or the Republic of Ireland. If you have an idea for a business, we can also assist you in start-up your new business directly in the UK from the ground up. In the United Kingdom, you must register your business, which we can do for you. Let us know how we can help.
Choose one of the following packages that will best serve you:
Further information
Fast English, Scottish, Irish and Northern Irish limited company registrations and registered office service. Great Britain company registrar, Irish company formations, trademarks service. How to register your business, LTD business registration. If your business is expanding, you may consider changing your company establishing to a joint stock privately owned company LTD. Registering company online, one-day business creation, companies registrar, added advantage of limiting your companies liabilities. LTD, LLC this would be calculated by looking at how well your business has performed in the passed. Coddan offers company start-up and registration services with the name of your choice in UK. British company formations - private limited companies incorporation and companies formation online, specialists company incorporar, London company registrars, company start-up, starting companies, creating business Edinburgh or Glasgow.
We can provide a registered office for your company. We can provide a registered address at London, Scotland, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Dublin. Comprehensive, easy-to-understand information on starting and growing your business. Get your business plan here. Starting a business? Planning to start a business? Starting your own business can be an exciting yet daunting prospect. Company formations usually completed in 3 hours using Companies House online business registration services. Business names registration, Limited Company Registration for entrepreneurs and new businesses. UK companies formation agent providing company registration online. Company registration or company formations has never been easier. Provides partnerships formations, trademark registration, registered office facilities and company secretary services.
Register Private Limited Companies, the most typical setup for small businesses. Most small businesses choose to set themselves up as a private limited company. Registering as a limited company, businesses choose to set themselves up as a private limited company. Each Private Limited Company must have at least one director. Business names registration, limited ltd registration for entrepreneurs and new businesses. Start your own business by registering your private limited company. Furthermore, a statutory declaration must be signed which states the company agrees to act upon the company acts and their requirements. Once these documents have been lodged with the registrar and accepted, a certificate of incorporation is issued and the company may beg
in trading under the title LTD.
Online private business formation agents, offers forming English company online, plus a wide range of ready-made companies available and off-the-shelf companies. Coddan help and company establishment in England, company incorporations UK, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Starting a business, Coddan help and company registration in United Kingdom, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Coddan offers English company set-up, openning company London, online branch or subsidiary establishment in United Kingdom. Coddan - London formation companies agents, establish of a private limited company in Scotland. Offers a convenient way to incorporate and starting business online. When you want to set up a business in United Kingdom, you can rely on us to be there every step of the way for you.
Incorporation of Local and Foreign Companies, Employment Pass, Registered Office Address, Nominee Director and Shareholder Services, Striking Off and Liquidation Services, Shelf Companies Accounting, Bookkeeping & Tax Services, Incorporation of Tax Haven Companies and Tax Planning and Services.
Creation corporation online Glasgow, or Edinburgh, automated business registrar Liverpool, Oxford company application, setting company central London W1, limited company (and unlimited company registration) and corporation formations system for incorporating, applying to register LTD, registering LLC, forming corporation Scotland, creating private company, starting or establishing any type, or all types, of companies or shelf company in United Kingdom. Apply to incorporate, register, form, create, start or establish a new company or shelf companies using this automated online companies incorporation, registration, formation.
Incorporate, register, create, start, establish or form a new company in England. Private company or public company. Any class - company limited by shares, company limited by guarantee, unlimited company or no liability company. Starting a business? Offshore company registration, offshore checking and offshore saving accounts, offshore time deposits, offshore mutual funds, offshore money market accounts and offshore asset protection provided by Coddan. Coddan offer a range of services for business, including company formation, virtual office services, a London mailing address, and company secretarial services. View our full range of services and register a business online. Offers company formation, ready made company registration for limited companies. We offer electronic filing & formation services.
Coddan helps you incorporate your business, form a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or a corporation in Delaware, Nevada, Florida and New York. Learn about incorporation and how to incorporate your business online! Arkansas, Oregon and offshore company formation agent specialising incorporating Texas, Utah, Wyoming and Washington, limited liability company, limited liability partnership and limited by Guarantee Company. Incorporate or Form an LLC (Limited Liability Company) Online. Coddan offer a range of services for business, including company incorporation, virtual office services, a London mailing address, and company secretarial services.
This is our most popular package with UK residents, and includes: -
The registration of your company from scratch using your own registered office address, and appoint your own candidates to the roles of director, secretary (if needed), and shareholder;
The standard capital on formation is £1.00, this is divided into 1.00 ordinary share valued at £1.00 (a minimum of one share must be issued);
The formation of a limited company usually takes as little as four to six hours from the time that your application and payment are received by Coddan;
The government fee for incorporation is included in the price of this package;
The following documents, which need to be printed and signed, will be emailed to you upon formation of your company: -
A certificate of incorporation (requires PDF file reader);
The memorandum & articles of association (requires MS-Word file reader);
The first meeting of the board of directors (requires MS-Word file reader);
Share certificates and a company register (requires MS-Word file reader).
Economy Package
£ 82.00
Annual Maintenance Fee £50.00
This is our most popular package with UK and EU residents, and includes: -
The registration your company from scratch using one of our registered office addresses, and appoint your own candidates to the roles of director, secretary (if needed), and shareholder;
The standard capital on formation is £1.00, this is divided into 1.00 ordinary share valued at £1.00 (a minimum of one share must be issued);
The formation of a limited company usually takes as little as four to six hours from the time that your application and payment are received by Coddan;
The government fee for incorporation is included in the price of this package;
The provision of a registered office address for 12 months is also included in the price of this package (our registered office address service is charged annually);
The following documents, which need to be printed and signed, will be emailed to you upon formation of your company: -
A certificate of incorporation (requires PDF file reader);
The memorandum & articles of association (requires MS-Word file reader);
The first meeting of the board of directors (requires MS-Word file reader);
Share certificates and a company register (requires MS-Word file reader).
Premier Package
£ 207.00
Annual Maintenance Fee £175.00
This is another one very popular package for small and medium size businesses, such as those being run by a sole director from home, and for companies owned by overseas residents who still need a local registered office address but would rather not open local offices;
This package is often chosen by such customers, who are looking to minimise a sole director personal liability (and who are not quite familiar with the new UK corporate legislation), because this package includes a provision of a nominee secretary for 12 months. This package is also includes: -
The registration your company from scratch using one of our registered office addresses, and appoint your own candidates to the roles of director, and shareholder;
The standard capital on formation is £1.00, this is divided into 1.00 ordinary share valued at £1.00 (a minimum of one share must be issued);
The formation of a limited company usually takes as little as four to six hours from the time that your application and payment are received by Coddan;
The government fee for incorporation is included in the price of this package;
The provision of a registered office address for 12 months is included in the price of this package (our registered office address service is charged annually);
The provision of a nominee secretary for 12 months is also included in the price of this package (our nominee secretary service is charged annually);
The following hard bound copy of corporate documents, will be posted to you upon formation of your company: -
A laminated copy of the certificate of incorporation of your company;
A hard bound copy of the memorandum and articles of association;
A hard bound copy of the minutes of the first meeting of directors;
Share certificates, and your company register.
Deluxe Package
£ 557.00
Annual Maintenance Fee £525.00
The Deluxe limited company package is a fast and easy option, it is ideal for the UK, EU, and international small to medium businesses who wish to appoint a nominee director and a nominee secretary in order to maintain anonymity, and it includes: -
Incorporation of your company from scratch using one of our registered office addresses in London, our nominee director and nominee secretary. We can appoint your own candidate(s) to the role of shareholder(s), or you can appoint a nominee sharholder provided by Coddan;
The standard capital on formation is £1.00, this is divided into 1.00 ordinary share valued at £1.00 (a minimum of one share must be issued);
The formation of a limited company usually takes as little as four to six hours from the time that your application and payment are received by Coddan;
The government fee for incorporation is included in the price of this package;
The provision of a registered office address for 12 months is included in the price of this package (our registered office address service is charged annually);
The provision of a nominee secretary for 12 months is included in the price of this package (our nominee secretary service is charged annually);
The provision of a nominee director for 12 months is also included in the price of this package (our nominee director service is charged annually);
The following two hard bound copies of corporate documents, will be posted to you upon formation of your company: -
A laminated copy of the certificate of incorporation of your company;
A hard bound copy of the memorandum and articles of association;
A hard bound copy of the minutes of the first meeting of directors;
Share certificates, and your company register;
The general power of attorney signed by a nominee director;
Pre-signed, undated resignation letter from a nominee director;
The agreement for the provision of nominee service and indemnification of nominee.
Legal Requirements to Register an LTD
A private company limited by shares in England and Wales must have at least one director, one shareholder, and may have a secretary.
You need at least one person to form this type of company. If there is only one director, and that director is a natural person in your company, that director can also act as the secretary.
A company must have at least one director who is a natural person. This requirement is met if the office of director is held by a natural person as a corporation sole or otherwise by virtue of an office.
You can register a sole director' company, if you are familiar with the secretaries duties and responsibilities, because all of them belongs to a sole director.
The directors and secretary of your company can also be shareholders.
The Companies Act imposes no restriction on the minimum age of company directors. However Companies House will actively discourage the appointment of anyone under the age of 16 from taking up a company directorship on the grounds that the individuals concerned may not fully understand the legal liabilities that go with the position and for the most part will not have the experience necessary to perform the duties of a company director.
Under the Companies Act 2006, there is no restriction on any or all of the members/shareholders being from an overseas country (i.e. outside the United Kingdom in terms of residency, domicile, citizenship, place of incorporation or all or any of those concepts).
There is no requirement for the officers of your company to be UK citizens or residents, nor for them to hold valid work permits.
Owning, or being an officer of a UK company does not, however, grant you any right to live or work in the UK if you are a foreign national.
Your company must have a registered office address within England or Wales; this is the official address of your company and will be on the public record as such.
Your company must hold its official company documents at its registered office address: its register of shareholders, and its constitutional documents.
So long as you maintain a registered office address in England or Wales, you can conduct your business from any place in the world: you do not have to run your business from your registered office address.
UK COMPANY REGISTRATION SERVICE. WE PROVIDE ONLINE NEW COMPANY FORMATIONS AND OFF THE SHELF READYMADE LIMITED COMPANIES. HOW TO SET UP A LTD COMPANY - HOW TO BECOME A LTD COMPANY
If starting your own business has always been your dream, then Coddan can help you make that dream a reality. An automated limited company registration service that can register a limited company usually within 4-8 working hours. Company establishment or company formations has never been easier. Register a UK Company £32.00! Welcome to Coddan CPM LTD online company start-up agent website. Coddan provides company formation in the UK, and Scottish company incorporation and limited company registration services for new businesses in the England, Scotland & Ireland. In addition to limited company creation we offer trademark registration, shareholder agreements, 0870 numbers, telephone answering, virtual office, Apostille, Certificates of Good Standing and company searches for limited companies.
Personal hands-on attention and effective legal solutions. Both start-up and existing businesses face the challenges of changing marketplace conditions, asset protection, and risk management. The experienced business consultants at Coddan know that legally defining the initial formation process protects businesses from financial difficulties and lawsuits. Existing businesses benefit from our sound litigation avoidance and risk management plans. We meet with clients in relaxed and comfortable offices in Central London. We are limited company formation specialists providing a comprehensive range of company formation services. We will professionally incorporate a UK limited company for you within 4-8 working hours.
Coddan offers incorporation and administration of offshore companies, trusts and foundations, we may help you to incorporate UK based real-estate company or real estate agent company, recruitment agency or recruitment bureau company, building and re-building company, entertainment or holding company (all comes with special drafted Memorandum and Articles) or general trading companies (comes with standard Memorandum and Articles of Association), etc.
Important Links
Use the links below to learn about registering your limited company or simply proceed to the registration agent to make sure that your preferred company name is available - if it is you can then purchase it using your credit or debit card at a cost of only £32.00. With our new online electronic company registration services you now have more choice on how we register your UK Limited Company. You no longer need to have us acting on your behalf as nominee company officers and shareholders. When first setting-up a business there are many issues to consider. You need to decide whether or not to incorporate your business, and to choose a structure for your business. There are several types of legal business entities which you can choose to operate as. For more information on these choices, follow the links below. We advise that professional legal and financial advice is obtained before a final choice of business entity is made.
Coddan is a leading service provider in the field of English, Scottish and Irish company formation and company registration. We can help you in starting a business in England & Wales Scotland and Northern Ireland. Over 95% of our companies are incorporated within 6 hours. The electronic submission of information enables a fast company start-up satisfying all of the required legal formalities: a director, a secretary, a registered office and shareholders. Our electronic filing software has been approved by Companies House.
Suggested Reading
Online Company Registration Services: Company registration services to take the pain out of registering a business in the United Kingdom - from company registration advice to full-service solutions to setting up a new business. Register your business on-line with Coddan CPM LTD and become a limited company within 4-8 working hours. Your company name submitted should have no history of trading, therefore being unique. Providing you with all the legal documentation on registering your business, you can begin to trade with a more respectable name and have increased supplier and customer relations.
The online service offered by Coddan aims to help you impress your clients during a decisive time in their business. Registration of a limited company is only the start of your business relationship - fast, efficient registration should ensure you remain a key factor throughout your clients' business life. The service provides a professional registration service for UK companies limited by shares.
We aim to provide a smooth efficient service that takes the workload from you while retaining the high standards your clients expect. Your own private company set-up online using our electronic filing service direct with Companies House. We offer a range of company registration packages to suit the differing needs and budgets of our clients. E-Quick: UK Company Registration: in 4-8 hours, you could be ready to trade with a new UK Limited Company. It is a simple and fast method of company registration. From only £32.00, fast online company establishment. Have a look at our E-Quick Business Startup Package or our Complete Premier Incorporation Package
We appreciate that not everyone likes to place orders over the Internet, preferring to place orders by phone, fax or even post. We are happy to take orders through any of these methods, but prefer to have the order in writing to avoid any possibility of error. This form can be completed on your computer (on screen) and then saved and e-mailed to us (All Inclusive Company Registration). To Download This Order Form Simply: Click Here (Our printable order form is in Excel format. To download, click the right mouse button and "Save target as")
We offer electronic company registration and electronic filing of documents. Your English, or Scottish companies are registered electronically as soon as we receive your details (and payment) it could not be done any more easily or quickly. We review your choice of company name etc., and Companies House make a number of checks (to verify the registered address details etc.) and your company is registered as soon as this process is complete.
It can take three hours, it may take twenty-three hours, it all depends on how busy Companies House staff and systems are. We send your package to you by first class recorded delivery, as part of the service. We also offer Nominee Secretary and Registered Office facilities in addition to limited company registrations.
We will register your new company with your intended directors, company secretary, registered office and shareholders all in place and recorded at Companies House at the time of registration, although we can of course still use our nominees for registration purposes IF YOU PREFER. Upon SPECIAL request, we may provide registered address services across the UK (in any city or town) and we may provide you a telephone number with call forwarding from any UK city and town.
If you have any questions about the companies or partnerships incorporation then please E-Mail or call us: 033 0808-0089 or +44 (0) 207.935.5171, fax: +44 207.504.3531.
Important Note: The formation of limited companies can take 4-8 hours if applications and payment are received before 11:00 AM London-time and Companies House permitting* (Companies House then aim to respond to electronically filed documents within 4-8 working hours. Although this is not always possible, it does generally mean that if you placed an order before midday on a normal working day we can have your company registered by the end of that same day.
Most companies are incorporated within 24 hours of application although there may be occasions where the process can take longer due to circumstances beyond our control) - from only £32.00 - full documents, no activation fees, your own officers, free phone help and advice online (various packages available).
For our overseas clients, we are able to obtain Certificates of Good Standing and Apostille services at competitive prices. We also provide many additional services which can be ordered using our online order form. If it is essential that you have a company today, formed with the name in which you intend to trade, then you must request a "Same Day Company". Orders must be placed before 13:30 pm, Monday to Friday.
Start a New Business This website has practical advice and business resources for anyone looking to start up a small business: from choosing a name to getting customers, we have expert knowledge and experience that we will share with you. Before you start your business read it all here first. Starting a new business can be stressful enough without having to worry about, tax, National insurance, VAT, Health & Safety, audited accounts... or as it is commonly known 'Red Tape'.
However, not every business needs to have all of these areas investigated before commencing business. For example, a business does not need to register for VAT if it has a turnover of less than £62,000.
You are responsible for the effect your business may have on the health and safety of your employees and members of the public. You may need to register with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) or with your Local Authority. All companies registering in the UK are required to do so with Companies House and have to submit accounts as well as annual returns. Overseas companies establishing a branch or place of business in the UK must register and file annual accounts. For almost all business purposes the form used is the company limited by shares, either as a private limited company (Ltd) or as a public limited company (Plc).
General Advantages of UK Private Limited Companies:
1. Liability is, in the vast majority of cases, strictly limited to the investments made by the shareholders. 2. Company Officers are not personally liable for their actions unless there is a clear and serious breach of their fiduciary duty. 3. Limited companies often benefit from greater prestige than their sole proprietorship or partnership counterparts. The reason is because such an enterprise normally requires more planning and thus is deemed more credible. 4. Limited companies often benefit from significant tax advantages. In fact, many countries around the world give exclusive tax incentives to this type of entity. 5. The rights of shareholders are normally clearly defined and protected. 6. Corporate taxes only become payable after the end of the financial year. This means money that would otherwise be taxed on a monthly or quarterly basis, is available to earn further interest before the final payment of tax. 7. You need only appoint one Director and one Shareholder. 8. Directors can be corporate bodies or private individuals. 9. A Director can be of any nationality. 10. All companies must appoint a company Secretary who can be of any nationality.
Most foreign companies set up a private limited company. No consents are needed, no local shareholders or directors are required and no minimum capital rules apply. For a Limited Company you need a minimum of 1 secretary and 1 director. If you have only 1 director, these appointments must be held by 2 SEPARATE people. The secretary may also be a director if you have more than 1 director.
You must protect the legal rights of your employees. If you take over an existing business, you must usually keep the existing terms and conditions of employment. Intellectual property describes things such as business names, patents and inventions. You should protect your own company name and logo, along with any inventions, product designs or copyrights. You should also respect other people's intellectual property rights. For example, you can't use the same name for your business as someone else doing similar work in your town.
A licence is required for many businesses, not just the obvious ones like casinos or public houses. For example, you need a licence to run a hotel, a guesthouse, and a mobile shop or to be a hairdresser. You should always check whether your business requires a licence to trade. It's good practice to have insurance to cover the loss or theft of your business property, as well as other types of possible losses. It’s also compulsory to have public liability insurance, which will often come as part of your contents insurance policy.
Our Service and Costs: Our products start from just £32.00 for our E-Quick service. This package offers fast electronic company registration documents and like all of our formation products is usually completed with in three hours. We have many Ready Made companies (readymade company stock), which are ready to trade, and can be transferred to you within hours. Click here for our Limited Company Registration costs and full details of our packages for limited companies or call us for free no obligation advice. If you have any questions about the company establishment then please E-Mail or call us: 033 0808-0089 or +44 (0) 207.935.5171, fax: +44 207.504.3531. Compare Prices of Various Forms of Companies:Let Me to Check Your Packages & Costs
Coddan CPM LTD is a cost effective, paperless way to register your limited company in the United Kingdom, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Rebublic of Ireland. We provide our customers with a direct link to the Companies House filing system whereby all associated documents for company registration can be completed and submitted online without any forms or papers to sign and return. Our system utilises a simple intuitive interface that collects all the relevant information with on screen help to guide you through the process.
Register a Domain Name: A domain name is the equivalent of a P.O. Box number on the internet. It lets people know where they can contact and find out about you and your business. Even if you are not yet ready to create a website it will pay you to secure your business domain name now.
Before someone else does. You probably chose your business trading name because you liked how it looked or sounded, felt it created a good impression. You should exercise the same care in choosing your business domain name. Many people use free-for-all services like eircom.net. Be careful: these domain name endings are fine for personal use but can make a company look cheap and amateurish.
When an e-mail address does not end with a company name it gives the impression of a one-man operation. Worse still, search engines that help people find you on the internet, will not even consider ranking websites whose owners have not invested in an independent domain name.
It is well worth investing a tiny sum in registering .co.uk and .com domain names. You mask the size of your business so you can compete on the same playing field as bigger competitors. You will project professionalism and make prospects confident you mean business. Running separate e-mail addresses off your domain name, like sales@ukincorp.co.uk or accounts@ukincorp.co.uk, will add to the perception that your business is efficient and organized.
UK Call Forwarding: Businesses trading from outside the UK can now offer their UK customers the option to call them for the price of a UK phone call. At present many businesses that are based abroad, but trade in the UK require their customers to dial their international phone number. This can cost the caller a lot of money and at the same time can put off those that would have called them had they been based in the UK.
Through Coddan can provide free redirection of UK 0871 virtual numbers direct to fixed-lines in most overseas countries. These include the big 6: Canada; China; Hong Kong; Malaysia; Singapore; USA. The savings to you and your callers are substantial since you no longer pay for the cost of calls being diverted from the UK to your international phone line and the caller only pays the price of a UK phone call rather than a higher priced international call to contact you.
UK LTD Companies from only £32.00! All Inclusive Company Registration. Each limited company package includes all statutory paperwork and is fully compliant with company law. All our private UK companies are general trading companies and can be used to conduct any type of business. A Certificate of Incorporation, and the Memorandum and Articles of Association of your company will be sent to you upon formation of your company. You can appoint your own directors and secretary BEFORE company incorporation. This is absolutely FREE. Our 4-8 hour online incorporation service enables you to register your company quickly and effortlessly. All government and filing fees are included in the cost of our E-Quick pack. All certificates and documents will be sent directly to you via email immediately following the formation of your company. It will take just 5 minutes to complete the online registration form, then your company could be up and running within 4-8 working hours.
THE E-QUICK PACKAGE CAN BE UPGRADED WITH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING FEATURES:
1. Company Pliers Seal - £20.00. 2. Laminated Hard-copy of the Certificate of Incorporation - £5.95. 3. Laminated Hard-copy of the Certificate of Incorporation, Bound Copies of the Memorandum & Articles, and Combined Company Register - £12.95. 4. Domain Name Registration for two years - £16.00. 5. Provision of a Registered Office Address for 12 months - £50.00. 6. Provision of a Nominee Company Secretary for 12 months - £49.95. 7. Certificate of Good Standing - £35.00. 8. Notarisation & Apostille of Documents.
So, whether you are running a news organisation in Paris, a mail-order company in the United States, a call centre in Spain or a tourist venture in New Zealand- if you are receiving calls from the UK, then make it easy for your customers to reach you by giving them a UK number that they can call. Many American companies (catalogue/internet publishers especially) give only a 1-800 number in their sales literature and on their websites forgetting that potential purchasers from most other countries are unable to access 1-800 from overseas or, if they can, they are then charged full international rates. United Kingdom residents are generally able to access 1-800 numbers but are paying full international rates.
Whenever a UK resident calls an American 1-800 number they will always receive the following message before being connected: "Access to the 800 number you have dialed is not free of charge outside the United States. If answered you will be charged at international direct dialing rates for the call. If you do not wish to proceed with this call please hang up now."
If you are interested in international business (and there are 60 million people in the UK) then simply by adding a UK phone number to your advertising, your website, or within your catalogue, you could open up an entirely new market, with no cost to you. You simply add the following words: UK Phone - Call 0871 XXX XXXX The Advantages of Toll-Free Numbers: Have a Look at Our Virtual Office Section
Live Help: Live Help is a real time "chat" feature which enables you to interact with a customer service representative without a phone call. Get answers to your questions while using our website. Clicking the "Live Help" button will start an on-line session with one of our representatives. Live Help is currently available during normal business hours. Outside of the above opening hours, our business center will be closed. When you click on the button, you will see an e-mail form that will allow you to send us a mail with your questions. Live Help is free! There are no hidden fees. We offer the service as a courtesy to our website visitors.
Dear visitors, while having a chat session with a customer, we are frequently requested to give a piece of advice on tax planning or business structuring. We would like to inform you that it is against our principles to provide online advice pertaining to these issues. The points that may be covered during a session include service description, package or service price, navigation at our website, ways of making an order, methods of payment etc. Yet, if you wish us to provide you with advice on tax or business structuring, you should be aware that this service is chargeable.
COMPANY REGISTRATION - LEARN ABOUT INCORPORATING A BUSINESS. STARTING IN BUSINESS:
So you are going into business. You are going to become one of those entrepreneurs with a Rolls Royce and an expense account. If only it were that easy. You have many decisions to take before you take the plunge into business. If you are engaged in an occupation, work or trade, whether commercial, industrial or professional, which includes the buying and selling of services then you are in business. Note that there is no mention of the world profit.
Of course you would not be in business if you were not going to make a profit but it is not compulsory, just advisable.
This site is not intended to help you set up a business. It assumes you already have a product or service that you wish to sell or trade in. This site is designed to help you register a new company or partnership.
You now have decided whether you want to trade through a company or not. Like life itself there are advantages and disadvantages in everything but the decision has to be taken. Nothing is irrevocable but remember there is always a cost. It is far better to weight up the pros and cons first. How the company was born. Look at a little history.
When trade increased dramatically in the 19-century traders began to get together and run their business jointly. However, the increased activity also increased burdens on individual partners. Therefore partnerships had no legal existence apart from individual partners. Then in 1844 an Act of Parliament was passed for the registration of Joint Stock Companies and such an incorporated company could now hold property, incur debts and sue and be sued in its own name. The members (or partners) were no longer responsible for such matters individually. This was known as limited liability.
Setting Up and Forming Your Company: Now that you have made up your mind that you are going to run your business through a company this section tells you what to think about and how to plan it.
Deciding Your Objects: Any company must define what it is and what it is for. This is done in document known as Memorandum of Association. The Memorandum is a form specified by regulations, must be submitted to the Registrar of Companies and will state, among the other things: the company's name, the place of registered office of the company, the objects of the company, that the liability of the members is limited, the amount of share capital and its division into shares. Let us briefly deal with each of these in turn.
Choosing the Name: You can choose any name you wish, subject to a few obvious conditions. You may choose a name if: it is already registered by someone else; it requires the approval of the Secretary of State because it is 'sensitive'. This could be so if, for example, it contains the words, International, British, European, etc. It contains words which other relevant bodies might object to: for example, Police, Royal, Charity, etc.
This list is by no means exhaustive but you can see the difficulties that may arise if your intended name is too similar to that of another company or gives the impression that it is something which is not. Watch this carefully as that other company could object and your company be directed to change its name with the additional expense that entails.
Location the Registered Office Address: This is 'official' address of the company where anyone can get in touch and where certain statutory information is held. The Memorandum only asks you to state whether it is in England and Wales, or in Wales, or in Scotland. Once this 'domicile', as it is known, is established the actual address can be moved within the domicile but not outside it. For example, if the domicile is England the address can be changed from Birmingham to London but not Birmingham Edinburgh. Example: The Registered Office of the company will be situate in England and Wales.
Defining the Objects: Although a company can, as a separate legal person, acquire rights and incur liabilities, its powers are slightly less extensive that a real person. A real person can do anything not prohibited by law but a company can only do what is authorised by the objects clause in its Memorandum. It is not, however, necessary to go into great detail here as it generally recognised that the main object of the business can be defined by a very general trading clause which will not inhibit the company from carrying any objects it wishes.
In other words, for all intents and purposes, you will be able to do anything you wish within reason and within the law.
Limiting Your Liability: The fourth clause of a Memorandum provides that the liability of the members shall be limited. What does this actually mean? In simple terms states that the member, meaning a shareholder, is liable to contribute any more that the nominal value of his shares. Once you have paid for your shares that are the extent of your liability. This is obviously a comforting thought if anything goes wrong. Example: The liability of the members is limited.
Calculating Your Capital: The memorandum must state the amount of the authorised capital, sometimes known as the nominal capital, and the division of that capital into shares showing the value of each. There can be different classes of shares but for this purpose we will assume there is only one. Example; The Share Capital of the company is £1,000 divided into 1,000 ordinary Shares of £1.00 each.
What are Shares and How do They Affect a Limited Company? The purpose of shares is two fold, they provide a means of putting capital into your company and they also determine the level of control you have over its operations through voting power. Deciding upon the division of shares is of vital importance in establishing the powers you have within the company; you need over 50% in order to fully control the company. It is possible to create a high number of shares in your company but only assign a fraction of them. For example you may want to create a share capital of 1,000 shares with a nominal value of £1.00, but only assign 100 to the shareholders; this is known as the Issued share capital.
The percentage owned by a shareholder of the issued share capital determines their interest in the company. On the other hand if you would prefer a controlling interest in the company you may create 1000 shares but assign only 1 to yourself. You may then grant options over the remaining 999 shares at a later date.
Acquiring Your Company: There are two ways of setting yourself up in business. You can do it by: starting a business on your own or in partnership or buying an existing business. Either of these can be put into a company and, indeed, the later may already exist as a company. You May Use This Link to Select a Ready-Made Company:Please Check The List of Ready Made Companies
Starting Your Own Business: If you are setting up your business on your own you may wish to start with a brand new company. This can be done in two ways: buy a new or custom-made company with your own choice of name. Buy a ready-made company which has never traded. This is known as buying a company off the shelf. Both of these methods can most easily be done through us.
Do I Have to Register for VAT? As a limited company you are legally obliged by HM Customs & Excise to pay VAT if the taxable annual turnover exceeds the current threshold of £61,000, or it is believed that it will exceed this limit in the next 30 days. Not all products and services are subject to VAT and in some cases different rates may apply.
HOW DO I INCORPORATE A COMPANY?
Traditionally there are 4 ways to incorporate a new limited company. Option 1 is to go to your accountant and ask them to do it all for you. The downside? Cost. Accountants charge for their services and experience, and a formation can cost £150.00 or more and for most limited companies formed this isn't needed.
Option 2 is to go to a company formations agent who has already registered a company with their own directors, secretary and shareholder, and your task is to fill in all of the transfer forms to get it in your name. The downsides? Your company has a set of directors, secretary and shareholder(s) already, along with a company name that you didn't want, and you have to pay Companies House to change the company name to one that you actually wanted!
Option 3 is to do it yourself using the old paper based systems. The downsides? You spend time understanding the forms and what they mean, you pay Companies House the £20.00 administration fee, you pay a solicitor to sign the forms for you and to provide you with the "rules" for your company (called the Memorandum and Articles of Association), which is likely to be at least £30-£50.00 and then you hope that Companies House don't reject your registration on a technicality and you repeat the whole process again 2 weeks later.
Option 4 - all you need to do is use the free availability check to see if your chosen company name is available. If so, then fill out a few details using the online forms, enter your payment details, and submit your application. No documents to sign. We form companies with you as the first directors, secretary and shareholders. Our online incorporation order form is a completely web based application, whereby all the company details are entered into our system and submitted electronic through the Companies House filing service.
Whether you are starting a new business, setting up a subsidiary or forming a trading company, creating a new company is an exciting exercise. We can guide you through the process of incorporation and registration, regardless of whether you require a PLC, a private limited company or a company for name protection purposes. We can ensure that your company is set up to meet the needs of both the shareholders and the company and that all potential requirements will be considered, for example those of lenders.
If you're serious about incorporating services, look into Coddan. We're ready to help. We are an independently owned and Great Britain based firm that specialises in providing company and partnership formation and provision of domiciliary, administrative, management and related services such as mail forwarding services, shareholder relations, management and deferral agreements and director services. Forming a limited company in the United Kingdom is not a complicated procedure and, with the right advice can be accomplished quickly and cheaply. Companies are established through the statutory process of incorporation under the Companies Act 1985.
Within the UK a company is legally regarded as a separate entity distinct from its shareholders and directors. Our tailor made company incorporation service allows you to choose the name of your new company, subject to availability. Because we now submit the vast majority of new incorporations electronically to Companies House, your company will normally be incorporated within 4-8 working hours* of ordering (*If ordered before 11:00 and Companies House permitting. Companies House in Belfast (CHB) normally takes 7-10 working days to register a new limited company).
Post-Incorporation Corporate Services After formation we will assist you and advise you on the following: Appointment and duties of director; Appointment and duties of company secretary; Shareholders and share capital; Location of registered office; Advice with business bank account application; Advice with VAT registration; Advice with filing of annual accounts; Advice with filing of other documents.
We will continue to provide these services for as long as you require them.
Whether yours is a new or a mature business, ensuring that you have the necessary finance is essential for achieving your objectives. Indeed, one of the most common causes of business failure is badly structured or inadequate financing. We can help you: Conduct a feasibility study of your projects; Decide on the most suitable sources of finance - personal capital, bank overdraft, long-term commercial loans and mortgages, national and regional agencies, venture capital, or equity capital; Prepare the necessary business plan, forecasts, prospectuses, etc.; Present your proposals to your chosen finance source; Arrange a disposal, merger/acquisition, or management buy out/in; Our expertise and contacts will help you open doors that may otherwise have remained closed for you.
From time to time even the best-run business needs some advice or a second opinion. Healthy businesses plan for the future and having an independent review of your strategy can really help - our consultants act as advisers to many industry sectors and can offer you the benefit of having seen what works and what does not. Using the best accounting, budgeting, planning, and reporting tools, we can ensure that you have all the information you need to face future challenges.
For overseas companies setting up in the United Kingdom, our experience of business practices, taxation, and law within the United Kingdom can save them the considerable time, money, and energy required to establish and grow a business while meeting all of their legal obligations. We can also act as trustees for pension schemes, or alternatively, we can audit your pension scheme accounts, guiding you through the minefield of reporting requirements.
We are always looking for opportunities for your business to reduce its tax liability, with proactive tax planning. We also advise clients on international corporate tax and on issues arising from cross-border transactions, into and out of the United Kingdom.
If you are unsure of the best course of action for your business, Coddan can advise you on the best location and type of business entity, and can tailor a solution to your needs. If you wish to retain Coddan in a professional capacity, you can apply for an initial consultation appointment by following the link below. Book an Initial Consultation:use this form to request an initial consultation with one of our specialists
Bookkeeping & Accounting Services: We can relieve you and your staff of an enormous burden by taking care of all your bookkeeping and accounting needs, including the preparation of your annual accounts. Our first step is to work with you so we can gain a full understanding of your business. We then tailor our approach to your requirements so we can provide exactly the service you need. Besides your core bookkeeping, we can also maintain your VAT records, prepare and audit your group pension fund, and take on short-term projects to relieve your staff of any temporary overload. But perhaps the most important part of this service is the preparation of management accounts.
These are vital to the continued success of your business. We discuss your requirements with you and provide you with tailored information and constructive advice on a regular basis.
International Services: No man is an island; and these days few businesses are. Rapid globalisation, the growing importance of the EU, and the burgeoning growth of the Internet as a business medium are all conspiring to add an international dimension to UK businesses. Trading with overseas companies, selling to overseas markets, and setting up overseas operations all require expert knowledge. We can help you: Set up accounting procedures for dealing with the euro or other currencies; Determine the best business structure for tax purposes; Reduce your overseas tax burden; Develop strategies for financing overseas subsidiaries; Repatriate profits at minimum tax cost.
Payroll: Administering your payroll can be time consuming and burdensome, diverting energy and resources from the core activities of your business. And the task is made all the more difficult by the growing complexity of taxation and employment legislation and the accompanying regime of penalties for non-compliance. We have dedicated staff who can relieve you of this burden by providing a comprehensive and confidential payroll service, including: Customised payslips; Administration of PAYE, national insurance, statutory sick pay, statutory maternity pay, etc.; Completion of statutory forms, including year end returns, to issue to your employees and submit to the Inland Revenue; Summaries and analyses of staff costs; Administration of incentive schemes, bonuses, and ex-gratia and termination payments; Administration of pension schemes.
Even if you have only a few employees, you will make savings by engaging us to administer your payroll.
Strategic Planning:: Everyone knows that a successful business must plan ahead, but all too often the pressures of keeping the business going on a daily basis mean that strategic planning is not given the attention it needs. The result is often rushed judgements, over- or under-capacity, or missed opportunities. Every business owner needs a planning adviser who has the time and space to take the long view and advise on appropriate courses of action before it is too late. With years of experience advising the local business community we have a wealth of experience and expertise for you to draw on. Contact us today for a planning review.
Audit Services: Though business owners traditionally regard the annual audit and preparation of annual accounts as a cost centre - a necessary evil that adds no value to the business - we strive to transform it into a profit centre. Besides helping you meet the statutory requirements, we also take the opportunity to conduct a review of your financial and management systems. This can often result in our identifying potential problem areas and recommending opportunities to improve your business performance. We discuss the problems and opportunities with you and help you implement any agreed solutions.
We see the preparation of your annual report as an opportunity to enhance your external image. A well-prepared report can have a considerable positive impact on the perceptions of investors, potential finance sources, customers, prospect, referral sources, and even your own staff - all of which greatly improves your business prospects for the future.
Corporate Tax Planning: Corporation tax represents a substantial part of your trading costs. Moreover, the increased reporting obligations, robust investigation policies on the part of the tax authorities, and harsher penalties for non-compliance mean that an undue amount of your time and resources can be taken up collecting revenue for the Government. We offer a range of services to help you minimise your corporate tax exposure and relieve you of the administrative burden of complying with tax legislation. These include: Determining the most tax effective structure for your business; Taking full advantage of tax opportunities and reliefs; Achieving the optimum capital or revenue tax treatment; Reducing tax on disposals and maximising relief on acquisitions; Making the most of tax opportunities specific to your industry; Meeting the rigorous demands of compliance including corporation tax self assessment; Acting on your behalf in discussions with the tax authorities; Efficient corporate tax planning can result in potentially significant improvements in your bottom line.
VAT: Value added tax is one of the most complex and onerous tax regimes imposed on business - so complex that many businesses inadvertently overpay or underpay VAT. The ever widening scope of VAT, the constant stream of detailed changes to the regulations, and the ever growing demands of Customs and Excise call for a trained professional eye to ensure that you do not fall foul of the regulations and do not pay the Exchequer more than you need to! We provide an efficient cost effective VAT service, which includes: Assistance with VAT registration; Advice on VAT planning and administration; Use of the most appropriate scheme; VAT control and reconciliation; Help with completing VAT returns; Planning to minimise future problems with Customs and Excise; Negotiating with Customs and Excise in disputes and representing you at VAT tribunals.
Estate Planning: Few of us like to think about dying, but equally few of us could live with the thought that we have not made adequate provision for family and friends who survive us. The legislation that governs passing on your estate to your chosen beneficiaries requires you to plan well in advance.
Since none of us knows when we shall die, this means making the necessary provisions now. The earlier you make the arrangements, the greater your chance of taking full advantage of the tax opportunities available and thereby maximising the amount that goes to your beneficiaries. Nothing is more demoralising than the thought that a substantial slice of the wealth you have worked hard to accumulate will end up in the Government's coffers! It is equally important when planning to transfer your estate that you make adequate provision for yourself and your spouse in your later years. Striking this balance calls for considerable skill and foresight - and a detailed knowledge of the tax regime. We provide a discrete estate planning service that includes: Help with drawing up and reviewing your will; Making full use of exemptions and lower tax rates on lifetime transfers; Optimising lifetime transfers between spouses; Transferring agricultural or business property; Transferring assets into trust; Arranging adequate life assurance to cover potential inheritance tax liabilities.
We strongly advise you to begin your estate planning right away by contacting us for a preliminary review.
Trusts & Executorships: Trusts are relatively easy and very tax efficient way to set aside assets for future beneficiaries outside of the inheritance tax net. We can advise on the most suitable type of trust for your purposes, set up trusts, and provide a full range of accounting services for trusts. We can also advise you on the preparation of your will. Where appropriate, we can act as trustees or executors.
Check Your Order Status
£ 32.00
This is our most popular package with UK residents, and includes: -
The registration of your company from scratch using your own registered office address, and appoint your own candidates to the roles of director, secretary (if needed), and shareholder;
The provision of a registered office address for 12 months is also included in the price of this package (our registered office address service is charged annually);
Personal hands-on attention and effective legal solutions. Both start-up and existing businesses face the challenges of changing marketplace conditions, asset protection, and risk management. The experienced business consultants at Coddan know that legally defining the initial formation process protects businesses from financial difficulties and lawsuits. Existing businesses benefit from our sound litigation avoidance and risk management plans. We meet with clients in relaxed and comfortable offices in Central London. We are limited company formation specialists providing a comprehensive range of company formation services. We will professionally incorporate a UK limited company for you within 4-8 working hours. 
If you have any questions about the companies or partnerships incorporation then please 
+44 (0) 207.935.5171 
+44 (0) 141.530.8188 
+44 (0) 289.099.8744 
Appointment and duties of director; 
