Minimum Requirements to register UK Company Limited by Shares

Registration address in the UK. This can be your own UK address or you can use our registered address by adding ‘UK Registration Address’ service to your package. Your company registration address will be visible to general public, therefore it may be a good idea to use our registered office address if you do not have an office in the UK but were rather thinking of using your UK home address for company registration purposes.

One Director (natural person). You must have at least one Director to register a UK company, however there is no limit to a maximum number of Directors. Company Director can be of any nationality and live in any country. No personal presence required and the same person can be a Shareholder as well.

One Shareholder (natural person or company). Minimum one Shareholder is required who can be of any nationality and live in any country. No personal presence required. There is no limit to a maximum number of Shareholders and the same person can be a Director and Shareholder at the same time. Your company’s Shareholder can be a corporate body (company registered in any country) too.

Advantages of an LTD

• Separate legal entity. Your business would be a separate legal entity, and therefore you will not be liable personally for debts, as you would be as a sole trader.
• Limited liability. The liability of the shareholders to creditors of the company is limited to the capital originally invested, i.e. the nominal value of the shares and any premium paid in return for the issue of the shares by the company. A shareholder's personal assets are protected in the event of the company's insolvency, only money invested in the company will respond for any liabilities.
• Tax efficiency. The company is taxed on it’s taxable profits at a fixed rate (corporate tax). Therefore, you are not susceptible to paying higher rates of income tax as you would on your personal income. An LTD is also eligible to claim more respite in terms of tax-deductible costs that can help lower the amount of the corporate tax bill each year.
• Investment vehicle. An LTD provides the ability to raise capital and encourage investment into your business. As your company has a more established profile, investors are more likely to have confidence than when dealing with a sole trader. It is easier to raise money through the sale of shares as well, and you have the option of selling it for a profit too.

Reporting requirements. Every year your company needs to submit an Annual Return to the company registrar and Annual Accounts to HMRC and the company registrar.

Depending on your business’ operations other accounting and bookkeeping requirements may arise for example if you employ people or pay a salary to your Directors, therefore becoming responsible for payroll.

Minimum requirements to register UK limited partnership Registered address in the UK. This can be your own UK address or you can use our registered address by adding ‘UK Registration Address’ service to your package. Please, note the address you are going to use (either your own or one of our addresses) will be known to government bodies and will be used by tax office in case they need to contact you. Therefore it may be a good idea to use one of our registered offices if you do not have physical office in the UK but were rather thinking of using your UK home address.

Two members. Minimum two members are required to register an LLP and minimum two members have to be designated members of LLP.

Two designated members. Designated members act on behalf of the LLP same as directors do in an LTD. They have an obligation to maintain records and submit reports as well as perform certain tasks. If designated members are not specified then all members of LLP are considered to be designated and consecutively responsible for reporting and other partnership-related tasks.

Advantages of an LLP

• liability of each member of LLP is limited to the amount of investment
• unlimited objects/capacity (no specific company objects to be specified)
• each member is taxed individually on its share of income of partnership – not subject to corporate tax.

Reporting requirements. Despite LLP being itself not subject to taxation, annual tax returns must be submitted annually for informational purposes.

An Annual return needs to be submitted to the UK Company Registrar every year too.