Getting started with a limited company.
Decide whether a company fits, who will own and run it, and how it will be funded before you pay for a formation package.
14 guides · 143 minutes of reading · Linked to official sources
The right structure depends on your profits, risks, customers and plans for investment. A limited company is a separate legal person with its own money, records and filing duties, so it suits some founders far better than others.
These guides compare structures, explain ownership options and cover founder questions such as non-resident directors, investment schemes and common mistakes made before incorporation.
- Should I be a sole trader, LLP or limited company?
- How should co-founders split shares and control?
- Can I raise investment through SEIS or EIS?
- What mistakes cause problems after registration?
All getting started guides.
Sole trader or limited company: which structure fits?
Compare liability, ownership, paperwork and how you take money out before choosing a UK business structure.
Company formation costs: the real first-year budget
Understand Companies House fees, subsidised registration offers, address renewals and the ongoing costs of a limited company.
How to compare company formation packages without overpaying
Separate the filing fee, account bundle, address service and renewals so you can compare packages on equal terms.
10 company formation mistakes to avoid before you apply
Avoid rushed address choices, incorrect ownership details, banking assumptions and missed post-registration duties.
Formation agent or Companies House: benefits, costs and trade-offs
Compare direct online incorporation with a formation agent: guided checks, address privacy, identity verification, document packs, account bundles and ongoing costs.
Choosing an accountant or bookkeeping set-up for a new company
A practical guide for new UK companies on choosing an accountant, bookkeeper, or DIY software setup. Covers costs, services, legal duties, and MTD.
Forming a UK company as a non-resident director
Understand UK incorporation, overseas residence, banking checks, public addresses and cross-border tax before forming a company from abroad.
Companies limited by guarantee: structure, membership and formation
Compare a guarantee company with a share company, plan member rights and understand why incorporation does not automatically create a charity.
Holding companies: when a group structure helps and what it costs
Explore parent-company ownership, group funding, administration and the limits of asset protection before setting up a holding company.
Property SPV companies: formation, lending and ongoing costs
Understand what a property SPV is, what lenders may require and why buying property through a company needs a full tax and financing comparison.
SEIS and EIS for startups: raising investment with tax relief
Understand SEIS and EIS investment limits, advance assurance, compliance statements and the risk-to-capital condition before raising investment.
LLP or limited company: which structure fits your business?
Compare a limited liability partnership with a limited company across liability, tax transparency, filing duties and who each structure typically suits.
Tide limited company formation: eligibility and what you need
Check who can form a company through Tide, the ID and details required, shareholder eligibility and situations where another provider may suit better.
Tide formation vs registering directly with Companies House
Compare forming a company through Tide for £14.99 with filing directly at Companies House for £100, including cost, banking and support differences.