Running a limited company.
Deadlines, director duties, employees, records, changes and closure — the ongoing responsibilities of a company director.
26 guides · 303 minutes of reading · Linked to official sources
Incorporation is the start of a company’s legal life. Directors must keep records, meet Companies House and HMRC deadlines and act in the company’s interests throughout.
These guides explain filing calendars, statutory registers, hiring staff, premises, contracts and what to do if the company struggles or you want to close it.
- What are my legal duties as a director?
- Which filing deadlines apply in the first year?
- What records must the company keep?
- How do I close a company properly?
All running a company guides.
Limited company filing deadlines: accounts, tax and statements
Keep Companies House accounts, confirmation statements and HMRC tax deadlines separate with a practical compliance calendar.
Your first 30 days after forming a limited company
A practical post-incorporation checklist for documents, banking, records, tax registration and the first compliance calendar.
Dormant companies: inactive does not mean obligation-free
Understand the different Companies House and HMRC dormancy rules, continuing filings and common transaction traps.
Closing a limited company: strike-off, assets and debts
Understand why closing a solvent company is different from dealing with insolvency and what to check before applying for strike-off.
The confirmation statement: what to check, file and pay each year
A practical guide for UK limited companies on filing the annual confirmation statement. Learn what to check, how to file, and the fees for 2025/26.
Micro-entity, small company and full accounts: which applies
A guide for UK limited companies on choosing between micro-entity, small company, and full accounts, detailing the thresholds, contents, and filing options.
The seven general duties of a company director explained
A comprehensive, practical guide to the seven general duties of a UK company director under the Companies Act 2006. Learn how to comply and avoid liability.
Appointing, resigning and removing directors properly
A practical guide for UK limited companies on the correct procedures for appointing, resigning, and removing directors, covering Companies House and HMRC rules.
Issuing new shares and transferring existing shares
A practical guide for UK limited companies on how to issue new shares to investors and transfer existing shares between shareholders, covering legal steps and tax.
Business insurance for limited companies: what is compulsory and what is sensible
A practical guide to business insurance for UK limited companies. Learn about compulsory cover like employers' liability and sensible options like public liability.
Hiring your first employee through your limited company
A practical UK guide for limited companies hiring their first employee in 2025/26. Covers PAYE, contracts, costs, pensions, and legal duties.
Trading disclosures: what your invoices, website and emails must show
A comprehensive UK guide to trading disclosures. Learn what your limited company's invoices, website, and emails must legally show to comply with the Companies Act.
Data protection and the ICO fee for new companies
A guide for new UK companies on data protection rules, when you must pay the ICO data protection fee, and how to comply with your legal obligations.
Late filing penalties from Companies House and HMRC, and how to avoid them
A practical guide for UK company directors on late filing penalties from Companies House and HMRC. Learn how to avoid fines and stay compliant in 2025/26.
Changing your company year end: accounts periods and filing traps
Understand shortening and extending accounting periods, Companies House restrictions and the separate impact on Corporation Tax returns.
Companies House authentication codes: access, security and recovery
Keep company filing access secure, distinguish identity personal codes and recover access before a statutory deadline.
Bookkeeping for limited companies: a practical monthly system
Build a reliable company bookkeeping routine for bank reconciliation, invoices, director transactions, payroll and year-end handover.
Company invoicing and late payment: terms, evidence and collection
Create compliant company invoices, agree payment terms and follow a proportionate business-debt collection process.
Importing and exporting as a company: EORI, customs and records
Plan the first goods shipment with correct EORI details, customs responsibilities, commodity classification and import VAT evidence.
Business contracts for companies: scope, payment, risk and signatures
Review practical contract terms for a newly formed company, including authority, payment, intellectual property, liability and exit.
Selling company shares: preparation, due diligence and completion
Understand the practical difference between selling shares and assets, prepare company records and review tax and deal terms before completion.
Company insolvency warning signs: cash, creditors and director action
Recognise financial distress, build a short-term cash picture and know when a director needs urgent licensed professional advice.
Employment Allowance and employer National Insurance for small companies
Understand employer National Insurance rates and thresholds, the Employment Allowance, single-director company exclusions and how to claim through your EPS.
Statutory registers and company books: what every company must keep
Understand the statutory registers a UK company must maintain, inspection rights, how they interact with the public register, and how ECCTA reforms affect them.
Business premises and business rates: what a new company needs to check
Understand leases, rateable value, small business rate relief, working from home, planning permission and differences across the UK nations.
Setting up your Tide business account after formation
What to do in your first weeks with a Tide business account: separating money, invoicing, bookkeeping, payroll registration and hitting the reward deadlines.