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Types of UK Companies
At M & N Group we specialise in the provision of services to various kinds of companies.
The most common type of company in the United Kingdom is a private limited company. Other company vehicles available under the Act include companies limited by guarantee (generally used for charitable or non-profit making organisations), public limited companies or unlimited companies. There are also now limited liability partnerships. We can assist with the formation and running of the following listed entities:-
- Private Limited Company
- Public Limited Company
- Company Limited by Guarantee
- LLP Partnerships
- Unlimited Company
- Charitable Company
- Residents Management Company
- Restricted words
- Register a UK Company
The Companies Act 2006 introduced Model articles for Private, Public and Companies Limited by Guarantee.
Sensitive Company Name – some words and expressions are classed as ‘sensitive’ and can only be used in a company name if it has been approved by an independent authorising body or justified. Click to see our table to find out if your proposed company name contains a sensitive word.
What is a Private Limited Company?
A private limited company is the most common form of company registered in the United Kingdom. It may be subsequently re-registered as a public company. It has a share capital but cannot offer shares to the public. Members' liability is limited to the amount unpaid on shares held in the Company.
We provide three different packages to establish a private limited company:
| Digital Package | Digital Plus Package | Premium Package | |
| £150 plus VAT Now only £70 plus VAT!! |
£245 plus VAT Now only £160 plus VAT!! |
£370 plus VAT Now only £265 plus VAT!! |
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| Free Company Name check |  |
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| Certificate of Incorporation | electronic |
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| Bound copies of Memorandum and Articles of Association | |
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| First board meeting minutes | |
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| Full set of statutory company books | |
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| Share certificates | |
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| Registered office for one year |
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| Company secretary for one year | Worth £234 |
M & N Group can draft bespoke articles to suit any specific needs.
Check the availability of your proposed name using our free Company Name Check
To begin the registration, click on the order button below and use our electronic incorporation process to select the package you require and to get your company registered within a few hours.
What is a public limited company?
A public limited company ('PLC') is now defined as a company limited by shares (or limited by guarantee and having a share capital):-
- Whose certificate of incorporation states that it is a public company and
- which has been registered or re-registered as a public company on or after 22 December 1980.
The main features of a public limited company are :-
- the name must end with the words public limited company or PLC
- the allotted share capital must have a nominal value of not less that the ‘authorised minimum’ which is presently £50,000 or the euro equivalent
- the allotted share capital must be at least 25% paid up as to nominal value and be at least 100% paid up as to any share premium
- they are subject to stringent rules to ensure that full value is given for allotted shares
- their shares can be offered to the public
- the Company Secretary must be a qualified person i.e. a Chartered Secretary, Chartered or Certified Accountant, Solicitor of such other qualified person
M & N Group can draft bespoke articles to suit any specific needs.
Check the availability of your proposed name using our free Company Name Check
The statutory package for a Public Liability Company includes:
- Original Certificate of Incorporation
- 4 bound copies of the Articles of Association
- Draft minutes of the first board meeting
- Statutory Books
- Pre - printed share certificates
- Stock transfer forms if applicable
What is a company limited by guarantee?
A company limited by guarantee does not have a share capital. Each member undertakes to contribute to the assets of the company up to an agreed amount not normally exceeding £1.00 in the event of its winding up or liquidation. They normally have a non-profit making purpose and are used by clubs of all kinds, associations and charities.
Certain non-profit making companies limited by guarantee are permitted to omit the word 'limited' from the company name. However, the fact that the company is limited must be disclosed on letterheads and order forms.
M & N Group can draft articles to suit any specific needs.
Check the availability of your proposed name using our free Company Name Check
The Statutory Package for Companies Limited by Guarantee includes:
- Original Certificate of Incorporation
- 4 bound copies of the Articles of Association
- Draft minutes of the first board meeting
- Statutory Books
- Membership Certificates
What are limited liability partnerships?
Limited Liability Partnerships ("LLPs") are a new form of UK business entity. They enjoy the commercial benefits that come from being a body corporate and their members benefit from the protection of limited liability. Yet LLPs can operate with all the organisational flexibility of a partnership, and are taxed as such.
LLPs were introduced in April 2001 following the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2000.
Who should consider a limited liability partnership?
LLPs can be attractive vehicles for professional firms and other businesses, including start-ups and joint ventures. They are particularly valuable for businesses that would find corporation tax and other consequences of forming and operating a limited company onerous, but want to enjoy corporate status and limited liability for members.
For existing partnerships that convert to LLP status there will be duty relief on the instrument transferring property from the current partnership to the newly incorporated LLP if relevant conditions are met.
What are the characteristics of an LLP?
LLPs are created by registration at Companies House on a prescribed form LL IN01 together with a statutory fee. The Registrar issues a Certificate on registration that has the same effect as the Certificate of Incorporation of a company. This means it is easy to establish the existence and good standing of an LLP in transactions where this is important, such as acquisition of overseas assets by the LLP.
If members of an LLP do not expressly agree the contents of a Members' agreement the Act provides for a basic set of "default" terms. However, M & N recommend an express written Agreement. It does not have to be registered at Companies House.
LLPs must file an annual return and annual statutory accounts similar to those filed by limited companies. Small company exemptions apply, including audit exemptions rules. Generally, though, Companies House compliance requirements are minimal.
There are no directors. However, "designated" members have particular responsibility for certain statutory requirements. There must be at least two designated members who are appointed on a form LLAP01. They have the same rights and duties towards the limited liability partnership as any other member but the law also places extra responsibilities on designated members.
In particular they are responsible for:-
- Appointing an auditor (if one is needed)
- Signing the accounts on behalf of the members
- Delivering the accounts to the Registrar
- Notifying the Registrar of any membership changes or change of registered office
- Preparing and signing the Annual Return
- Acting on behalf of the LLP if it is wound up or dissolved.
LLPs can create floating charges as security for borrowings. This can be a major advantage over an ordinary partnership when raising funds.
Members do not have to contribute a minimum amount of capital, even in the event of a winding up. However, detailed provisions prevent members siphoning off funds in the event of insolvency and parts of the Insolvency Act 1986 will apply.
The Statutory Package for a LLP includes:-
- Registration of LLP within 24 hours
- Drafting of the Partnership Agreement
- Original Certificate of Incorporation
- Designated Members first minutes
M & N Group can draft a bespoke Partnership Agreement to suit any specific needs.
Check the availability of your proposed name using our free Company Name Check
To register an LLP please contact our team on 020 8974 5252.
What is an Unlimited Company?
An Unlimited Company is a separate legal body where there is no limit to the liability of the members. Therefore, in the event of such a company being wound up the members can find themselves liable to pay or contribute towards the debt of the company and the winding up costs. The advantage of an Unlimited Company is that they are exempted from filing accounts with the Registrar (unless the company is a holding or subsidiary of a limited company).
M & N Group can draft bespoke Articles to suit your specific requirements. There are no model articles under the Act.
Check the availability of your proposed name using our free Company Name Check
The Statutory Package for an Unlimited Company includes:
- Original Certificate of Incorporation
- 4 bound copies of the Articles of Association
- Draft minutes of the first board meeting
- Statutory Books
What is a Charitable Company?
A Charitable Company is a company limited by guarantee and does not have a share capital. If a company is incorporated for charitable purposes the Charities Commission will examine the memorandum and articles to ensure that the company has been set up correctly and will be run solely for non-profit making purposes with the proceeds only to be used for the purpose of the Charity.
M & N Group have a model set of Memorandum and Articles approved by the Charities Commission.
Check the availability of your proposed name using our free Company Name Check
The Statutory Package for a Charitable Company includes:
- Original Certificate of Incorporation
- 4 bound copies of the Articles of Association
- Draft minutes of the first board meeting
- Statutory Books
- Membership Certificates
What is a Residents Management Company?
A Residents Management Company is a company set up to acquire the freehold of a property and to manage residential accommodation including flats, houses, retirement homes and properties like estates, roads and pathways and industrial units. A Residents Management Company can be limited by shares or guarantee.
M & N Group can draft bespoke Articles to suit your specific requirements.
Check the availability of your proposed name using our free Company Name Check
The Statutory Package for a Residents Management Company includes:
- Original Certificate of Incorporation
- 4 bound copies of the Articles of Association
- Draft minutes of the first board meeting
- Statutory Books
- Share Certificates
The following three tables contain words or expressions which are specified in regulations needs support from a government department, devolved administration, local or public authority or a relevant body before they can be used in any company name.
The following words and expressions cannot be used unless the relevant department confirms that it has no objections to the use of the word in a company name. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list so if you are thinking of using any of the words or expressions below or similar words or expressions below we can check your proposed company name and assist you in obtaining any necessary consent. Use of some of some of these terms without consent may constitute a criminal offence.
| Abortion | Human rights |
| Accountancy and Actuarial Discipline Board | ICAEW |
| Accounting Standards Board | Industrial and Provident Society |
| Accredit | Insurance |
| Accreditation | Insurer |
| Accredited | Judicial appointment |
| Accrediting | King |
| Anzac | Law Commission |
| Architect | Licentiate in medicine and surgery |
| Art psychotherapist | Midwife |
| Art therapist | Midwifery |
| Assurance | Music therapist |
| Assurer | Mutual |
| Audit Commission | NAO |
| Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the National Health Service in England and Wales | National Accounting |
| Audit Office | National Accounts |
| Auditing Practices Board | NHS |
| Auditor General | Nuclear Installation |
| Bachelor of medicine | Nurse |
| Banc | Nursing |
| Bank | Occupational psychologist |
| Banking | Occupational therapist |
| Banknote | Olympiad |
| Biomedical scientist | Olympian |
| Board for Actuarial Standards | Olympic |
| Border Agency | Operating department practitioner |
| Building Society | Ophthalmic Optician |
| Chamber of Commerce | Optician |
| Charitable | Optometrist |
| Charity | Orthoptist |
| Chartered Accountant | Orthotist |
| Chartered Secretary | Paralympiad |
| Chartered Surveyor | Paralympian |
| Chemist | Paralympic |
| Child Maintenance | Paramedic |
| Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission | Parliament Parliamentarian Parliamentary |
| Child Support | Patent |
| Chiropodist | Patentee |
| Chiropractic physician | Pharmaceutical chemist |
| Chiropractic practitioner | Pharmaceutist |
| Chiropractioner | Pharmacist |
| Chiropractor | Pharmacy |
| Citius, Altius, Fortius. | Physical therapist |
| Clinical psychologist | Physician |
| Clinical scientist | Physiotherapist |
| Comptroller and Auditor General | Podiatrist |
| Contact lens | Police |
| Counselling psychologist | Polytechnic |
| Credit Union | Practitioner psychologist |
| Data protection | Pregnancy termination |
| Dental | Prince |
| Dental Practitioner | Princess |
| Dental Surgeon | Professional Oversight Board |
| Dentist | Prosthetist |
| Dentistry | Public Health |
| Diagnostic radiographer | Queen |
| Dietician | Radiographer |
| Dietitian | Reassurance |
| Dispensing Chemist | Reassurer |
| Dispensing Druggist | Red Crescent |
| Dispensing Optician | Red Cross |
| Doctor of medicine | Red Lion and Sun |
| Drama therapist | Registered Optician |
| Druggist | Registered psychologist |
| Duchess | Reinsurance |
| Duke | Reinsurer |
| Educational psychologist | Royal |
| EMAS | Royalty |
| Employment Medical Advisory Service | Rule committee |
| Enrolled Optician | SE |
| Faster, Higher, Stronger | Select Committee |
| Financial Reporting Council | Serious Organised Crime |
| Financial Reporting Review Panel | Sheffield |
| Financial Services Authority | SOCA |
| Forensic psychologist | Solicitor |
| Friendly Society | Special School |
| Fund | Speech and language therapist |
| General practitioner | Speech therapist |
| Geneva Cross | Spirit in Motion |
| Health and Safety | Sport and exercise psychologist |
| Health and Safety Executive | Surgeon |
| Health centre | The Governor and Company of the Bank of England |
| Health psychologist | The Pensions Advisory Service |
| Health service | Therapeutic radiographer |
| Health visitor | UKBA |
| Her Majesty | Underwrite Underwriting |
| His Majesty | University |
| Home Office | Vet |
| House of Commons | Veterinary Surgeon Veterinary |
| House of Lords | Windsor |
| Housing Corporation |
The following words imply a pre-eminence or specific objects/functions and independent support or other evidence needs to be submitted to gain permission to use these words. Contact us to discuss your proposed name and we can assist you in obtaining the relevant consent or draft other supporting documents so that you can use these words.
| Artistic Trust | HSE |
| Agency | Inspectorate |
| Assembly | Institute |
| Authority | Institution |
| Benevolent | International |
| Board | Investment Trust |
| Britain | Licensing |
| British | Ministry |
| Cabinet Office | Ministry of |
| Chamber of | National |
| Charitable Trust | Northern Ireland |
| Charter | Northern Irish |
| Chartered | Ombudsman |
| Commission | Oversight |
| Commissioner | Pensions Trust |
| Commonhold Association | Post Office |
| Co-operative | Register |
| Copyright | Registered |
| Council | Registrar |
| Department for/of | Registration |
| Design | Registry |
| Disciplinary | Regulation |
| Discipline | Regulator |
| Educational Trust | Scotland |
| England | Scottish |
| English | Social Service |
| Enterprise Trust | Society |
| European | Staff Trust |
| Family Trust | Standards |
| Federation | Stock exchange |
| Financial Trust | Trade Union |
| Foundation | Tribunal |
| G.B (or any variation) | Trust |
| G.B. | U.K (or any variation) |
| GB | U.K. |
| Giro | UK |
| Government | United Kingdom |
| Group | Wales |
| Holding | Watchdog |
| Holdings | Welsh |
The following words or expressions are not permitted in any company name.
| Crime Squad | IPO |
| Criminal Intelligence Service | UKIPO |
| HMRC | Licensing Authority |
| Intellectual Property | Assets Recovery |
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