05: Forming and registering a company

Once you have decided what form of company is most suitable for your business, you need to register it with Companies House before you can begin to operate.

While you could handle this process yourself directly with Companies House, it is advisable to seek professional advice first. Several documents - including a memorandum of association and articles of association - will need to be completed, together with information about the details of the company’s registered office and the names and addresses of directors and company secretary.

Choosing a company name is an important part of the registration process, and there are certain names which are deemed sensitive as they usually imply pre-eminence and therefore require approval before they can be used. Additionally, you cannot register a company with the same name an existing registered company.

Limited companies must normally have the word ‘limited’ as part of their company name - which can be abbreviated to ‘ltd’. However, a private company limited by guarantee can be exempt as long as it fulfils a number or criteria expressly stated in the memorandum or articles of association.