If you have decided to incorporate a company in the UK, or to purchase and tailor a “shelf company” – use this checklist to ensure you have all the information you need.
Company details
- Date on which the company is to begin trading.
- Proposed name of the company (NB: there are rules on what names can be used – see our article What Can You Call Your Company?).
- Alternative name(s).
- Whether a business name is to be used.
- Where will the registered office of the company be? (NB: this can be anywhere within England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
Share Capital
- Amount in £’s (or other currency) of the initial issued share capital of the company and the denomination of each share (e.g. £100 divided into 100 shares of £1 each).
- Details of each of the proposed shareholders of the company:
- full name;
- address;
- number of shares to be held by each; and
- if any shareholder is to be a nominee, the name of person on whose behalf the share(s) are to be held (NB: in circumstances where the shareholder does not want the shares to be held in their name)
Directors
- The number of directors at incorporation (NB the minimum number is one director. There is no maximum number unless you decide to impose a maximum by adding a clause to the Articles of Association)
- Details of each of the proposed first directors of the company:
- full name (including all forenames in full);
- any former names;
- nationality;
- usual residential address (NB: the directors do not need to be resident in the UK);
- service address – can be the registered office;
- business occupation (if any);
- date of birth.
Company secretary
- Details of any proposed secretary of the company (NB: this is optional for private limited companies):
- full name (including all forenames in full);
- any former names; and
- service address – can be the registered office.
Auditor and accounts
- Have you decided to appoint auditors at the outset? (NB: you do not need to appoint an auditor at the outset if the company’s turnover does not exceed £6.5m, the balance sheet does not total more than £3.26m and there are no more than 50 employees).
- Details of any proposed auditors (in the UK) of the company:
- name;
- address; and
- an individual in the firm who will primarily be responsible.
- What is the company’s accounting reference date (i.e., year–end) to be?
Last reviewed: September 8, 2015
