Incorporation and Structure
25 articles on incorporation and structure for UK limited company directors, contractors, sole traders and small businesses.
Incorporation and Structure
London has 1,436 businesses per 10,000 resident adults, the highest of any UK region and nearly double the rate in Wales. This guide ranks every UK region by business density, using our analysis of official Business Population Estimates data, and explains what the gap means for competition, local demand and where new firms actually form.
Incorporation and Structure
New company formations are still outnumbering dissolutions across the UK, but only just, and the gap has been narrowing quarter by quarter. Meanwhile insolvencies remain elevated and are increasingly concentrated in one procedure: creditors' voluntary liquidation. This guide reads the 2026 data and sets out what it means for anyone planning a formation, a restructure, or a wind-down in 2026/27.
Incorporation and Structure
If you spent money setting up your business before the company was legally formed, those costs are not automatically lost. The rules around pre-incorporation expenses are specific, and getting them wrong means losing tax relief or triggering an unexpected VAT bill. We explain which costs qualify, which do not, and how to handle them correctly.
Incorporation and Structure
If you've raised funding but haven't made a sale yet, your accounting needs are different from a profitable business. This guide covers share structure, EMI options, investor reporting, and corporation tax planning for pre-revenue funded startups in the UK.
Incorporation and Structure
Founder-stage businesses have different accounting needs than established SMEs. This guide covers incorporation, share structures, R&D tax credits, director pay, and the specific services a startup accountant should provide from day one.
Incorporation and Structure
A Family Investment Company (FIC) is a private limited company set up to hold and grow family wealth, rather than trade a business. It gives you control over when and to whom income and capital are distributed, making it a common structure for high-net-worth families. But it is not a simple off-the-shelf solution, and the tax trade-offs need careful planning.
Incorporation and Structure
A holding company structure can save tax, protect assets and simplify group management. This guide covers how it works for UK limited companies, including corporation tax, group relief, dividend planning and BADR considerations.
Incorporation and Structure
Setting up a holding company above two trading subsidiaries can reduce your overall tax bill, protect assets and make it easier to sell one business without triggering a tax charge on the other. This guide explains how the structure works, what the tax rules are and the practical steps involved.
Incorporation and Structure
A practical guide to changing your limited company's registered name with Companies House. Covers the required forms, fees, shareholder approval, and what happens after approval.
Incorporation and Structure
Registering a limited company is straightforward via Companies House, but if your chosen name is too similar to an existing trademark, you risk rejection or legal action. This guide covers the practical steps to check your name, navigate objections, and register safely.
Incorporation and Structure
Registering a limited company in the UK is straightforward, but if your preferred name is taken or too similar to an existing trademark, the process gets trickier. This guide covers how to check name availability, navigate Companies House rules, and avoid trademark infringement before you incorporate.
Incorporation and Structure
Thinking of moving from sole trader to limited company? This guide covers the practical steps: registering your new company, transferring contracts, handling VAT, and the tax implications for 2025/26.