Business Planning

As a small business owner, managing your finances effectively is crucial for the success and growth of your venture. From taxes and expenses to budgeting, every financial decision you make can significantly impact your business’s bottom line. Read on for our top tips on how to manage your finances. 

Times of economic uncertainty can be highly stressful for business owners. When the national economy is uncertain, the anxieties around it will translate to your daily business practices. However, there are ways to work and protect your business from times of economic hardship. 

Looking to make some money alongside your full-time responsibilities? Look no further than our side hustle series. Today, we delve into the world of e-commerce. Are you interested in selling goods and services online, read our handy guide to learn more. 

First thing’s first: as any entrepreneur will tell you, there’s never a right time to start a business. You’ll always have reasons to delay your project. Maybe you find the thought of losing financial security too daunting, or perhaps you’re struggling to get to grips with how the company creation process works. But if you […]

We posted an explanation of what “Last Returns Made Up To” meant in a limited company sense. Today we’re going to look at a similar topic, “Last Accounts Made Up To”. The Companies House web check and our very own company admin portal both have an area dedicated to “Last Accounts Made Up To”

What is a company credit report and what it’s used for: What is a company credit report?  A company credit report provides financial background information about a company. It covers information such as the company’s ownership, subsidiary companies, financial information, risk scores and any liabilities or bankruptcies. It is also known as a business credit […]

The only way to notify Companies House about a change in your limited company’s shareholding situation is to file a confirmation statement. Find out how to in our blog. 

The PROOF (PROtected Online Filing) scheme is a free service provided by Companies House that helps protect your company from fraud. Registering your company for PROOF means that Companies House stop accepting paper forms (appointment changes, change of registered office, company name change etc) for your company. 

Move over, Starbucks! Independent coffee shops are back on the rise, and ready to challenge the big brand monopolies.  

A short one for you all today: What’s the difference between a shareholder and a subscriber? Well there’s not much difference at all. A shareholder is someone who owns shares in a limited company. They own the company along with other shareholders (if there are others). 

The “Section 243 Exemption” is a term you will come across when appointing a limited company director via the AP01 form (online or through paper documentation). A 243 exemption means the proposed director’s residential address will not be disclosed to any credit reference agencies. 

Yes it can. The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code is a five digit number that categorises a company’s nature of business. The code is chosen when a company is being registered. It is possible to complete a SIC code change when you file the company’s Confirmation Statement. A company can have up to four SIC […]

When appointing a limited company director Companies House request your director’s ‘Full forename(s)’ and ‘Surname’. If you wish you can withhold the middle name. 

Few businesses are more rewarding for your creativity than arranging stunning bouquets. Best of all, floristry is the kind of small business you can easily run online, from the comfort of your own home.

If you’re starting up your own clothing line, you’ll have put hours and hours into designing, creating and branding your products. And as any experienced designer will tell you, it’s imperative to consider trademarking your products. From a legal perspective, this is what makes your brand a brand — and also what keeps it safe […]

The “Return of Allotment of Shares” is the process of adding new shares into a company. For example, a company formed with 1 share can complete a “Return of Allotment of Shares” (also known as the SH01 form) and increase the number of shares to a new amount. 

When you appoint a director with Companies House (via the AP01 form of via our system) you are able to backdate the appointment.  

If you’re from outside the UK and are considering setting up a UK company, you may feel daunted by the amount of work involved. Doing it at a distance can seem like an impossible task, but when you break it down, it’s entirely achievable. 

You may know your hydrangeas from your hollyhocks, but how clued up are you on the different company structures open to professional gardeners? If your gardening business is going to flourish, you’ll need to pick the best setup for you, and meet all the business and legal requirements that come with it.

It is perhaps every foodie’s dream to own a restaurant. It allows you the freedom to be your own boss, hire and lead your own team, and enjoy your passion for food and people. Owning a restaurant is a lot of work and the hours can be long, but for many people....

Careers in writing have an easy transition into the world of freelancing. Afterall, who doesn’t want more freedom over writing assignments, more control over your daily routine and work habits, to be your own boss? 

The life of a developer isn’t known for being easy — but if you’ve picked this career path, you likely love a challenge. So isn’t it a relief to know that, in spite of how confusing coding can be, you know that software development is one of the most in-demand industries globally?

If you’re a food lover, it can be tempting to open up your own restaurant. It offers you the opportunity to be your own boss and to have creative freedom over everything — from the menu to the interior design. 

Working from home can be one of the greatest perks of launching your own business. It’s the perfect environment to meet your needs, and it’s affordable. However, you still need to make a small investment to prevent your dream office turning into a nightmare: home business insurance.

As a wedding caterer, your main goal is likely to make sure the happy couple have a great day, and that everything goes as smoothly as possible. On top of this, though, you’ll face the added challenge of creating a stable, competitive business that earns plenty of custom and does things by the book.

If you’re starting up your own cleaning business, you’ll be spending a lot of time planning it. From equipment hire to insurance, this can be a long-winded and difficult process.

Starting a production company used to be right up there with becoming an astronaut or rock star as one of those fantasy careers that mums and dads would gently dissuade their children from pursuing. Established production companies were simply too dominant, the opportunities too few and the costs too high for new companies to have […]

So you’re thinking of becoming a professional dog walker? Welcome to a hectic, tumultuous, but rewarding new industry. 

In the bakery business, we all know it’s important to make your products sell like hotcakes. However, this is also the tricky aspect of running a successful bakery: timing. Knowing when to waft the smell of freshly baked pastel de natas down the street at just the right time during the morning commute is an […]

Home businesses have always offered a path to career success, from the earliest cottage industries through to some of today’s leading tech brands. Jeff Bezos launched his business, Amazon, from his garage in 1994; at the time of writing he’s the richest person on the planet.

So you’re thinking about forming your own interior design business? Excellent: now is a great time to start. With booming social media channels like Pinterest and Instagram making it easier to share engaging imagery, there is a growing interest in creating and showing wonderful, vibrant homes.

Do you dream of running a business from home? Being able to manage your own working hours without the tiresome commute and 9-5 may be a goal for many. Since 2020, many people have discovered the joys and woes of working from home, but how do you translate WFH to running your own home business?  […]

Always dreamt of having your own business? Perhaps you’ve fantasised of being able to plan your own day or want control over your workload –  but do you actually know what it takes to be a business owner? We help thousands of businesses get started every year, so you could say we have some experience. […]

We had the pleasure of speaking to Ryan Panchoo – the business owner and mastermind behind the successful gluten-free vegan doughnut sensation, Borough 22. Be right back – we’re off to get our doughnut fix!

Starting a new business is daunting enough without worrying about your home address appearing on the public register for your company, which it will if you use it as your company’s registered office address.

You’ve had the dream and taken the plunge to set up a limited company, but what next? First of all, well done on deciding to start your own business – you’ve made a courageous decision in taking the first steps of your business venture! Let us guide you through some steps to take once you […]

In our latest interview we chat with George Bevis – founder of Tide, a business current account launched at the beginning of last year and counting 30,000+ members already – making it the fastest growing new B2B fintech in the UK ever.

Profit margins are the be-all and end-all of running a business, and with so many expenses coming from every angle, it can be a huge challenge to keep things cost-effective. 82% of small businesses fail because of cash flow mismanagement, which goes to show just how important it is for a business to maximise their […]

Setting up your own online jewellery shop is very doable, but it does require some homework to ensure you start on the right foot. 

We all know the promises we make at the start of the year to get in shape, feel fitter and be stronger, but do you think about your business in the same way? Forget signing up to the gym, give your business a workout instead and get a head-start to 2019. Ready, set, go!

The end of the year is always a good time to reflect on achievements from the last 12 months. But the pressure we put on ourselves to fulfil promises for the next year often fall to the wayside after a few weeks of effort. So we’re sharing 10 small resolutions that you can easily implement […]

Even if Halloween isn’t here, it’s understandable to be fearful – who knows what ghouls and ghosts lurk in the darkness? In this blog post, we’re looking at a far more realistic threat – company fraud. When it comes to business it always pays to be cautious. With that in mind, here are four ways […]

Meetings are invaluable for turning ideas into plans of action and collaborating with others on projects, but have you ever wondered if you could be getting more out of them? We’ve all felt tired and uninterested during a meeting at some point, so perhaps it’s time to use that hour (or more) to your benefit. […]

As an accountant you’re not short on choice when it comes to forming companies for your clients. However, there’s only one company incorporation service accredited by ICAEW; Company Formation MadeSimple. In this article we’re sharing seven reasons why forming and administering your limited companies with ICAEW’s preferred registration agent makes your life… simple. (And there’s […]

Coding lessons were made compulsory in schools in 2014 – good news for our future generations. However, this means those of us who weren’t lucky enough to have it as part of our education is in danger of getting left behind. Little surprise then that the levels of people interested in learning to code are on […]

Summer may be coming to an end but it’s not too late to take some well-earned time off if you haven’t already. Of course, as a business owner, if you do manage to get away it’s hard to switch off and there’s always the temptation to take work with you. With that in mind, here […]

Did you know that 73% of UK employees don’t use up all of their annual leave? That means that only a quarter of us are actually making the most of our time off allowance. It’s no wonder that more people than ever are reporting feelings of burnout, listlessness and tension at work.

There are so many apps and tools out there claiming that they can help increase efficiency, productivity and so on, it’s a chore in itself sifting through them all. Well sift no more, we’ve compiled 10 (well actually 11) of our favourites that will help you do beautiful business, simply.

Like a house, a business can accrue junk over time. Especially when it comes to marketing. In this post we look at the importance of focusing on what’s working, clearing out the junk and keeping your marketing fresh.

Incorporating a limited company is one of the most effective ways of securing your business name. It means that nobody else can register a company using that witty name you’ve been sitting on for years before you’ve had a chance to get things off the ground. But it’s a common misconception that registering a name […]

Whichever way you voted on the Brexit issue and however strongly you feel about it, the one thing that seems pretty clear is that the task facing this and successive governments is challenging to say the least. Much of what has to be done is completely uncharted territory. None of our leaders will have much if […]

Formed a company but not sure what to do next? No problem adventurers. We’ve designed this infographic to help you navigate through the early stages of running and growing your very own business. You’ll find tips-a-plenty and some guidance on dodging potential hazards. It’s a jungle out there… but we’re here to help.

At MadeSimple we’re constantly writing new guides designed to help your business start, run and grow.  We’re delighted to announce that these guides now have a permanent home where you can download them all for free. Take a look at our free guides now.

Business dictionary.com define an entrepreneur as “Someone who exercises initiative by organizing a venture to take benefit of an opportunity”  This might describe what an entrepreneur is – but is there a set of qualities that an individual needs to become one? How do you know if you have what it takes to go it […]

You have started a business but you’re short of one very important thing… money. Having an extra source of capital can help your business in a number of ways. But where on earth do you get funding from? We have done some investigating to give you an idea.

After starting your business it’s likely that you’ll encounter a number of situations where you’ll need to deliver a presentation. Whilst presenting can be a nerve-wracking experience, it’s a great opportunity to really sell your business. 

The life of a startup is full of ups and downs. Fortunately, there is a simple way to prepare for the tough road ahead… watch the HBO show Silicon Valley. Whilst some shows and films may teach a few business lessons, Silicon Valley is an incredibly accurate case study that startups can genuinely learn from […]

Got a money-making idea but not sure what to do next? No problem! We’ve created an infographic highlighting our 10 steps to turning your idea into a business. Take a look to get your budding business, blooming.

Startup – possibly one of the most overused words today. Startup culture, startup business, startup mentality. Some countries – Israel for example – have even been described as a startup nation. The term is clearly widespread, but what exactly does it mean to be a startup? It can’t be enough to work in a co-working […]

At Company Formation MadeSimple we get many queries regarding certain terms and phrasings, in particular, to do with the registered office; a limited company’s official address at Companies House (the UK’s registrar of companies). In this post, we will look at and answer some of these common questions.

Here at MadeSimple we are big fans of the the Netflix sensation House of Cards – which has just seen its fourth season released. It’s a fantastic show full of political intrigue, deception and scheming – starring Kevin Spacey as the ruthless politician Frank Underwood.

We could be about to witness one of the most famous sporting upsets of all time (really) as small provincial club Leicester City – who last year were battling relegation – find themselves top of the Premier League going into the final few weeks of the season.

Networking events are a fantastic opportunity for you to get out there and talk about your business to like-minded people and potential customers/partners.

You’ve found a company name you like and so naturally you want to prevent anyone else from taking it before you’re ready to get your business up and running. This brings us to one of the most common queries we receive on customer service; “How can I make my company dormant?”

On Thursday the 23rd of June we all get our say on whether Britain should remain part of the European Union or go it alone. The result of this referendum will undoubtedly have a huge impact on the future of Britain’s businesses. In the coming months we’ll be providing you with all the information you […]

The two most popular business structures in the UK are Limited Companies and Sole Traders. In this post we’re going to look at the two and highlight some of the pros and cons of each.

We spoke with James Grant, the founder of TutorTap, about starting up and running his online tutor service. In the video, James shares his own startup advice as well as looking at the highs and the lows he’s experienced so far.

Running a business and playing the old dating game are pretty similar. So, to mark (celebrate is a bit strong) Valentine’s Day – we thought we’d share 5 Tips To Finding Customers… and Love.

So you have just formed your company. Congratulations you are now heading into an exciting adventure and here at MadeSimple we are here to help you along the way so that you can Change your life. For more information on what we can do for you and your business see here for more information. When you […]

It is a question that entrepreneurs, business owners and management should ask themselves – whether to put themselves in the limelight and enter an award. As the organiser of one such programme, Arabella  Dymoke, of The Good Web Guide shares her thoughts. Having worked with businesses and startups over the years, The GWG knows what makes […]

So you have decided that your idea is more than an idea – you are now ready to turn this idea into a fully fledged profit making (hopefully) business. Fantastic, you are on the way to something potentially great.

Lots of people have entrepreneurial tendencies, nowhere is that more evident than in the economy of the UK – with statistics released by Companies House showing us that 533,000 formations took place in the year preceding 31 March 2014. A huge number.

3 When you’re setting up a business – you need to keep your own interests as a company ahead of everything else. As a result, you might find that there are a range of possible countries where you can form your company.

Starting a new business will be one of the most exciting things you do, but it can be financially risky and daunting. Our partner, Smarta Start Up Loans, is your route to government backed funds – specifically for people just like you, starting and growing their business. As well as low-interest funding of up to […]

With the world once again transfixed on the acclaimed series Game of Thrones, we decided to look at what your business could learn, yes learn, from the goings on in Kings Landing, The Wall and the Free Cities. Be warned, spoilers follow! Look out for your own Whilst I certainly wouldn’t suggest killing off your […]

Got a great business idea and now ready to crack on? Eggcellent, eggciting, eggcetera. Now you need to decide what legal structure to proceed with. In this blog post we are going to look at two of the most popular structures that are available to you: • Limited Company (in this case a Private Company […]

Starting your own company is a very exciting time; however it can be confusing deciding where to turn first. The free Business Start Up Tool Kit is designed to help you make those first tentative turns. Here is a brief rundown of: • What’s included in the Business Start Up Toolkit • How the products […]

Unfortunately changing a shareholder in a UK limited company is not as simple as changing a company director. This is because shares are involved. Here’s what you need to do to change a shareholder: Complete the J30 stock transfer form Changing a shareholder from one person to another means that shares are moving from one […]

Storing a company on our admin portal means that you can carry out multiple company filing tasks. For example, you can: • Appoint, resign or edit directors • Update the registered office address • Change the accounting reference date • Add shares to the company (known as a ‘return of allotment of shares’) • Keep […]

Christmas is almost here! Below you will find our opening hours for the festive season. Please note that during closed hours you will not be able to collect any mail from our premises. Friday 20th December: Closed from 1pm Monday 23rd December: Normal opening hours Tuesday 24th December: Closed from 1pm Wednesday 25th December: Closed […]

A holdings company is one that owns shares in another company (for a full definition see Companies House); this other company is a subsidiary of the holdings company. In order to form a UK limited company with the name holding or holdings, the new company needs to own a majority (more than half) of the […]

Locating your incorporation documents (the certificate of incorporation, memorandum of association and articles of association) once your company has been formed is simple: Login to Companies Made Simple.               Select My Companies.

That’s a good question… and one we can’t answer. Now that’s not us being slippery, it’s because every company is different and what suits one company may not suit another. Therefore it wouldn’t be wise for us to say “you should issue X amount of shares with each share being worth X amount”. We can […]

Welcome Every edition of the Real Business Case Study is special but today’s is extra-special. Why’s that? Because today we’re chatting with Michelle Carvill, founder of our new social media partners, Carvill Creative. Formed in 2002, Carvill Creative specialise in creating effective and integrated online visibility for businesses across websites, blogs and social media platforms. […]

Halloween is the perfect time to cast a wary eye over some of the common mistakes made when forming and running a limited company. Be warned, what follows is not for the faint of heart… Hellish spelling of the company name Whilst our system can check if a company name is available with Companies House […]

We’re delighted to announce that we have partnered with Rockstar Mentoring Group to give our customers exclusive access to a video presentation: Discover The Fastest Method For Adding More Value To Your Business And Increasing Your Profits In the presentation Rockstar’s Managing Director, Jonathan Pfahl, uncovers: • The One Thing You Should Always Be Focussing […]

We’ve partnered up with names.co.uk to offer you a free domain name (or web address) when you register a limited company. This gives you your own website address i.e. www.yourbusiness.co.uk and you can also choose web hosting or a website building tool to enable you to build your website quickly and easily. There is another […]

We can form companies in the following: • England & Wales • Scotland • Northern Ireland To form a company in any of the above simply select a Registered Office based in the relevant location. For example, to form an England & Wales company, choose a registered office based in England and Wales. Companies House […]

Did you know 54% of small businesses have not registered their company name on either Facebook or Twitter? We, names.co.uk, recently undertook some research on businesses which showed some concerning results. 1 in 4 (28%) small business owners wait months after registering their company name to register their domain name which increases the risk of […]

No you do not. The Registered Office can be any address: • In the UK that you have permission to use • That you are contactable at via mail Our very own Registered Office Service meets the two (well three) criteria set out above: • It’s in the UK and once purchased you have our […]

As the Made Simple Group is all about, well, making things simple, I was encouraged to pare this post back to basics and come up with what I feel are the five main components of business. Get these right and you should never really go wrong. A niche idea The best businesses I’m seeing are […]

All of our company formation packages come with the option to open a Barclays Business Bank Account. On top of this, once an account has been successfully opened we’ll give you £50 cash back. How to form your company and arrange your meeting with Barclays 1. Search for your proposed company name and choose your […]

It’s not every day you get invited to visit Number 10 to talk ‘small business’ with senior advisors to the Prime Minister. So this week I was delighted to be selected by the team at Enterprise Nation who arranged the opportunity for 20 small business owners to get round a table (and a very prestigious […]

One of the most satisfying moments for any start-up is when the website goes live. It’s the opening of your shop front, the unveiling of your brand, the introduction of your business. In short, it’s the start. Therefore you want to get it right. The beauty of digital is that you don’t have to get […]

First, let’s look at what we mean by paid for. Paid for indicates that the value of the shares in a limited company have been paid into the company’s bank account (or other fund such as petty cash). A company can have both paid shares and unpaid shares; it’s not a case of all or […]

Anyone perusing our company registration packages will come across the terms Registered Office and Service Address. So what on earth are these and what’s the difference? The Registered Office This is the official address for a UK limited company. As that suggests, it must be based in the UK. The company does not need to […]

Emily Coltman FCA, Chief Accountant to FreeAgent – who provide an award-winning online accounting system for small businesses – explains what companies must send to HMRC and when. Registering the company HMRC are automatically notified when a company is formed at Companies House, so about three weeks after registering your new company, you will receive […]

Names are going to be a big topic this month with the arrival of the Royal baby, so I thought I’d jump on the bandwagon and write a post about the restrictions that must be considered when naming a limited company, a baby of sorts! This post is about the rules of naming a limited […]

The WebFiling Authentication Code is a 6 alphanumeric code allocated by Companies House upon company formation. The code allows you to administer your company online through our system and Companies House’s own WebFiling system. Every limited company that is formed by us is allocated a WebFiling Authentication Code. To locate your company’s code: Login Select […]

It’s Glastonbury next week and as anybody who has graced the oft-soaked Somerset fields will tell you, it’s all about getting the right pitch. Well the same goes for your business (and that’s it with the tenuous Glastonbury link). Being able to confidently sell your business to others is a valuable skill that can take […]

To celebrate Father’s Day we thought we’d take a look at some British pioneers of business. “What’s that got to do with Father’s day?” you may ask. Well these are “The Daddies” of business… Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) & James Watt (1736- 1819) Let’s kick things off with a 2 for 1. Known for their Boulton […]

Becoming a limited company director is not something you should decide upon or agree to on the spur of the moment. Whilst it’s great to be able to say “I’m a company director” you should realise that the job comes with some very real responsibilities. So, for your viewing pleasure, our 5 Responsibilities of a […]

There is mass confusion surrounding the annual accounts and the annual returns. Some people mistake one for the other; some people recognise one but fail to recognise the other and some people completely ignore them both. 

One of the many benefits of using our Company Secretarial (or Cosec) system is the ability to add an amount of credit to your account and then knock future payments off of this credit. If you have already signed up (if you haven’t see the bottom of the post) you can add credit by logging […]

Once you have completed our company formation set-up process, your application is sent to Companies House for review. The vast majority of these applications are accepted just a matter of (working) hours after they have been sent but every so often an application may be rejected. This could be for a variety of reasons: an […]

To form a Limited Liability Partnership you require at least two designated members. So what’s the difference between a designated member and a member? Designated members and members have the same rights to the company. However, designated members have more responsibilities than a regular member. They are responsible for (taken from Companies House): • appointing […]

No. To form a UK limited company you must have a Registered Office based in the UK. What is the Registered Office? It is the official address for the company. The company does not need to trade or be based here. However, company directors must be contactable via the address. This means that any official […]

Each and every one of our company formation packages includes the £13 Companies House incorporation fee as part of the quoted price. In fact, if any our services require a Companies House fee we’ll include said fee in our price. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The […]

Companies House don’t care if members in your Limited by Guarantee company resign. This is an internal matter for the company that Companies House do not need to be notified of. You can record and file meeting minutes detailing the resignation in the company’s own records. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken […]

On Sunday, Old Trafford bade farewell to Sir Alex Ferguson, the charismatic Scotsman who has managed Manchester United for 26 years. This was the man who led United to 13 Premier League titles, 2 Champions League trophies and 5 FA Cups. The most successful manager in British football history. Now picture the scene. You’re sat […]

You should notify Companies House if a company director changes their name. If your company is on our system you can do this by: 1. Logging in to Companies Made Simple 2. Selecting “My Companies” 3. Clicking on the relevant company name 4. Selecting “Edit” next to the director’s name 5. Entering the new name […]

Companies House say it best: “A company is dormant if it has had no ‘significant accounting transactions’ during the accounting period. A significant accounting transaction is one which the company should enter in its accounting records. When determining whether a company is dormant you can disregard the following transactions: • payment for shares taken by […]

Not sure what a limited company term means? Take a look at our handy jargon buster. Accounting Reference Date: The period that annual accounts must cover up to. Annual Accounts: A report delivered to Companies House that details financial information about a company. Annual Returns: A report delivered to Companies House that comprises of up […]

The “made-up-to date” is a term associated with the annual return. It is the date that all information in the annual return must be correct up to. It is common practice to use one of the following as the made-up-to date: • the anniversary of incorporation • the made-up-to date of a previous annual return […]

If you are appointing a corporate director (making another company a director) we require some extra information about the company being appointed. This includes whether the company is based in an EEA (European Economic Area) country or a Non-EEA country.

Forming a company can be daunting. It needn’t be. We’ve created a free to download whitepaper called “The Facts: Forming a UK Limited Company” that covers everything you need to know about forming a company in the UK. The document includes director, secretary and shareholder information as well as a look at the legal obligations […]

A company completes a “SH01 Return of allotment of shares” document when it wishes to add new shares (the shareholder/s who are to receive these shares are not named until an annual return is filed). Once completed the document should be mailed to Companies House (no filing fee required). If your limited company is on […]

Unfortunately registering a limited company does not automatically protect your trademark. This is because company law and trademark law are two completely different things. We recommend contacting the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) for more information. You can visit their site here. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – […]

Inspired by a comment on our Facebook page by a gentleman who was struggling to locate his articles of association (take a look if you don’t believe me), here’s how to view and download your incorporation documents: 1. Login 2. Select “My Companies” 3. Click on your company name 4. Scroll down to “My Documents” […]

To carry out any online maintenance of your limited company (resign a director, add shares, file an annual return, etc) you’ll need a Companies House webfiling authentication code – a 6 character long password allocated by Companies House upon incorporation. Unfortunately these codes can expire or be misplaced...

Are you thinking of forming a limited company but unsure if a name is available? We can help. Company name availability can be a tricky topic what with all these “sensitive words and expressions” and “same as words”, it’s completely understandable if you’re not sure what can and can’t be done. So get in touch […]

When a limited company is formed it immediately takes on the status of “Active” (displayed on the Companies House webcheck and on your company admin portal). This has nothing to do with the trading status of a company; it simply means that the company is “live” as opposed to being in liquidation or struck off. […]

We offer a dormant company accounts service that sees us prepare and file dormant company accounts with Companies House on behalf of your company. However, there are some scenarios when a company can’t utilise this service. You can’t use our dormant company accounts service if… • Your company is not dormant. What is a dormant […]

Seeing as we’ve covered how many people are required to form a limited by shares company and a limited liability partnership, we should take a look at the appointments required to form a limited by guarantee company. To form a limited by guarantee company with Companies House you require a director and a guarantor. This […]

Welcome Today we’re delighted to be interviewing Vanessa Lenssen, the entrepreneur behind GoLearnTo.com, a travel company who specialise in providing unique learning holidays. Since forming GoLearnTo.com in 2006 Vanessa has been shortlisted for Red Magazine’s Red Hot Woman Award in the online business category and also won the Shine Corporate Woman of the Year for […]

No. Once you have formed a limited company you can leave the company dormant for as long as you wish. You don’t need to trade until you’re ready. Just ensure that: • HMRC are notified of your trading intentions • Annual returns are filed on time annually • Dormant company accounts are filed on time […]

When moving shares from one person to another (or to a corporate shareholder) you should complete a stock transfer (J30) form. This is for the records of the company and for the reference of all shareholders involved. 

If your limited company is on our company admin portal (if it’s not, here’s how to get it there – it’s free!) you can easily resign a director or secretary. To do this: • Login to the portal • Select “My Companies” • Select the relevant company name • Scroll to “Directors” and select “Resign” […]

When forming a limited company, there are some words that can only be used in a company name if specific criteria can be met. This includes words such as (for the full list along with the criteria that must be met see here): Association Commission England / English Federation Group Holding/s International If your proposed […]

On Wednesday we explained that whilst there’s no penalty for late filing of the annual return, there is a penalty for late filing of annual accounts. If you do file accounts late here’s what Companies House will charge (the following is in regards to a private company limited by shares): Less than one month late: […]

When forming a limited company (by shares) there are two compulsory appointments; the director and the shareholder. So what’s the difference? The Director A limited company director (or directors) is responsible for the general running of the company and ensuring all filing obligations such as annual returns and annual accounts are fulfilled. The Shareholder A […]

No. Companies House do not impose a late filing fee if the annual return (AR01) is filed after the deadline. However, if a return is not filed at all Companies House may prosecute the company and its officers as well as strike the company from the register. It’s worth noting that there is a penalty […]

The Certificate of Incorporation is a Companies House document that details the...

The company secretary is now an optional appointment. However, if you would like to appoint one, here’s how to do it: If your company is on our company admin portal: Login > “My Companies” > Click on your company name > “Appoint New Secretary” > Enter the relevant information and select “Continue” The request is […]

Moving shares in a company from one person to another is a two-step process: 1. The person who is losing the shares must complete and sign a Stock Transfer Form (a template is available to download from the “Statutory Forms” area of your account). This details how many shares are being transferred and who they’re […]

Our Company Admin Portal is available free of charge to customers and non-customers alike. So what does this mean? By uploading your limited company (or companies) onto our system you are able to carry out multiple admin tasks for your limited company at no cost to you. The free admin tasks include: • Officer appointments […]

Anyone who purchases one of our company formation packages immediately qualifies for a free consultation with a TaxAssist Accountant local to them. How do your claim your free consultation? Easy. 1. Visit our dedicated TaxAssist Page 2. Enter your email address, name, phone number, post code and company name 3. Enter the CAPTCHA and select […]

For payments and renewals to run smoothly it’s important that you sign up with a valid email address. Without this, important emails can’t be sent which could cause disruption to your service. To update an incorrect or outdated email address simply: Login > select “My Details” > enter the correct/new email address > select “Save” […]

Our Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond company formation packages all include “20 Credit Check Reports”. So what are these? A company credit check report is a document that details background information on a company’s financial situation (as well as providing general company information). It does this by providing the following information: • Credit Rating • […]

After your limited company has been formed by us, the company documents become available to view and download from your account. This includes the Memorandum of Association – a basic document that details the company name and the subscriber name. To access the documents simply login, click on the relevant company name and then scroll […]

Once a limited company has been formed, Companies House will notify HMRC of the company’s incorporation. Roughly three weeks after the formation HMRC will mail a letter to the registered office explaining what the company needs to do next, in this letter you will find the “Unique Tax Reference” or “UTR”. If you do not […]

If your company is on our admin portal, you are able to make numerous changes to the company that are then reflected on the Companies House register.

If you have used our online admin portal to change your limited company’s name with Companies House, we will provide you with an electronic copy of the Certificate of Name Change. This document contains the old company name, the new company name and the date that Companies House accepted the change. To locate the document: […]

Last Updated: 15/12/2014 If you purchase our Comprehensive or Ultimate company formation package we will prepare and file your company’s first annual return (AR01) with Companies House. We will do this roughly three weeks before the due date, once prepared we shall email you and request that you login and review the prepared annual return. Once […]

Companies House eReminders are an email notification system that let you know when a company’s annual return and annual account due date is approaching. If your company is on our company admin portal signing up is easy: • Login to Companies Made Simple • Click on the company name • Select “Quick Links” > “eReminders […]

We’ve joined forces with our friends at Enterprise Nation to launch a modern business club for real UK startups. Membership is just £20 per year and it includes over £500-worth of savings on things like our very own company credit report services as well as business cards, accounting software, web hosting and lots more. Enterprise […]

The Single Alternative Inspection Location (or SAIL) address is where the company registers and records are kept if they’re not at the registered office. Having a SAIL address is optional.

Sorry, we can longer offer HSBC Business Bank Accounts. All of our company formation packages include a Barclays and HSBC banking option. To select which banking option you would like to utilise (if any): • When purchasing your company formation package be sure to leave the banking option in the basket (you can remove it […]

Unfortunately we are unable to upgrade company formation packages once they have been purchased. However, you can still pick up the various extra services that we offer post company formation. Click the below links to go to each services dedicated page: • Duplicate Certificate of Incorporation • Registered Office • Annual Return Preparation and Filing […]

Can’t be done unless, well we’ll get to that. Prompted by a forum thread we saw recently on the UK Business Forums where a gentleman wanted to move his registered office from Scotland to England, we thought we’d write a post about what can and can’t be done regarding moving the registered office. 

We’ve given our “Ready Made Companies” page a fresh lick of paint, so fresh in fact that they’re now known as “Shelf Companies”. The new page displays available limited companies by the year that they were formed in. If you’re interested in purchasing a shelf company, here’s how the process works: • Select “Buy Now” […]

There are a number of options available when it comes to funding a business. These can be split into two categories; debt financing sources and equity financing sources.

The memorandum of association is a basic document that provides the name of each subscriber (shareholder at incorporation) in the company. It also includes a declaration stating that it is the wish of these subscribers to form a company and that they will each hold at least one share each. When you form a limited […]

As long as you have at least one human director in your company, Companies House will allow you to appoint another company as a director. To appoint another company as a director you require the following information (for the company being appointed): • Company name • Name of an authorising person (normally a director) • […]

If you take a look at the Companies House webcheck you may notice a field dedicated to the “Last Members List” and then a date. So what does this mean? The “Members List” is a document that details directors, secretaries and shareholders in a company. This document must be filed every three years. The date […]

All limited companies set up via our company formation system are automatically allocated a Companies House webfiling authentication code. This means that if you form your company with us you can login to both our system and the Companies House webfiling system and make changes to the company. Changes include: • Director appointments, resignations and […]

Unfortunately our system only allows a company to be stored on one account at a time. Therefore if you wish for multiple people to have access to the company via the company admin portal you need to signup with an email address that multiple people have access to. Obviously you will then need to share […]

If you are signed up to our free Company Secretarial (or Cosec) system there are a number of options available to you that are not available to normal account holders. One of which is the ability to “Export to CSV” basic company information such as company due dates. This allows you save the file (and […]

If you have formed a company with us and then dissolved this company, it will stay on your account. You can still login and view the company information that was correct up to the dissolution but you will not be able to make any further changes. The Companies House company sync facility will be disabled. […]

Our company admin portal allows you to manage numerous limited companies without having to login to the Companies House system. To ensure that our portal has exactly the same information as Companies House we have a “Sync Data with Companies House” facility. This option, located towards the top of the portal, refreshes the page so […]

If your company is formed this February the accounting reference date will be 28/02. It will remain as 28/02 until the next leap year (which is 2016) when it will move to 29/02. It will then revert to 28/02 until the next leap year. If a company’s initial accounting reference date is 29/02 (this would […]

If a company files accounts with Companies House after the due date it is liable to pay a penalty fee, the size of which depends on how late the accounts were filed. 

Director addresses can be easily amended on the Companies House records. To notify Companies House of an address change (Service and Residential can both be changed) you can: • Complete the “CH01 Change of director’s details” document and then file with Companies House. The change should be accepted within a week of Companies House receiving […]

A limited company’s total aggregate value is the number of shares in the company multiplied by the value of each share. For example, a company with 10 shares worth £2 each would have a total aggregate value of £20. If the company has more than one share type, simply work out the total value of […]

Last Updated: 16/12/2014 A UK limited company has various filing obligations with both Companies House and HMRC. The Companies House obligations (annual returns and accounts) are easy to keep on top of as the due dates can be easily viewed from the Companies House webcheck (and our company admin portal). HMRC obligations are not so […]

If you have just formed a limited company with us, there are a number of company documents available for you to view and download from your company admin portal. Documents include: • Memorandum and Articles – select “Download” next to “Shareholders” • Certificate of Incorporation – select “View” under “My Company Documents” • Share Certificate/s […]

Our company admin portal has a field for your company’s “Nature of Business”. This field displays the company’s SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) code.

Our online admin portal keeps a record of all changes and updates made to your limited company (via the portal). This information can be found under the “Request History” heading on the company admin page. It includes the following: • Request type (ie Company Incorporation) • Status (ie Accepted or Rejected) • Date submitted • […]

Yes you can. Companies House allow limited companies to change their name for a fee (which depends on the filing method). There are a number of ways to change a company name: • Directly with Companies House via paper forms (NM01 document). • Directly with Companies House via their online filing system. • Via our […]

Unlike forming a limited company, when you start up as a sole trader you will not receive a company number or a certificate of incorporation. Instead HMRC will mail you a letter which will include your Unique Tax Reference (UTR). This should be delivered six weeks after submitting the application to become a sole trader. […]

The authorised share capital was abolished as part of the Companies Act 2006. However that’s not stopped us from being asked what this was. So here you go: Before the Companies Act 2006 a limited company could be formed without allocating all of its shares. So a company could be formed with an authorised share […]

Shows such as The Apprentice and Dragons’ Den have shoved entrepreneurship into the media spotlight over the last ten years. Although it’s not easy and there are undoubtedly many lessons along the way, the rewards of being your own boss are numerous and exciting (Necker Island, anyone?). Here are our top 5 success stories of […]

Do you form numerous limited companies with us? Are you fed up of entering your card details whenever you wish to form another UK limited company (or indeed purchase any of our services)? We have a solution for you:

Namesco are now names.co.uk! To highlight the importance of the domain name services that they provide and to stress their UK heritage, the company formerly known as Namesco have ushered in 2013 with a rebrand that also sees updates to their logo, website and product offerings.

Unfortunately if an annual return has been filed with Companies House it can’t be removed from the register without a court order. However, you do have options regarding how you can file another annual return.

When appointing a corporate director (a company rather than a person) for a limited company, Companies House requests the name of an “Authorising Person”. This person would normally be the director of the company being named as the corporate director (or Secretary). Once appointed the name of the authorising person is on the public register. […]

Limited Companies are allowed to change their name. So if a company has changed its name how do you go about seeking the previous name information? 

In this series of blog posts we are going to look at the different business structures available to the budding entrepreneur. And what better place to start than private companies limited by shares? Forming a private company limited by shares is often considered to add credibility to a business. Registration is processed by Companies House, […]

The accounting reference date is the date that a UK limited company’s accounts must be made up to. The date is automatically allocated upon formation and normally falls on the month-end of the company’s incorporation month. For example, if a company were formed on 03/08/2012, the accounting reference date would be 31/08. The first set […]

Our online LLP (Limited Liability Partnership) formation service allows you to simply form an LLP with Companies House in roughly 3 working hours. The company formation service now includes an LLP agreement that is emailed in word document format as soon as the company has been formed. For more information on the service and the […]

We’re absolutely delighted to announce the launch of our brand new white label service. So… What is the White Label Service? It’s the kit to become a company formation agent. Ideal for accountants and other professionals who wish to earn money by electronically forming limited companies for their clients. Once signed up (it’s free!) you […]

Our limited company admin portal is a fantastic resource for anyone who takes care of admin for limited companies. Duties such as appointments, resignations, registered office updates and much, much more can all be carried out via the online portal for free. Everyone who forms a limited company with us is automatically signed up on […]

In some situations you may be required to upload supporting documents to accompany your company formation application. Here’s how to do this when forming a limited company with us. After purchasing your company formation package, proceed with the company formation process. When you reach the “M & A” section: • Under “Supporting document” select “Choose […]

The subscriber is the person (or company) who was shareholder at the time of company incorporation. The reason for this terminology is so that Companies House know who the original shareholders were. Even if an original shareholder were to transfer their shares elsewhere, they would always remain a subscriber. This post was brought to you […]

If you need to amend the shareholder address on an existing share certificate: • Login to your Companies Made Simple account • Select “My Companies” • Select the relevant company • Select “Sync Data with Companies House” • Next to “Shareholders” select “Download” – enter the new address and hit “Submit” • Select “Download” again. […]

Exactly a week ago we wrote a post titled “How to change your Companies House WebFiling Authentication Code”; well today’s post is a bit of a companion piece to that. When you access your company admin page (login, select “My Companies”, select your company name) there is an option to “Update Code” next to the […]

We provide share certificates for existing and new shareholders alike. For existing shareholders simply login to your account, access “My Companies” and select your company name. Scroll down to the “Shareholders” section and select “Download”, you will either be presented with an online version of the certificate straight away or you will have to enter […]

As part of our company formation process we require all customers to create an account with us. After you have formed a limited company, access to said company’s admin portal is restricted to the account holder. Therefore if you require that numerous people have access to this account we recommend using a shared email address […]

Our company formation process completely does away with paper documentation. All you need is a computer, an internet connection, means to make payment and your company information. There’s no need for paper, a pen or a signature. It really is all online. Once your application has been submitted to Companies House, a process which shouldn’t […]

All limited companies formed online with Companies House (either directly with Companies House or via a formation agent such as us) are automatically allocated a Companies House webfiling authentication code (click here for more information on the code). Once the code has been received you are free to change it to something memorable. To do […]

In order to form a UK limited company you only require a Director and a Shareholder (who can be the same person). The Secretary appointment is completely optional. If you would like a Secretary it’s worth noting that this can be the same person as the Director and Shareholder. This post was brought to you […]

From project management, time tracking and invoicing to file sharing, there are numerous apps on the market that can help entrepreneurs and small businesses run more efficiently. With an increase in mobile and tablet accessibility, it’s never been easier to take your business digital and portable. Here’s a list of apps which we believe can […]

All of our company formation packages include a Barclays business bank account service. So how does it work? Just before you start the company formation process, we request that you fill out a quick online document with your contact details. Once the company has been formed Barclays will be in touch to arrange a meeting […]

If you purchase any of our company formation packages you may notice that our prices plus VAT don’t appear to add up. For example, our Basic package (£16.99 plus VAT) totals £17.79 at the checkout; however the conventional method would see it total £20.38. So what are we doing? We’re not adding VAT to the Companies […]

The Companies House PROOF (Protected Online Filing) service is a security measure created to prevent company fraud. Companies House accept paper filings for limited companies “on good faith”, they do not carry out signature checks. Therefore it’s relatively simple for someone to carry out fraud against a limited company using paper documents. By signing up […]

When forming a UK company limited by shares, Companies House require at least one human director. Which begs the question “other than human appointments what other appointments are allowed”? The answer to which is corporate appointments. Companies House allow other companies (from anywhere in the world) to act as directors, secretaries and shareholders. These are […]

This is the most common mistake that we come across; the mixing up of annual returns and annual accounts. We’re on a mission to make sure that no one ever confuses the two filing obligations again. So in this, part one of said mission, we’re going to define exactly what each one is and what […]

Once a company has been formed the Companies House webcheck will give the company an “Active” status. This is nothing to do with the company’s trading status. It is simply to do with the company’s current “life” status. “Active” means that the company is formed – whether it is trading or not is not taken […]

Naming your company is a big deal. Do it right and you’re off to a great start, do it wrong and, well, just don’t do it wrong. Here are some tips for naming your company. • Say that again When you tell someone your company name they should be able to go home and google […]

On Friday we posted a piece entitled “Limited and Ltd: What suffix to use?” What the post didn’t touch on was what the term “Limited” actually means (in a company sense). So what better time than now to explore the definition? Here goes. In a limited company the liability of the shareholders is, you guessed […]

When viewing your limited company via our company admin portal (everyone who forms a company gets one!) it’s possible that the information on the page is outdated. Fear not. If this is the case simply click “Sync Data with Companies House”. As long as the webfiling authentication code that we have is up to date […]

When forming your company, one of many choices that you have is what suffix to use, “Limited” or “Ltd”? So what’s the difference? Well, other than aesthetics there isn’t a difference. They mean the same thing. But… If you form with “Limited” you can abbreviate to just “Ltd”, however, if you form with “Ltd” you […]

When appointing a limited company director, Companies House request two addresses, the Service address and the Residential address. The Service address is the official address for the director and can be based anywhere in the world (as long as they are contactable via mail at the address and have permission to use the address). The […]

We’re delighted that we can offer an online company name change service that can see a name change take place within 3 working hours. Unfortunately there are instances when the online version of this service can’t be used and we must revert back to the paper method, therefore increasing the turnaround time to roughly five […]

We offer two annual return services, the “Preparation and Filing Service” for £40 and the “DIY Online” for £30. So what’s the difference? Preparation and Filing Service We will prepare your company’s annual return roughly 3 weeks before the due date (if purchased when the due date has passed we will normally prepare within 24 […]

First up, let’s define what a dormant company is. In the words of Companies House: “A company is dormant if it has had no “significant accounting transactions” during the accounting period. A “significant accounting transaction” is one which the company should enter in its accounting records. The amount paid for shares on the formation of […]

To add new shares to a limited company you need to file the “SHO1-Return of allotment of shares” document with Companies House (this can be filed via paper of via our online admin portal). Companies House do not request the name/s of who is to receive these shares at this stage (shares can be given […]

Social media is big business these days, and it seems that everyone from your local dentist to your neighbourhood coffee shop has a social media profile that they want you to like or follow! If you want to stand out from the crowd and really make an impression with your social media campaign, why not […]

When you make a change to your limited company via our online admin portal, we’ll automatically draft the minutes for the change. To access these minutes: • Login • Select “My Companies” • Click on the company name • Scroll to the “Request History” area • Click “View” in the “Minutes” column This post was […]

Ultimately you need to ask yourself if you’re happy for potential customers to know your personal address. The registered office is on the public register, therefore it’s accessible information to anyone who wants it. Because of this many company directors choose to use an alternative address as the registered office. If doing this, you need […]

Good question. The Web Filing Authentication code is a 6 character long (a mix of letters and digits) code issued by Companies House. Without this code you can not complete any online admin for your limited company (either through us or directly with Companies House). All limited companies formed by us are automatically allocated a […]

A bit of a mean one today. The answer to the above question is “you can’t”. Shareholder information can only be changed at Companies House via an annual return. Therefore if you wish to update shareholder information with Companies House you need to file a return. As per usual with the return, you can either […]

The SIC code (Standard Industrial Classification code) is used to define your limited company’s industry of trade. You notify Companies House of this code when you file an annual return. If you wanted to change this code from one entered in a previous annual return the only way to do this is to file another […]

The minimum age for a director of a UK Limited Company is 16 years old. That’s 5843.88 days or 140253 hours. If you are forming your limited company with us our system will automatically not allow the appointment of any director under 16. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made […]

Our Company Secretarial System (Cosec for short) has two ways to help you make late filing of annual returns and annual accounts (for which there’s a fine) a thing of the past. • When in the “My Companies” area of your account all of your limited companies will be listed along with their annual return […]

No. To form a UK limited company you can live anywhere in the world. You just need to ensure that your limited company will have a registered office based in the UK (click here for more information on the registered office). A number of our company registration packages include the use of our registered office […]

As well as being able to form Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP’s) via our online system (extremely simple and quick with formations taking an average of just 3 working hours, click here for more info: LLP Formation) you can also upload and manage previously formed LLP’s onto our admin portal. This is completely free to do […]

Prompted by some questions we were asked on our Facebook page we thought we’d compile some FAQ’s dedicated to the Registered Office. Here goes (if you have any other questions leave a comment below): What is the Registered Office? This is the official address of a UK Limited Company. Does this have to be based […]

Our Company Secretarial System now allows all users to toggle their settings so that only “Active” limited companies appear on their display. This removes all dissolved companies. To do this tick the “Display active companies only” box (as per the below image) to show only existing companies and un-tick to show all companies. Our Cosec […]

Way back in October last year we blogged about four and five digit SIC codes (Standard Industrial Classification codes) in one of our better titled posts, “Fully Sic”. The gist of it was that when preparing the annual return Companies House required four digit codes for returns made up before October 2011 and five digit […]

When forming a limited company with us, our system allows you to change the company name right up until the application is sent to Companies House. Therefore if you searched for and purchased a company name with us and then changed your mind about the name, don’t panic. It’s not too late to change it […]

If you are using our DIY annual return service, the very first thing we ask of you when preparing the return is that you select the “click here” option under the “Update Company Information” heading. This is extremely important as it updates the return to reflect what Companies House currently holds on their records. If […]

Our Facebook activity to date has been shoddy. Tweets rehashed as updates. Content for the sake of content. Social Media for Social Media’s sake. So what are we going to do about it? Well first off, we don’t want this page to be about us, we want it to be about you. We want to […]

If you use our online admin portal to make changes to your limited company or to file an annual return, our system keeps track of these changes (and annual returns) and allows you to view exactly what was filed with Companies House. To view this information: • Login • Select your company name from “My […]

We forward on all Companies House and HMRC mail (free of charge and to anywhere in the world) onto all customers who utilise our Registered Office service. If you wish to change the address where we forward your mail: • Login at Companies Made Simple • Select “My Details” • Update your “Address details” and […]

All our company formation packages include a FREE Business Start Up Guide. Once the formation packages have been purchased, the link to download the guide is sent in the purchase confirmation email. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The Simplest Company Formation Service Keep up to date. Subscribe to […]

To enter a Share Transfer when using our DIY Annual Return Service do as follows: • In the “Shareholdings” area of the return, click “edit” next to the shareholder who you are removing shares from. Enter the amount of shares they now hold. • Select “add new transfer” next to the same shareholder, enter the […]

Companies House no longer require Shareholder address information. However, if a previously supplied Shareholder address has since changed and you want to let Companies House know (again, not really required), you can change the Shareholder address by filing an annual return. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – […]

If your limited company was not formed by us and you wish to purchase our Registered Office service, simply do the following: • Select “Buy Now” on the Registered Office page • Click Checkout • Create your Account • Enter your Company Number in the “Company No” field, click “Update” • Complete the payment • […]

If you sign up for Companies House eReminders, you’ll receive emails whenever your company’s annual return or annual account due dates approach. You can sign up for this handy tool via our very own company admin portal. To sign up for eReminders: • Once logged into Companies Made Simple select your chosen company from “My […]

If you purchase our “Annual Return Preparation and Filing Service” we will prepare your company’s annual return and then email you requesting that you login and review the return. It’s at this stage that you have two choices: • Accept the return, this will automatically file the return with Companies House • Reject the return […]

So what’s the difference? Well it’s simple really; the registered office is the official address of a UK limited company, the service address is the official address of a UK limited company director. They can be different. Click below for more information: Our Registered Office Service Our Service Address Service This post was brought to […]

When it comes to checking your limited company’s annual return and annual account due dates we wholeheartedly recommend signing up for Companies House eReminders (we can help!), but if you don’t want to sign up we can still assist you. You can view the due dates for all your limited companies simply by logging in […]

When forming a limited company there are certain words that can’t be used unless particular criteria are met. Such words include: • International • Group • England/English • Wales/Welsh • Scotland/Scottish • Holding(s) If you are forming a company with any of these words in it, we’ll provide you with the relevant template that needs […]

Did you know that you can import limited companies onto our system even if they were not formed by us? It’s completely free to do and allows you to take advantage of the fantastic benefits that our company admin system offers. To import a company onto our system all you need is the company number […]

Once you have selected and paid for your company formation package, the next step is to complete the company formation application. Once the purchase has been made you will be directed to the start of this process. However, if you logged out straight after the purchase: • Log back in to Companies Made Simple • […]

The minimum age for the following limited company appointments, as outlined by Companies House

Because Companies House no longer require Shareholder address information, our DIY annual return does not give you the option to update this address. However, it does give you the option to remove the address entirely. To do this: • Access the “Shareholdings” page of the return • Select “edit” next to the Shareholder • Tick the […]

You can form a limited by guarantee company with just one person acting as the following appointments (multiple appointments are also allowed): • Director • Member • Secretary (optional) For more information on our limited by guarantee company formation services click here: Limited By Guarantee Company Formation This post was brought to you by Mathew […]

Anyone who forms a limited company with us is provided with their very own “Company Administration Page”; a hub for your limited company. Unsurprisingly this page contains a lot of information, that’s why we’ve created the “Anatomy of a page” area. The “Anatomy of a page” explains every little detail of your Company Administration page. […]

A blog about the blog may seem a little self-serving but bear with me. If you have any questions regarding company formation we offer the following resources: • FAQ’s • The Knowledgebase • Email Support • Live Chat But have you considered using the blog? Simply enter any question (or question keyword) you may have […]

Anyone who has an account with Companies Made Simple has access to an array of useful forms and templates, one such template is the Share Certificate. To download the Share Certificate template: • Login to Companies Made Simple • Select “Statutory Forms” • Select “Share Certificate Template” This post was brought to you by Mathew […]

Last Updated: 15/12/2014 If you have a service with us that requires a renewal, here’s the page to do it: Renewal Fees From here you can renew the following services: • Registered Office • Privacy Package • Comprehensive / Ultimate Package • Annual Return • Nominee Secretary • Nominee Shareholder • Service Address • Company Maintenance Subscription […]

Yes you can. Nationality is not an issue when it comes to forming a limited company, you and any other company officers can be from anywhere in the world. The only restriction is that your registered office must be based in the UK (this is where our registered office service comes in handy!). This post […]

Great, we can help! The company formation process for forming a Northern Irish limited company is exactly the same as forming an English, Welsh or Scottish one, the only difference is that the company’s registered office must be based in Northern Ireland. By selecting a Northern Irish address the company will automatically be formed as […]

This is a very common question, the answer to which is yes, we provide everything you need to form a limited company. Whilst we offer a total of five company formation packages each giving different services and products, behind each package is one constant: a brand new limited company. All legal is covered by our formation […]

Not really. The annual return for a trading company would be almost exactly the same as a return for a dormant company. The only differences could be: • A trading company could not use sic code 99999 (dormant company code) • A dormant company must answer “No” to the “Traded On Regulated Market” question, a […]

If you formed your limited company with us: 1. Login to Companies Made Simple 2. Select “My Companies” 3. Click on the company name 4. Click “Edit” next to the name you wish to change 5. Enter the new name and click save The name change request is then forwarded onto Companies House where it’s […]

Yes you can. You can form a limited company with just one person acting as a director, secretary and shareholder. The director and shareholder appointments are compulsory, the secretary appointment is optional. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The Simplest Company Formation Service Keep up to date. […]

Yes, they are. We explain why.

Last Updated: 15/12/2014 If you have our registered office service we will forward on the following mail to any given address free of charge: • HMRC • Companies House • Government Gateway • Department of Work and Pensions • Inland Revenue • Intellectual Property Office • Office for National Statistics • Any other government mail […]

We’ll be the first to admit that some of our Shelf Company names are not to everyone’s liking. But don’t forget, even if you can’t find a name that suits you or your new business, you can always change the limited company name with our company name change service once the company has been purchased. For […]

We have added new testimonials to our “Reviews” page that take us right up to 01/08/2012. For full transparency our reviews page includes both positive and (when we receive them) negative reviews. Take a look now! Companies Made Simple Reviews This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The […]

The Companies Made Simple Company Admin Portal allows you to edit the following information for existing Directors: • Name • Service Address • Residential Address • Nationality • Occupation • Country of Residence This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The Simplest Company Formation Service Keep up to […]

Last Updated: 15/12/2014 If you need to form a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) you’ve come to the right place. Our LLP formation service provides you with a completely online formation service for just £59.99. And because it is a completely online process, you can form your company within just 3 working hours. What’s more we […]

There is no limit upon the amount of annual returns (AR01’s) a limited company can file with Comapanies House. If you wanted you could file an annual return every day. The only limitation is that a company must wait 48 hours after incorporation until filing the first annual return. Our Annual Return Services This post […]

From small seeds grow great things and that’s certainly the thinking behind The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS). The scheme, brought in place by the Finance Act 2012, shall provide tax breaks for investors in new companies therefore encouraging investment in UK business. Under SEIS investors can receive 50 per cent tax relief, a huge […]

When you visit Companies Made Simple a pop-up box may appear asking “Why do you want to register a limited company?” to which your possible answers are: • Reserve a company name • Incorporate an existing business • Starting a new business • Registering on behalf of a client • Other We’re constantly looking at […]

Companies House say that there is no limit in regards to the amount of shares that you can allocate in your limited company. On top of this, there is also no limit upon the value of these shares. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The Simplest Company […]

Whilst our online admin portal allows you to update director and secretary information, it does not allow you to change shareholder information. This is because the only way to update shareholder information with Companies House is to file an annual return. Once a return has been filed with the new shareholder information, the shareholder information […]

No. The accounting reference date (ARD) is automatically allocated at incorporation in accordance with the date of formation. If you do wish to change the ARD you can do this as soon as the company has been formed. For instructions on how to do this, click here: Changing the Accounting Reference Date This post was […]

Last Updated: 15/12/2014 As well as setting up brand new limited companies we also have a number of companies formed for the purpose of selling on at a later date as “Shelf” companies. Below you will find some information regarding these companies: • They are all UK (England & Wales) Private Companies Limited by Shares […]

If you are appointing a director or secretary (or shareholder at incorporation) for your limited company, make sure that you include the full name rather than any initials. If initials are used Companies House will simply reject the appointment. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The Simplest […]

Despite the fact that the UK economy is still struggling to emerge from recession, Ecommerce is one sector that is booming and any retailer lacking an online presence will inevitably lose business to competitors that do. If you are considering setting up an online business but don’t know how to go about it, these tips […]

Due to the Olympics, we have been advised that all Royal Mail customers should expect delays from the last week of July until the middle of September. As a result, mail sent to our offices may arrive later but will be collected earlier. As such, it is possible that we will be unable to send […]

Yes! It does not matter where your directors, secretaries or shareholders live, they can be based anywhere in the world. But remember, the company’s Registered Office must be based in the UK! This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The Simplest Company Formation Service Keep up to date. […]

No! Forming a UK Limited Company is not restricted to UK nationals. You can be from anywhere in the world! This goes for Directors, Secretaries and Shareholders. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The Simplest Company Formation Service Keep up to date. Subscribe to our RSS

If your limited company’s WebFiling authentication code has expired, here’s how to go about getting a new one from Companies House: • “Register” for Companies House WebFiling here • Once registered “Sign in” here • Click “Don’t have your company authentication code?” • Enter your company number and click “Continue” • Click “Request code” A […]

In fact it’s very simple! To change your accounting reference date (ARD) via our online admin portal: • Login at Companies Made Simple • Click the “My Companies” button • Select the company for whom you wish to change the ARD for • Next to “Accounting Reference Date” select “Change Date” • Select the accounting […]

The Companies House online system now allows us to file Dormant Company Accounts (DCA’s) for limited companies with multiple share classes. Previously we could only offer our DCA service to companies with one share class. For more information on our DCA service click here: Dormant Company Accounts This post was brought to you by Mathew […]

If you are browsing Companies Made Simple and have any questions regarding any of our services, simply click the orange speech bubble on the bottom-right of the screen. From here you can start a dialogue with one of our advisors completely online. It’s fast, efficient and simple! This post was brought to you by Mathew […]

Last month we blogged about the new 5 digit SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) codes and how they have replaced the old 4 digit codes. We’ve now come across a handy Companies House site that converts your old code to a new code: Convert your code now! This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken […]

Our Online Admin Portal allows you to add new shares to your limited company with Companies House. To file a “Return of Allotment of Shares” (the necessary document for increasing the shares”): • Login • Select “My Companies” • Click on the correct company • Select “Return of Allotment of Shares” located next to “Share […]

Our customers often ask us for their company’s WebFiling Authentication Code and whilst we’re more than happy to provide the code (to the account holder only!) there is a way to locate the code online: • Login at Companies Made Simple • Select “My Companies” • Click on the company name • The code can […]

If you wish to appoint a company (rather than an individual) as a limited company Director or Secretary, you will require the following information: For EEA Companies • The Company Name • The Authorising Persons Name • Country Registered • Registration Number For Non EEA Companies • The Company Name • The Authorising Persons Name […]

Everyone who forms a limited company with us gains access to numerous forms and documents accessible from their account dashboard. Forms and documents include the J30 Stock Transfer Form, the First Board Meeting Minutes and the Share Certificate Template to mention just a few. To locate the forms simply login to Companies Made Simple and […]

Another day, another post about Annual Returns and Annual Accounts. We really must stress that Annual Returns and Annual Accounts are two completely different things that are both necessary filing obligations. If these are not filed then the company will eventually be dissolved and in the case of the Annual Accounts, if these are filed […]

Last Updated: 29/10/2014 A very short one today! We’re often asked what the limit is on the amount of shareholders allowed in a limited company. Well, according to Companies House you are allowed as many shareholders as you wish in your limited company. There is no limit on the amount of shareholders that you can […]

The Made Simple Group is proud to once again be sponsoring the Startups Awards – Howard Graham, CEO and founder of The Made Simple Group will also be judging the awards. There are 14 categories – from ‘Startups Business of the Year’ through to ‘Home or Craft-based Business of the Year’. Become a contender, enter […]

When we inform our customers of impending due dates for their limited company, this is the response we’re often met with. Unfortunately it is a misleading statement. If HMRC have said (or written) that nothing is required of a dormant company it is simply to do with HMRC filing obligations and not Companies House filing […]

Last Updated: 29/10/2014 If you have any question regarding forming or running a limited company, take a look at the Knowledgebase. We’re confident that you will find the answer. The Knowledgebase is a hub of limited company information that we’ve collected over the years taken primarily from the different questions we are asked by our […]

Despite the current economic climate there are still plenty of opportunities to help new businesses thrive. There are also schemes to help encourage and develop new businesses, one of which is StartUp Loans. A collaboration between StartUp Britain and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, StartUp Loans is a government backed project aimed at […]

Last Updated: 29/10/2014 Sorry, we no longer offer the “Queue Jump – Priority Processing” service. If our average company formation time of 3 hours is not quite speedy enough for you, why not purchase our “Queue Jump – Priority Processing” service? With the Queue Jump, available for just £30, the formation time is cut to an average […]

Last Updated: 29/10/2014 Shareholder addresses are not required by Companies House in the Annual Return. Because of this we have updated our “Annual Return DIY Online” service to include a “remove shareholders address” option. If preparing your return via our service simply click the “remove shareholders address” button in the Shareholders section of the return, […]

Last Updated: 29/10/2014 Once you have filed your Annual Return with us, don’t forget to download the new digital Share Certificate (if the shareholding has changed). To download the new Share Certificate: • Login to Companies Made Simple • Click on your company name • Next to “Shareholder” select “Download” – you may be prompted […]

Last Updated: 29/10/2014 Limited Liability Partnerships, like Limited By Share Companies, need to file Annual Returns with Companies House. Our two Annual Return Services (the Annual Return Preparation and Filing Service & the Annual Return DIY Online Service) can both be used to file the necessary LLP documents with Companies House. For more information on […]

Last Updated: 29/10/2014 The Companies Made Simple admin portal allows you to carry our numerous administrative duties for your limited company including: • Appointing & Resigning Company Officers • Updating Officer Information • Changing the Registered Office Address • Filing a Return Of Allotment Of Shares If you formed your limited company with us you’ll […]

The age old question just got a lot simpler to answer with our Sole Trader v Limited Company Calculator and our Tax Saver UK App. Simply enter in your estimated profits and our site, or app, will tell you what’s best for your situation (includes a detailed breakdown). Try it now: • Sole Trader v […]

Last Updated: 29/10/2014 Did you know that dormant limited companies still have to file company accounts? That’s where our Dormant Company Accounts service comes in. Once you purchase the service we send an automated email asking if the shares in your company are paid or unpaid, simply respond to this email and, provided we already […]

Last Updated: 29/10/2014 If preparing an Annual Return with a made up to date that falls after October 1st 2011, you need to use a code from the new set of SIC Codes (Standard Industrial Classification Code). The new codes, confusingly named the “SIC 2007” codes, are five digits long compared to the old four […]

Last Updated: 29/10/2014 In short, yes you can. As long you provide the full address (PO Box number, town, postcode, country) a PO Box can be used as both a Registered Office and Service Address. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The Simplest Company Formation Service Keep […]

Forming a Scottish Limited Company with us is exactly the same as forming an England/Wales Limited Company. Simply do the following.

If you form numerous limited companies with us, it’s easy to lose track of what stage you are at with each company’s incorporation. That’s where your dashboard comes in handy. When you login you are immediately directed to your account’s dashboard, from here you are instructed of any action that’s required on your part, including […]

Last Updated: 29/10/2014 If you wish to update the Service Address for your limited company’s directors, we’ve some good news; it’s ridiculously simple! Just: • Login to our site • Select your company name from “My Companies” • Select “Edit” next to the relevant director • Update the address The change of address request is […]

Last Updated: 29/10/2014 If you have a renewable service with us, our “Renewal Fees” page is the go-to place for continuing your services. From here you can renew the following: • Registered Office • Privacy Package • Comprehensive / Ultimate Package • Reserve a Company Name Services • Annual Return Services • Nominee Services • Service […]

Last Updated: 29/10/2014 The SIC code (Standard Industrial Classification Code) is a five digit code that details your company’s principal business activity. You are required to choose your own code when completing an annual return for your limited company. To view a list of SIC codes click here: SIC 2007 Full List This post was […]

Last Updated: 29/10/2014 Sorry, we no longer offer the Nominee Director Service When forming a limited company there are two compulsory appointments; the director and the shareholder. If you want to keep your name off of the public register and not appoint yourself in either of these roles, our nominee services are an option you […]

If you use our Registered Office Service we forward on mail from both HMRC and Companies House onto you free of charge. When you purchase the service we use the address that you are using on your account with us as the forwarding address. If this address ever changes it’s imperative that you let us […]

Last Updated: 25/09/2014 If you sign up (it’s free!) to our ICAEW Accredited Company Secretarial (Cosec) System, we will colour code your annual account and annual return due dates so that you know when a filing obligation is nearing or overdue. Once signed up simply click on “My Companies” and you’ll notice that due dates […]

If you have a limited company that was not formed via us and you’re concerned that you’re missing out on some of our fantastic services, don’t worry, you can upload previously formed limited companies to our system completely free of charge. All you need to do is: • Login to Companies Made Simple • Select […]

Our Live Chat facility means that you can ask a question regarding any of our services and get the answer in a speedy and efficient manner. The Live Chat box now appears on the bottom right of most pages on the site, so if you’ve a query, simply click in this box and type your […]

Last Updated: 25/09/2014 When you purchase our “Annual Return Preparation and Filing Service”, we prepare your company’s annual return and then email you requesting that you login and review the return. Once logged in you have the option to accept or reject the return. If accepted the return is automatically filed with Companies House, if […]

Last Updated: 25/09/2014 It’s not just UK limited companies that we form; we can also help with the formation of a number of offshore companies. We can set up companies in the following locations: • Anguilla • Belize • Seychelles For more information on our offshore company formation services click here: Offshore Company Formations This […]

Last Updated: 25/09/2014 None of our company formation packages include filing of company accounts. Our Comprehensive and Ultimate packages include our annual return service but this is not to be confused with company accounts. If a company is, and always has been dormant, we do offer a dormant company accounts service but if a company is not […]

We ask three “Security Questions” when appointing a Director, Secretary or Shareholder. This is on top of the standard officer information we require.

Last Updated: 25/09/2014 Users of our ICAEW (The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) accredited Company Secretarial Management System have the option to form limited companies with three exclusive company formation packages: • Starter • Executive • Professional For every 10 companies formed via these packages, we will credit your account with £20 […]

We’re delighted to announce that our Company Formation Packages page has had a fresh new redesign. The new, improved packages page provides much more information in regards to what’s included with our packages as well as being much clearer. We also think it looks a lot better! To view the new page simply enter your […]

Last Updated: 25/09/2014 Our online admin system now allows you to enter a “resignation date” when resigning limited company directors and secretaries. When you click “resign” next to the resigning officer you will be prompted to enter the resignation date. The default is the current date, this can be changed to a past date but […]

Towards the end of March (the 29th to be exact) we blogged about “Moving your Limited Company to a Different Account on our System”. If you’ve not read it, do so now! We’ve just a quick update regarding this blog post. We are receiving requests from customers to move their limited company to accounts that […]

Companies House will not be forming UK Limited Companies on Monday. Applications for formations can be processed on our system and sent to Companies House as per usual; they will then be placed into a queue and dealt with on Tuesday. Please note that whilst our systems can be used to process formations on Monday, […]

When you form a UK Limited Company with us, your hand need not touch pen or paper. It is a completely online process that covers absolutely everything required to form your company. What’s more, the formation process is both simple and quick with companies normally formed within 3 working hours. This post was brought to […]

Last Updated: 17/09/2014 All of our company formation packages include the £13 Companies House incorporation fee in the quoted price. We do not charge VAT on this £13. This is why the VAT on our company formation packages may appear to be incorrect, when in fact it is totally correct: Company Formation Package + VAT […]

If your limited company director changes their occupation, country of residence or nationality, you can use our online admin portal to record this change with Companies House. Simply: • Login • Click on your company name • Under the “Directors” section select “Edit” next to the director who you wish to change information for • […]

In keeping with our dedication to helping start-ups, we offer numerous business guides, packs and resources: • Tax and Financial Strategies Guide • Business Start Up Guide • How To Make A Profit Guide • 100 Ways To Save Time With Microsoft Office • Business Forms Pack For more information or to buy any of […]

The Business Show is now just 4 weeks away and a must-attend event if you are starting or growing a business. Running from the 17th to 18th of May at London’s ExCeL Centre, the show will host the UK’s biggest collection of educational seminars from business leaders and experts, including Amazon, Saatchi and Saatchi, James […]

Last Updated: 17/09/2014 If you purchase our Comprehensive or Ultimate company formation package we will prepare one Annual Return for your limited company when due: When the due date approaches we will prepare the Annual Return for your company, we will then email you and request that you login and review the Return that we have […]

When you appoint a limited company director via our online admin portal, we give you the option to choose the date of the appointment. When appointing a director the default date is the current date, to change this simply click in the “Appointment Date” box and make the required amendment. Please note that dates in […]

Did you know that when certain changes are made to your limited company via our online admin portal that we automatically create minutes for the changes? To view the minutes all you need to do is scroll to the very bottom of your company admin page to the “Form submission” area. Here you will find […]

When you login to your limited company’s admin page via Companies Made Simple we highly recommend clicking the “Sync Data with Companies House” link at the top of the page. By clicking this you are ensuring that what you see on that page is completely in sync with the information Companies House hold. Make clicking […]

We provide two different online Annual Return Services for our Cosec (Company Secretarial) customers: the DIY Annual Return Service (£20) and the Standard Annual Return Service (£30). • With the Standard Annual Return Service we complete the Return for you. Once the purchase of the service has been made our team will look at the […]

Changing the Service Address of your Limited Company directors using our Company Admin Portal is simple: 1. Login 2. Select “My Companies” 3. Click on your company name 4. Select “Edit” next to the director for whom you want to change the service address for 5. Select “Change” next to “Service Address” and enter the […]

Last Updated: 17/09/2014 We offer four different services based around limited company shares: • Transfer of Shares (£49.99) • Share Certificates (£9.99) • Issue of Shares (£49.99) • Confirmation of Shareholding at Incorporation (£9.99) For more information or to purchase any of these services, click here: Limited Company Share Services This post was brought to […]

Last Updated: 17/09/2014 We’re often asked if dormant companies still have to file annual returns. The answer is yes, they do! Annual Returns do not deal with the financial side of a limited company, therefore being dormant is irrelevant. The only way being dormant could impact upon the return is if the company chose to […]

Last Updated: 17/09/2014 Our DIY Annual Return Service allows you to show share transfers that have taken place during the year. To reflect a share change in the DIY Annual Return Service (having purchased the service) simply: • Proceed with completing the return until you reach the “Shareholdings” section • Click “edit” next to any […]

Last Updated: 17/09/2014 If your UK Limited Company has never traded, you still have to file a version of company accounts called dormant company accounts. If your company falls into this category we do offer a dormant company accounts service whereby we’ll file the accounts on your behalf. To do this all we require (once […]

What our customers think of us and our services is extremely important. That’s why we’ve a page dedicated to showing exactly this, our “Customer Satisfaction Statistics” page. The page highlights three particular areas: • How customers rate our company formation services • How customers rate the quality of our products and services • Would customers […]

Some of our services require action on your part after the purchase has been made. Take our company formation or DIY annual return services for example. When you buy either of these services you are required to login and complete the formation and annual return (respectively). If you’ve lost track of what is required on […]

Last Updated: 17/09/2014 Because we now form Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP’s) online, the company formation process is reduced to an average of just three working hours. This is in comparison to the five day turnaround time of using paper documents. For just £59.99 we provide you with: • 3 hour Online Formation • Draft LLP Agreement […]

Not only is our Company Name Change service extremely simple, it is also extremely quick with company names often changed within 3 working hours. To change the name of your limited company: • Purchase the Company Name Change service • When in your “Dashboard” select “Continue” next to “ChangeOfName” • Enter your desired company name, […]

If you have our Registered Office Service, or are thinking of purchasing the Registered Office Service, it’s important that you know what mail we will forward onto you. 

Our Knowledgebase facility is an ever-growing database designed to help you with any questions you may have to do with forming and running a UK limited company. The Knowledgebase comprises of the most common questions that we receive and the best possible answers to them. The database currently covers topics such as “Limited Companies”, “Manage […]

Our DIY Annual Return Service (which can be bought from here) streamlines the process of completing and filing the AR01 with Companies House. The process is broken up into simple steps (accessed through our site) that do not allow progress until all the required information has been provided. And as if the DIY Annual Return […]

Last Updated: 17/09/2014 There still appears to be some confusion over the filing obligations of a dormant company. So, here’s what’s required of a dormant UK company limited by shares: Companies House Obligations Annual Returns on an annual basis Company Accounts on an annual basis (Dormant Company Accounts) HMRC Obligations A few weeks after the […]

Last Updated: 17/09/2014 We offer five different UK Limited by Share Company Formation Packages: • Basic • Printed • Privacy • Comprehensive • Ultimate So what’s included in our packages? Well there’s far too much to go into now (that’s why we have a Company Registration Packages page) but the main variables that set the packages apart are the Registered […]

Last Updated: 17/09/2014 Well here’s an easy one. When it comes to setting up and running a UK Limited Company, the Secretary appointment is completely optional. If you want a Secretary you can have one, if you don’t want one, you don’t have to. If you are forming your company with just one person you […]

If your company is on our online admin portal (if it was formed with us it will be, if not, click here) and you need to change the Registered Office, you can do this via our system. All you need to do is: 1. Login 2. Select your company via “My Companies” 3. Next to […]

When you purchase a service (or even just start an account!) with us we provide you with a wealth of free statutory forms and templates. Simply login and from the dashboard click “Statutory Forms”, you’ll then have access to forms/templates such as: • J30 Stock Transfer Form • First Board Meeting Minutes • Automatic Board […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  1. From Companies Made Simple, search for your company name and choose your formation package. 2. When at the Order Summary be sure to leave the “Barclays Bank Account” in your basket (it’s free!). 3. Make payment. 4. Just before you start the formation process you will automatically be directed to the […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  Adding new shares to your limited company and letting Companies House know about the new shareholding situation is a two-step process: 1. Adding the new Shares To add new shares you can complete the Return of allotment of shares (SH01) form and file it with Companies House. Alternatively you can complete and […]

When forming your limited by shares company, Companies House will request the following addresses: • Registered Office (on the public register) • Director’s Service Address (on the public register) • Director’s Residential Address (not on the public register) • Secretary’s Address (on the public register) • Shareholder’s Address (on the public register) Therefore, to protect […]

We’ve added a brand new facility for anyone who has any questions regarding our different services, the Knowledgebase. The Knowledgebase is a hub of common questions and answers that we’re constantly developing. So far we’ve answered numerous questions that come under the following categories: • Manage my company • Our Services & Products • Renewals […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  Once you have formed your limited company with us, the last thing we want is for you to miss your annual return and annual account due dates. That’s why we’ve integrated our Companies House eReminders service into our company formation process, therefore allowing you to sign up for the free service at […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  If you file Annual Accounts after their due date then Companies House will issue a fine (the fine total depends on how late the accounts were filed, for more information click here). But the fine only comes in place once accounts are filed, therefore some people would rather not file accounts and […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  Now that we offer online Limited Liability Partnership company formations (formed within just 3 working hours!), we thought it a good idea to break down the basic information required from you to form an LLP. So, here goes: • A Company Name • A Registered Office • Information for at least two […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  Our Sole Trader Start Up Packs now include a free TaxAssist Accountancy Consultation! After purchasing either of our Sole Trader Start Up Packs you will be directed to your “Downloads” page, from here simply select “Apply Now” next to the “TaxAssist Accountancy Consultation”. Enter your details and TaxAssist will be in contact […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  We have added a brand new Limited by Guarantee Company Formation Package to our current Company Formation services. The £59 “Private Company Limited by Guarantee” service gives you the option to form a Limited by Guarantee Company and to use your own (or an address you have permission to use) Registered Office. […]

After forming a UK Limited Company the logical next step is to open up a business bank account. Whilst it isn’t a legal obligation for Limited Companies to have a bank account (after all some Limited Companies are dormant) not having a business bank account for a trading company is simply a non-starter. Without a […]

Many people are confusing their accounting reference date with their accounts due date or assuming that they are the same thing. They’re not! The Accounting Reference Date: The date which accounts must be made up to. Annual Accounts Due Date: The date that accounts must be delivered by (Companies House will issue a fine for […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  If you form a Limited Company with us and then open a Barclays Business Bank Account we will give you £50 cash back. That’s right, £50! To take advantage of this fantastic offer, simply leave the “Barclays Bank Account” service (it’s free) in your basket just before payment. We’ll then request contact […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  Before you go ahead and form a Limited Company with us, it’s important that you know what you’re getting.  Our Company Formation Packages page details exactly what our different company formation packages cost and what’s included in them. Everything from our Basic Package right up the Ultimate Package is fully explained and if […]

Once you have formed a limited company with us, your company is “stored” in your own online admin portal. From here you can carry out various admin tasks for your company. One particularly useful area within the portal is the “My Companies” area. When logged in click the “My Companies” button to view all of […]

When forming a limited company with us we give you the option to use our default Memorandum and Articles or to upload a version of your own Memorandum and Articles. To upload your own version during the company formation process: • Enter the required information (Registered Office, Director Details, Shareholder Details, Optional Secretary Details) until […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  We’re often asked how many people are required to form a limited company; well the answer is just one. One person can be: • Director (obligatory) • Shareholder (obligatory) • Secretary (optional) Peculiar sentence alert! If forming a company with just one person, the person must be a person and not a […]

Forming a limited company is a big step. That’s why when you decide to go through with the formation you need to know that you’re doing it with the right people. It’s precisely for this reason that dotted about our site you’ll find different pages dedicated to showing why we’re the best company formation agent […]

If you administer numerous UK limited companies, then our free ICAEW (The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) accredited company secretarial system is ideal. The system allows you to carry out numerous admin tasks for your limited companies, one of which is changing the accounting reference date with Companies House. To do this […]

Towards the end of November we blogged about the importance of checking your emails after making a purchase with us (action is often required post-purchase, we will email if anything is required on your part). The intention of today’s post is just to add an extra point to this; the importance of checking junk mail. […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  This is one of the most common statements that we hear; “My company is not trading so I don’t have to file Annual Returns”. Unfortunately it is incorrect. Dormant companies have exactly the same Companies House filing obligations as trading companies. Annual Returns and Annual Accounts (in the case of a dormant […]

If you manage numerous Limited Companies and are fed up of logging in and out of Companies House Webfiling to make updates for your different companies, we have a solution for you. Our free ICAEW (The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) Accredited Company Secretarial System allows you to carry out admin for […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  If you need to update the information that Companies House hold for your company director(s), be it their name, service address, nationality or occupation you can do it with us! Simply: • Login • Select “My Companies” • Click on the relevant company name • Select “Edit” next to the relevant director […]

If you have any questions regarding our different company formation services, try using the search box on the top-right corner of our homepage. Simply enter in a question or a keyword of your question and hit search; you’ll then be given links to every page on our site that contains your keywords allowing you to […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  If your limited company’s Registered Office has changed you need to let Companies House know. There are two ways to do this, the hard way or the simple way. The hard way? Complete and send in the paper AD01 “Change of registered office address” paper form to Companies House. Whilst completing the […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  As well as being able to form Limited Liability Partnerships online with us, you can also make changes to your LLP post company formation with us. By logging into your company admin portal you can change your LLP’s Registered Office, appoint and resign members as well as being able to edit current […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  If a company that has been dissolved has the company name you want, you can form your company using that name. Your company will have a different company number and will not be related to the dissolved company in any way. However one thing you may wish to consider is the reputation […]

Whilst you can continue to buy our services and products, after today we shall be away from the office until Tuesday the 3rd of January. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The Simplest Company Formation Service Keep up to date. Subscribe to our RSS

With the New Year fast approaching you may want to focus on some key areas of your business to hit the ground running for 2012. Planning: review how successful 2011 was for your business. And if it wasn’t, where can you make improvements to make sure it doesn’t happen again? Social media: still not on […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 Adding new shares to your UK Limited Company post company formation can be done through our online admin portal and what’s more, it’s very simple. To do this: • Login at Companies Made Simple • Select “My Companies” • Click on the relevant company name • Next to “Share Capital” select “Return […]

We wish all our customers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Whilst you can continue to buy our products and services, after today we shall be away from the office until Wednesday the 28th of December. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The Simplest Company […]

Yesterday we posted about our offshore company formation services, so today we thought we’d clarify exactly what companies we can form. So here goes: • UK Limited By Share Company • UK Limited By Guarantee Company • UK Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) • Various Offshore Companies (as per yesterdays post) For more information on these […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 It’s not just UK Limited Companies that we form. We also provide a number of Offshore Company Formation Services. We can arrange to have companies formed in the following locations: • Anguila • Belize • Seychelles For more information on our offshore services click here: Offshore Company Formations This post was brought […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 When forming your UK Limited Company with us, we give you the option to use our default Memorandum and Articles or to upload your own. Uploading your own Memorandum and Articles is very easy. The fifth step in the company formation process is titled “M&A”. When in this field: • Select “Upload […]

 Depending on where your UK Limited Company was formed*, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Wales, there are limitations upon on where the Registered Office can be moved to. 

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 We’re delighted to announce that you can now sign your limited company up for filing date eReminders via the Companies Made Simple company admin portal. The eReminders service means that, rather than receive paper reminder letters when annual return and annual account due dates approach, you will receive emails. To sign your […]

Our DIY Annual Return Service allows you to prepare and file your company’s Annual Return with Companies House from the comfort of our website. Once purchased all you need to do is login at Companies Made Simple, access the return and then work your way through a series of easy to use and simple to […]

Our Limited Company Director infographic draws a profile of company directors appointed between January 2009 and September 2011: You can also view the infographic on visual.ly and as a pdf. If you would like to view the report from which we created the infographic click here. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken […]

With us now in the midst of the festive season and a New Year approaching, we thought it a great time to catch up with our Small Business of the Year 2010 winner, SweetBar Ltd. SweetBar specialise in providing pic’n’mix sweets at special occasions and events with their traditional sweet cart. And with all the […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 When you login to your cosec account, the dashboard is the first page you will see. From here, you have a number of actions you can take. 1)    Your Action is Required Under this header, you will see any companies that have outstanding actions. This includes companies that are not yet formed […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 It is so simple to make these changes and the details are updated in as little as 3 hours. Here’s how: Your first step is to login to your account here. Select the company you wish to administer from the ‘My Companies’ list. 1) To Edit Director / Secretary Details: This is […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 One of the most common questions we receive is “what’s the difference between Limited and Ltd?” The answer is simple; there is no difference. It is purely aesthetic. When you are completing the company formation process with us we give you the option to use either Limited or Ltd. The choice is […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 If details for one of your limited company directors changes post company formation, don’t worry, it’s very easy to update with Companies House via our company admin portal. Simply login at Companies Made Simple, access “My Companies”, click on the relevant company and then next to the directors whose details you wish […]

Every month we send out a newswire via email that includes news, company formation information, other service information and much, much more. We store all of these newswires on the Newswire & Competition Winners Page, so if you’ve missed an edition, don’t worry, you can visit the page and read them all! The Newswire & […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 We have a number of limited companies set up for the sole purpose of selling on at a later date. We call these our “Shelf Companies”. When you buy one of our Shelf Companies we will: • Resign the current appointments • Appoint your requested appointments • Update the Registered Office to your requested […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 If you completed the company formation process with us then you have access to our online company admin portal. As well as being able to carry out limited company admin duties such as officer appointments, address updates and annual returns (to mention but a few) you can also view basic company information […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 If you’ve got a question regarding company formations or anything related to formations take a look at our new Knowledgebase. The page is a fantastic resource designed to assist you with any questions you have in regards to Companies Made Simple and the different services that we offer. From the Knowledgebase you […]

When you purchase a UK company formation package with us you can be safe in the knowledge that the Companies House Filing Fee is included in our price. The prices quoted plus VAT is what we charge, nothing else. The only instance when we’ll request payment post company formation is when you have a renewable […]

We’ve created a brand new page designed to show exactly how our limited company formation service compares to that of Companies House Direct (Business Link). Highlighting areas such as; price, customer support, speed, banking services, management portals and supporting document options, it’s Companies Made Simple who comes out on top. View the “How We Compare” […]

Our FREE to use ICAEW Accredited Cosec System offers a number of facilities designed to assist anyone who administers numerous limited companies. One such facility is the Dividend section. We’ve now updated this area of the Company Secretarial system so that it’s even more efficient. We know it can be quite time consuming to enter […]

This month we are focusing on the offshore market for companies. With world economies being in apparent meltdown, there are still many reasons why individuals and entities from many countries choose a particular jurisdiction to locate their commercial operations. One country that has particularly suffered from the Eurozone crisis, but is still a highly attractive […]

Although the global economy is in a bad way, there is too much focus on ‘markets crashing’, ‘economic instability’ and ‘political turmoil’. It is easy to forget amidst all this bad news that there are businesses and individuals who are weathering the economic storm very well and their stories shed a little light on these […]

Start Ups is one of the busiest online hubs for people either considering starting a business or those in business looking for business advice. You’ll find a rich variety of business information and advice… so do explore. Howard Graham, CEO and Founder of Made Simple Group was also recently on the Start Ups panel of […]

We have partnered up with premier domain name provider Namesco to offer Companies Made Simple customers an outstanding domain name deal. If you form a UK Limited Company with us we will provide you with a unique discount code that gets you one free .co.uk domain name registration for two years. Shortly after company formation […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 If you have formed a Limited Company with the intention of keeping the company dormant, there are a few steps you need to adhere to in order to ensure dormant status (other than not trade of course).

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 You can now download a copy of the J30 Stock Transfer Form from your dashboard on our site. Simply login at Companies Made Simple!

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 If you intend to dissolve your Limited Company but have changed the name of the company within the last three months, Companies House will not accept the dissolution. You must wait until three months have passed since the name change, you may then proceed with the dissolution. Our Company Dissolution Service This […]

We’re delighted to announce that we’ve teamed up with customer feedback experts CustomerSure who are offering all Companies Made Simple customers a FREE 30 day trial. CustomerSure provide “simple, web-based software to help you collect and act on customer feedback”. For more information or to sign up for this fantastic deal click here. This post […]

We offer a number of company formation packages: Basic, Printed, Privacy, Comprehensive and Ultimate. Every one of our UK Limited by Share Company packages includes: • 3 Hours Online Formation • Fast-Track Barclays Bank Account • Digital Certificate of Incorporation • Digital Memorandum and Articles • Use of our Online Admin Portal • Accountancy and Tax Consultation […]

There appears to be some confusion surrounding SIC codes when preparing the annual return. The SIC code, or UK Standard Industrial Classification Code, is a number that classifies principal business activity for a UK limited company. Confusion has arisen because Companies House have introduced a new set of 5 digit SIC codes as well as […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 That’s how easy our company formation process is. All we require you to do is visit Companies Made Simple; enter your desired company name, choose the formation package that suits you, make payment and then complete the formation by appointing: • The Registered Office • A Director • A Shareholder You can […]

We’ve just uploaded the latest in our “All you need to know” video series to our YouTube channel. This video sees me explain exactly how our Dormant Company Accounts service works. Watch the video here: All you need to know about… Our Dormant Company Accounts Service This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken […]

When selecting the name for your Limited Company, there are some words that require extra permissions in order to have them included in your company name. These are called sensitive words. Some of the most common sensitive words are: • Board • Group • Holding(s) • Federation • Foundation • International • King • Queen […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 Once your limited company has been formed it’s totally normal for the share situation in your company to change. That’s why we offer a number of different share services: • Confirmation of Shareholding at Incorporation (£9.99) A letter-headed document confirming the shareholding situation at the time of incorporation • Issue of Shares […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 If you formed your limited company with Companies Made Simple and have misplaced your Companies House Web filing Authentication Code, have no fear. We have your code! To view the code simply: • Login • Select “My Companies” • Select the relevant company • Your Web filing Authentication Code is in the […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 We are now offering three fantastic opportunities for anyone who is looking to become an affiliate of Companies Made Simple. 1.    White Label Company Formation Simply embed our Company Name Search coding onto your site and earn 10% commission on every customer who forms a company (10% of the the value of […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 Our existing customers and regular blog readers will already know that it’s not just limited company formations we can help with, we also offer a number of services useful to limited companies. One area where we offer help is company tax registration. We know that some people find all things tax related […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 Yes, we specialise in the formation of limited companies, but that’s not to say we don’t offer a sole trader service. In fact we offer two Sole Trader Start Up Packs: • Sole Trader (£24.99) • Sole Trader Plus (£49.99) We’ll provide you with all the forms a sole trader requires as […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 If you’ve found the ideal limited company name but you’re not yet ready to start trading (or you don’t even want to trade) our Reserve a Company Name Service is for you. For £49.99 we’ll take care of the formation and then keep the company “on ice” until you’re ready to take […]

You now have a business but it may be possible that you do not have premises for your new company other than your residential address. So what will it be like working from home? Have discipline: since you’re most relaxed at home and in a familiar environment, its even easier to procrastinate! Time-eating activities i.e. […]

It comes down to that age old saying: ‘if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.’ So are you prepared to face any disruption that could potentially harm your business? If there is one thing that many businesses will have learnt from last month’s riots in London and across the UK, an effective recovery […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 If your business operates largely from home, have you considered using a Virtual Office Service to take care of your mail? From just £14.99 per month we can accept mail sent to our address on your behalf and then forward the mail (or you can collect the mail) onto you. Not only […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 Is your company dormant? Is the annual account due date nearing? Don’t worry, let us file your Dormant Company Accounts for you. All we need is: • Your company Authentication Code • To know if the shares in your company are paid or unpaid We’ll then do the rest. Our Dormant Company […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 If you form your Limited Company with Companies Made Simple, you can now view minutes for the majority of submissions made through our system, including: • Incorporations • Appointments • Resignations • Change of Registered Office To view the minutes, access your company’s admin page at Companies Made Simple and scroll to […]

Last Updated: 10/09/2014 Everyone who forms a Limited Company with Companies Made Simple gains access to their own online admin portal. The homepage of the admin portal is the “Dashboard”. The dashboard (which can be found once you login) offers a “Statutory Forms” facility where you will find “Useful templates and forms for statutory requirements”.

We’ve just added a new video to our YouTube channel! “All you need to know about …Our Annual Return Service” sees myself give a brief description of our 2 different annual return services and how they work. All you need to know about …Our Annual Return Service – watch the video now. This post was […]

Last Updated: 08/09/2014 Everyone who forms a Limited Company with us gains free access to our online admin portal. When you login at Companies Made Simple the first thing you will notice is six boxes, the first of which is titled “My companies”. If you click on this you will see a list of your […]

Business insurance like many types of expenditure is one of those items that business owners typically do not like to pay. You must remember that sufficient insurance can be as critical to the success of your business as a good product or service. Without proper insurance you could lose all the money, time and effort […]

It’s important to develop a set routine, such as the one below, when collecting overdue payments for your Limited Company. A typical debt collection policy: • Invoice at the earliest opportunity, stating the payment terms clearly on the invoice. • 15 days after invoicing, telephone the customer. Thank them for their business and ask if […]

As any good business owner knows, time is money and therefore knows that wasted time is wasted money. Since the introduction of the smartphone, mobile applications have flooded the market in their millions. Many of these applications or ‘apps’ can now be used for conducting and becoming more proactive in your business operations. What’s more, […]

Regular readers of our blog will notice that we’re constantly updating and improving our ICAEW accredited Company Secretarial Management System. Our latest update is the ability for users to delete companies from the system. If there is a company on the system that has been dissolved or you are simply not involved with a company […]

Are you looking to grow your business? If so, the Made Simple Group has some exciting news. We’re in the initial stages of organising a Small Business Graduate Fair, exclusive to SMEs. Unlike traditional graduate fairs, the event would be a more informal networking day, providing a perfect opportunity to meet other businesses and talented […]

In designing the stationery of a Partnership, you must consider the legal requirements detailed below: Partnerships are required to state on letters, orders, invoices, and receipts, and to display on the premises, the names of all partners together with the principal office of the partnership. Alternatively, they must indicate where a list of partners may […]

The concept of selling doesn’t have to be intimidating, particularly if you think about it in terms of solving a problem or filling a need. And you are doing your customers a disservice if you fail to do everything possible to explain how purchasing from you will benefit them. The bottom line is that people […]

Another update to our ICAEW accredited company secretarial system! You can now sync all (yes all) of your Limited Companies with Companies House in one go. This ensures all your due dates are completely up-to-date and correct. To sync your Limited Companies with Companies House: • Login • Select “My Companies” • Select “Sync All” […]

The implications of the recent burgeoning of e-commerce are clear for all businesses, large and small – develop and implement an e-commerce strategy soon, or risk being left behind in the ‘new industrial revolution’. The online marketplace is developing so rapidly that an internet presence is increasingly becoming the norm in the UK, and businesses […]

We’re now offering a FREE 4 week trial on icomplete.com’s fantastic CRM system (customer relationship management). The award-winning (Dell Small Business Excellence Award) bespoke database allows you to store all types of communication and then associate it with a contact. You can also send fax, sms messages and emails directly from the system. The software […]

No. Anyone, anywhere in the world (as long as they are over 16 and are not currently declared bankrupt) can form a UK Limited Company. The only criteria is that the company’s Registered Office is based in the UK (you can purchase our registered office service from here), officers personal addresses can be located anywhere. […]

Our Company Secretarial System is now accredited by ICAEW, The Institute of Chartered Accountants. Not only is the accreditation a fantastic coup in itself, what makes it even more special is the fact that we are the only Secretarial System provider with the accreditation. Signing up for our Secretarial System allows you to manage all […]

Last Updated: 05/09/2014 When setting up a Limited Company you will need to enter 2 addresses for your Director: • The Service Address – On the public register • The Residential Address – Not on the public register Whilst both addresses can be the same, the residential address has to be where you live. Therefore […]

A survey by web company VMware has found that the UK is behind the rest of Europe when it comes to utilising web-based services, or the “Cloud”. Only 48% of SME’s in the UK are currently using some sort of Cloud IT in the running of their business. This is compared to 60% of similar […]

Complete the CH01 (Change of director’s details) paper form and file with Companies House. Or… If you are on the Companies Made Simple system you can login, access your company and edit the name from there. The name change is normally accepted within 3 working hours. Companies House do no not charge for this service […]

Last Updated: 05/09/2014 A few weeks ago we blogged about PROOF, the Companies House fraud protection service. In short PROOF means that everything for your company must be filed online. Companies House stop accepting paper forms for your company. Therefore, if your company is signed up for PROOF, having access to your registered office is […]

Companies House will be closed the following days over the Easter period: Friday 22nd April Monday 25th April Friday 29th April Monday 2nd May Tuesday 3rd May (Belfast only – all other branches will be open) This means that any company formations submitted on these days will join a queue at Companies House and be […]

Take the creation of your home office seriously. It should be comfortable, well-lit and properly equipped. Working at the kitchen table is rarely conducive to an efficient frame of mind. Bear in mind that you may need to revise your insurance policy to cover business equipment in the home. This post was brought to you […]

Irrespective of the type of financing you need and are able to obtain for your business, the process of obtaining it is somewhat similar. There are several questions that must be answered during the course of raising money for your business. The ability to answer these questions is critical to your success in obtaining financing […]

On Tuesday we told you about the launch of our latest in the “All you need to know” series, that particular one concentrating on Registering a Business Name. Well in the typical Made Simple Group speedy fashion, we’ve just launched another! Limited Companies for Sale takes a look at the procedures for buying existing limited […]

The latest in our “All you need to know about” series has just gone live. “All you need to know about Registering a Business Name” is your one-stop guide to registering a business or company in the UK and can be found at Registering a Business Name. Previous entries in the series can be found […]

Last Updated: 05/09/2014 In February, due to popular demand we launched our Sole Trader Start Up Pack. The pack received such a great response that we’ve now added another Sole Trader Pack, The Sole Trader +. The Sole Trader + offers everything the standard pack offers as well as a “Company Name Reservation” service. So […]

Leased office space is really only suitable for a larger business. Apart from the fact that a new business will probably have to lodge a rent deposit, the signing of a lease will normally involve a commitment for a number of years, a liability which could be difficult to escape if things don’t work out […]

Last Updated: 05/09/2014 Do you administer a number of Limited Companies? Do you find keeping a record of each company’s web-filing authentication code a bit of a nuisance? Did you know that you can change your authentication code for each of your companies to one standard code? Here’s how: • Login at Companies House (or […]

With an increasingly competitive marketplace along with an unstable economic climate, many established companies have looked to research to ensure they are meeting their client needs, this often takes the form of client questionnaires. Research can now be done in a cost effective way thanks to free or almost free online survey tools. Due to […]

One. A UK Private Limited Company can be formed with just one person acting as the Director and Shareholder (a Secretary is not required). No joke! This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple. Last Updated: 05/09/2014 Keep up to date. Subscribe to our RSS

Last Updated: 26/08/2014 In a partnership, two or more individuals join together to run the business enterprise. Each of the individual partners has ownership of company assets and responsibility for liabilities, as well as authority in running the business. The authority of the partners, and the way in which profits or losses are to be […]

Can you maintain the work/life distinction? Working from home offers flexibility but it also requires true self-discipline and organisation. Making a mental and physical distinction between your home and your working life is essential, both to resist the distractions of the television or garden, and, at the other end of the scale, to prevent work […]

Last Updated: 26/08/2014 The share certificate is a legal document that certifies ownership of shares within a limited company. The company director should distribute a share certificate to each shareholder. Because it is a legal document you should not create your own share certificate “from scratch”. Templates that meet all the requirements can be found […]

We’ve just launched the latest in our “all you need to know” webpage series. This time round we’re looking at buying a limited company. You can view the page here: Buying a Limited Company Previous editions: Setting Up a Limited Company Dormant Company Accounts This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies […]

Last Updated: 26/08/2014 Our clever IT folk have come up with a great new Sole Trader v Limited Company Web App that you can use on your site for free. Simply cut and paste the code (that can be found here) onto your blog, article page etc and you’ll get a nifty calculator as demonstrated […]

Last Updated: 26/08/2014 It is necessary to notify H M Revenue & Customs of your existence by completing forms CT41G ‘Corporation Tax – Information for New Companies’ letter (companies) or CWF1 (sole traders/partnerships). You can also telephone H M Revenue & Customs to notify self employment on 0845 915 4515. The CT41G ‘Corporation Tax – Information for New […]

When farmers brand sheep they use an easily recognisable mark to distinguish their animals from those of other farmers. In the same way, when you brand a product or a service, you use a name and/or mark to distinguish it from those of your competitors. Thus, the first principle of branding is that your brand […]

1. Establish your mission. Your mission statement explains why your company exists. When you encounter a problem or a key decision, the answer will be informed by your mission. Think about why you started the company, what needs of the marketplace you aim to satisfy, and imagine where you want your business to be in […]

Last Updated: 26/08/2014 Many people starting off a business, and working from home, make use of a virtual office solution. The range of services provided by virtual office providers can cover many aspects of running a small business and commonly include mail forwarding, telephone answering, the provision of meeting rooms and some secretarial services. It […]

Yesterday we launched www.setting-up-a-limited-company.co.uk, the latest in our “All you need to know…” series. Take a look now! You can also view our previous entry “All you need to know about Dormant Company Accounts” here. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple Keep up to date. Subscribe to our […]

Last Updated: 26/08/2014 Did you know that you can upload Limited Companies that were not formed by us onto the Companies Made Simple System? All we need is your company number and authentication code. Why? • Update Registered Office Address • Appoint Directors/Secretaries • Resign Existing Directors/Secretaries • Update Appointee Details • Complete a Return […]

The development of your brand and the design of your logo and stationery is an important part of your marketing strategy. Letters, invoices, mail shots, and statements are all forms of advertising. In designing the stationery of a LLP company, you must consider the legal requirements detailed below: • Letter and orders • Name of […]

We’ve just launched a brand new web-page, www.dormant-company-accounts.co.uk. This is the first in a series of “all you need to know” pages that we’ll be launching over the coming weeks that give clear and concise information on individual subjects related to Limited Companies. As you may have guessed from the URL, the first page is […]

Last updated: 21/08/2014 After forming your limited company it’s inevitable that both company and personal information will change throughout the company’s lifespan. What’s important is that you notify Companies House of these changes, especially as some changes require Companies House approval before the change can even take place. The Registered Office To change the registered […]

On Thursday we launched our brand new website, www.businesstrainingmadesimple.co.uk. Offering “Practical & Affordable Business Training” we aim to be the first port-of-call for small and start-up companies through a series of training courses put on by experts in their field. Click here to find a course that suits you! This post was brought to you […]

Many start-up and small businesses tend to work initially from home. Whether it is a back bedroom or just a spare surface in a lounge or dining room, for the start-up business, this is a relatively simple and cheap option.

It’s easy to see why at just £16.99 our Bronze company registration package is one of our most popular Company Formation services. It is a great product that provides the essential elements needed for a Limited Company. So why do we offer, and recommend, our Bronze + service? Well this is because the Bronze + […]

If not independently wealthy and perhaps even if you are, eventually you will probably need to obtain some outside capital for your business. In some instances, you may need to obtain capital for the initial expenses prior to opening your business or perhaps the funds you require may be required for expansion or working capital […]

Last Updated: 21/08/2014 Complete the CH03 (Change of secretary’s details) paper form and file with Companies House. Or… If you are on the Companies Made Simple system you can login, access your company and edit the name from there. The name change normally takes just 3 working hours. Plus, it’s free! This post was brought […]

With the structure and name of your Limited Company now secured, you’ll no doubt want to convey what it is you do best through effective brand communication. The time and resources spent building brand awareness can be very rewarding. It can help to: • Position your product or service in the marketplace • Differentiate your […]

Latest figures released by the information services show that small companies in the last quarter of 2010 paid invoices, on average, 25.7 days late. These figures show an increase of 16% when compared to the rest of the year. Industry experts consider such stats useful when looking at the “health” of small companies. This post […]

A venture capital company or fund is typically a company that is in the business of taking risks. A venture capital fund is often backed by a group of investors that may be individuals or companies. The investors are often represented by a management group that evaluates potential investments and manages the existing investment portfolio. […]

Last Updated: 21/08/2014 There seems to be some confusion surrounding Companies House web-filing. In particular, the difference between the security code and the authentication code. So to clarify: Security Code This is your password for Companies House web-filing. To login go here and enter your email address and security code. If you are not yet […]

Up to 43% of small companies have ruled themselves out of trading overseas because they find the idea too daunting, according to a survey by Parcelforce. Of the 513 “executives” surveyed, 43% of those not trading abroad recognised the fact it could increase revenue but most overlooked this as they believed the process to be […]

Last Updated: 20/08/2014 When choosing a name for your limited company it’s important you are aware of the Companies House “Restricted Words” list. In order to form a company with any of these words, certain criteria must be met; the criteria differ depending on the word. 

Last Updated: 20/08/2014 HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) “are here to ensure the correct tax is paid at the right time”. As explained on their site, they administer: • Capital Gains Tax • Corporation Tax • Income Tax • Inheritance Tax • National Insurance Contributions • Excise duties • Insurance Premium Tax • Petroleum Revenue […]

Even if you are already the leader in your industry, there will be opportunity to improve the profitability of your business. It is not always easy to achieve, but it’s certainly possible. You need a plan of attack. Specifically, you need to find out exactly what your existing and potential customers want—it’s not always the […]

Last Updated: 20/08/2014 If you’ve just set up a limited company it’s useful to know exactly what mail you can expect to receive. So here you go. We’re going to split this into 2 categories, Official and Public. Official If you formed your company through us on any package Printed upwards, the first item you can […]

The Government has launched exciting plans to expand the scope of the New Enterprise Allowance (NEA), which it hopes will create 40 000 new businesses by 2013. The NEA will provide up to £2000 to unemployed people who want to start their own business. The scheme will be available to twice as many people as […]

Last Updated: 20/08/2014 Much confusion surrounds Annual Returns and Annual Accounts. So to clarify: • They are not the same thing. Annual Returns are a snapshot of general company information such as appointments, registered office and share structure. Annual Accounts concern the financial aspect of the company. • Both are required – even if a […]

• Keep every VAT receipt for the purchases that you make during the setting up process and continue to do so thereafter. • Make a note of important dates and events – they may be important at a later date. • Record all expenditure that you incur for your new business, even if you don’t […]

It’s always a disappointment if your application for a limited company is rejected by Companies House. You rack your brains as to what could possibly have gone wrong.

1: A dead document A business plan that is created for a purpose and then discarded will always become obsolete fast. Making your business plan a living document is essential if you don’t want the whole process to be a failure. Only a regularly reviewed and updated plan can be the spur to look critically […]

When you form a limited company with us, or buy a service from us or even if you simply sign up for a free account, you will have unlimited access to your own company management system. This system is easy to use – simply login at www.companiesmadesimple.com using your login details and you will be […]

Ideal for new business owners who work primarily from home, a virtual office offers both privacy and professionalism. Most virtual office services give the following: • Mail Forwarding Services – no need to give out your home address • Telephone Answering Services – the phone is answered in your company name and a message taken […]

The important thing to note is that profit is “what’s left over.” In other words, profit is a residual. It is the consequence of what happens in and to your business. Some of these things are within your control and some of them are outside your control. If you’re going to have any effect on […]

Last Updated: 20/08/2014 Well have no fear; a subscriber is simply Companies House terminology for a shareholder in a limited company at incorporation. Once the company is formed the subscriber is also a shareholder. It is simply so Companies House know who the initial shareholders were. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken […]

The Microsoft Small Business Centre has found that many older people are seeking a new life in business after retiring from the workplace. According to Tony Clack, managing director at Laterlife, the world of entrepreneurship is increasingly appealing to over-65s, giving them a new challenge in their later years. He observed that older people often […]

• Are you the sort of person who can succeed in business? • Have you any funds you can put into the business? • Are you familiar with the legal requirements that will be placed on you as a business proprietor? • Have you considered how much you will earn during your first year? • […]

Last Updated: 20/08/2014 Annual Accounts If filing the first set of accounts for your limited company the accounts must be delivered no later than 21 months from the date of incorporation. Therefore for a company formed on the 1st of January 2014 (which would therefore have an accounting reference date of 31st of January), the accounts […]

Last Updated: 19/08/2014 When preparing an annual return for your limited company you will be asked for your company SIC Code(s). A SIC Code (UK Standard Industrial Classification Code) is simply a five digit number that classifies your company’s principal business activity. Numbers range from 01110 (Growing of cereals (except rice), leguminous crops and oil seeds) all the […]

Last Updated: 19/08/2014 If you appoint a director for your limited company but enter the incorrect date of birth you must: • Resign current appointment with the incorrect date of birth (TM01) • Reappoint with correct date of birth (AP01) Of course, if you have your company on the Companies Made Simple system you will […]

So you’ve formed your Limited Company, your product is ready, now it’s time to think about the 4 P’s of marketing: Product Product covers the physical aspects or intangible characteristics of the product or service you are planning to sell. It can include packaging, appearance, warranty etc. Pricing Pricing should take into account profit margins […]

Last Updated: 19/08/2014 You can’t form a Limited Company in the UK without going through Companies House – they are the United Kingdom Government Department through which all UK companies are registered. In their own words, the main functions of Companies House are to: • incorporate and dissolve limited companies; • examine and store company […]

It may sound a little simplistic, but there are really only 4 fundamental ways to successfully grow your business.

When forming your Limited Company one of the first decisions to make is whether your company name should end in Limited or Ltd. You can’t form a Limited Company without one of them so your options are… limited. 

As of now anyone who has a company with us is able to change their accounting reference date online via our system. Simply login to Companies Made Simple, access “my companies” and click on your company name. Next to “Accounting Reference Date” you will see “Change Date” – click this. You can then input your […]

Last Updated: 19/08/2014 The perfect company name can be lost all too easily. Even if you’ve created a URL and built your website the company name could still be at risk. So how do you go about protecting that perfect name? The easiest way to do this is to form a Limited Company with said […]

Last Updated: 19/08/2014 A company register is a folder or book in which a company officer can neatly store their company’s statutory documents. These documents include: – Details of share transfers and allotments – Share certificates – Details of company officers – Company mortgages and charges The company register which Companies Made Simple provide includes […]

With the New Year fast approaching many people will be thinking about new starts. And whilst we will not say “forget” about giving up smoking, chocolate, alcohol etc etc we will say consider doing something different for 2011. How about starting a new business? Whilst such a decision can’t and shouldn’t be taken lightly, now […]

Last Updated: 19/08/2014 When forming a limited company you may notice the service “Maintenance of Statutory Books”. So what is this? The Maintenance of Statutory Books is a digital record of all your company’s statutory information. This includes: • Company Name, Company Number & Registered Office • Accounting Reference Date and other Important Dates • […]

The Department for Business Innovation & Skills (BIS) plan to help make it easier for people to start up a business. In a recent press release, they acknowledge the importance of encouraging would-be entrepreneurs to consider starting up their own companies. They are committed to making the UK one of the fastest countries in the […]

Updated on 18/08/2014 1. A Certificate of Good Standing (sometimes referred to as the Certificate of Existence or the Certificate of Authorization) confirms that a company has been incorporated and is authorised to trade. 2. It typically names the Registered Office; the Share Capital; the names of the Company Officers, Shareholders, and the main objects […]

Completing a business plan encourages you to get past the ‘initial concept’ stage of your business start-up and, if it’s done properly, leads you to estimate, to the best of your ability, real figures. A business plan can solely be an internal document to guide you in establishing and growing your new venture and/or it […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014 At £16.99 it’s easy to see why our Basic Register a Company Package is so popular when it comes to our Company Formation services. It’s a fantastic product that provides the essential elements needed for your Limited Company. So if that product is so great why do we offer, and recommend, our […]

When the government first announced its plans to cut public spending many people feared the impact it would have on enterprise in the UK, however, they were unclear which sectors would be affected and what the actual damage may be Now, according a recent report conducted by the Forum of Private Enterprise, the sector which […]

According to a recent report conducted by recruitment website Jobs4u, one of the biggest challenge UK enterprise is currently facing is a retaining their employees. The research revealed that – on average – high staff turnover is costing UK businesses a staggering forty billion pounds a year, with most companies losing over ten per cent […]

From flexible working and digital advertising to stock management and online company formation and company registration, IT has completely revolutionized the way in which you form, run and manage your company. However, in a survey of over six hundred small business owners, over forty per cent of small business owners admit that being confused by […]

While the media has been saturated with stories of how small businesses in the north are finding it much tougher than businesses in the south, a report last week discredited the claims and claimed that more research needed to be done in the light of the increasing anxiety surrounding the governments cuts in public spending […]

According to the most recent statistics released by the Bank of England, the amount of finance given to small businesses has dropped by over twenty seven pillion pounds since the credit crunch began. While banks are increasingly directing significant resource into trying to win the business bank accounts of small businesses, via a number of […]

When the government first announced its plans to scrap the default retirement age, many people feared what implications this decision would have on the company formation and small business sector; some felt it would put pressure on companies that were already struggling in the current economic climate. However, beyond the economic implications of the decision, […]

When the Coalition government was first announced, many small business owners were confident that it would put enterprise and company formation and the centre of its plans for economic recovery. Indeed, just a month after the Emergency Budget was announced, a report revealed that over forty per cent of recently formed company owners felt that […]

Surely you remember that old saying uttered across classrooms nationwide; “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” Well it seems that the nation’s entrepreneurs weren’t listening. According to a recent report, many small business owners and those who have recently gone through the company formation and company registration process have done so in the absence […]

From the point at which the coalition government announced that it would give regional business and ‘National Insurance’ holiday on the first ten employees employed by a recently employed company, it was clear that supporting regional enterprise was a clear objective of the new administration. The government then announced that it was to disband regional […]

While over sixty per cent of the workforce say that becoming their own boss is their main career ambition, in the current economic context – where there is limited access to finance and declining consumer spend – many people may find going through the company formation process and running a business just out of their […]

According to a recent report , conducted by corporate investment firm ‘EFG’ , more than thirty per cent of all recently formed companies have found maintaining a healthy cash flow the biggest challenge of presented by the recession. The survey, which involved over two thousand small business owners who had recently gone through the company […]

According to a recent report, small business confidence has increased over the last three months, thanks largely to the increased profitability of the export market, rather than domestic consumer demand. The survey, which questioned over two thousand small business owners, was conducted by Lloyd’s enterprise. It found that company owners are more positive than they […]

Incentivising your team during an economic downturn has presented company owners with a number of difficulties; not only have many had to enforce pay freezes, bonuses and salary increases have also been suspended in most small companies. However, a recent report conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, has found that over fifty […]

When the government announced its plans to abandon the default retirement age of 65, many business owners felt that the policy was devised and implemented far too quickly and that the government hadn’t given adequate thought into what impact it would have on the SME sector. SME’s employ just fewer than ninety per cent of […]

When the previous administration introduced the ‘Late Payment Charter’ – a paper devised with the objective of encouraging companies to pay suppliers on time – last year, its own payment timescales were put in the spotlight and were found lacking. What followed was widespread public at the hypocrisy of an administration that could devise policies […]

The fact the employees in the UK have the longest working hours in Europe is a well documented fact. However, according to a recent report, conducted by mental heath charity, ‘Mind’, while many employees admit to suffering from stress in the workplace, an alarming forty per cent of women have said that they find that […]

Back before the vast majority of the electorate had even contemplated the possibility of a coalition government, former leader of the opposition, David Cameron made the controversial claim that forming a company and running a company in this country was more difficult than anywhere else in Europe. Then, once the election campaign was in full […]

Business banking in the UK has again come under fire today, but not by the media or the SME and company formation sector, but surprisingly from the head of the Bank of England, Mr Mervyn King. This may surprise many small business owners, who have been speaking out about the negative impact restricted lending has […]

The recession has presented the UK’s workforce with a number of challenges; pay freezes, the threat of redundancy and the increased cost of living. This combined with fact that the number of hours an average employee in the UK works has increased by 10% since the economic downturn. A report out last week, conducted by […]

While the media is saturated with headlines exclaiming that businesses in the UK can’t get access to finance, that hasn’t stopped Banks from grappling for their business. Small business owners who have recently completed the company formation process are inundated with many marketing promotions from Banks all claiming to offer the best business bank account […]

It is a well documented fact that the recession initiated many changes in consumer behaviour and the way in which people do business. But what impact has it had on people who haven’t even entered the job market yet? Well, according to a recent report by Enterprise UK, the number of people at University who […]

When the government initially announced its plans to abandon the default retirement age, feedback from the SME sector was mixed; many felt that it would be beneficial to the economy, while some were concerned that it would put unnecessary pressure on companies which were already struggling. So, it is likely that yesterday’s announcement that the […]

A report published last week found that most people aged between 16-25 states that their main aspiration is to become a company formation owner. But are they aware of the hard work, commitment and dedication running your own company demands? A recent report conducted by independent business consultancy ‘M.K Consultancy’ found that over sixty per […]

There has been much made of the adversarial management style of many entrepreneurs on the television; from Lord Sugar to Dragon Peter Jones, the media has been quick to draw comparisons between successful business people and being tough talking. However, according to a recent report conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, since […]

It is a well documented fact that the recruitment sector was among those most badly affected by the economic downturn. Indeed, as a result of the fact that many company owners were concentrating their efforts on making sure they did not have to make redundancies, rather than considering hiring new members of staff, the recruitment […]

In years gone by, there was a commonly held perception that working within an established large corporation would mean greater job security, a better salary, more opportunity to move up the career ladder and overall, greater perks than an employee would get in a small or recently formed company. However, if the findings of a […]

Having a green corporate image has been a vital part of company branding for a number of years. Most organisations, from large companies such as Marks and Spencer and Tesco to smaller businesses such as your local greengrocers, have some form of environment policy, even if it is simply adding a ‘Do Not Print Unnecessarily’ […]

There has been much in the media recently about the fact that many companies – ranging from large organisations to small recently formed businesses – have become overly reliant on apprentices and internships throughout the recession. This has lead, it has been suggested, to companies discriminating against apprentices and those doing an internship. As a […]

When the government announced its plans to cut public spending, it was clear that the private enterprise sector would have the responsibility of stimulating economic growth and driving recovery. Consequently, many small business and company formation owners felt the government should offer more support to private enterprise. While Osborne’s ‘Emergency Budget’ did offer some concessions […]

When the coalition government first announced its plans to devise an Emergency budget with the objective of addressing the country’s massive budget deficit, the small business and company formation sector immediately anticipated that the budget would include a VAT increase. Forums were full of small business owners explaining their fears that the long term impact […]

Since the recession began the media has been full of doom and gloom tales of companies going into administration, rising unemployment and declining consumer confidence. It got to a stage where you could not read a newspaper without hearing about the decline of a high street giant or be confronted with the headline ‘Head of […]

The economic downturn has put enormous pressure on the UK’s workforce – that fact has been well documented. But what about business owners and bosses – the people who have to deal with the responsibility of keeping jobs for their employees, the future stability of their companies, while at the same time attempting to be […]

Despite concerns that a Lib-Con coalition government would be to busy with internal power struggles and ideological battles, to devise strong policy, since David Cameron’s coalition has come into power in has made a number of landmark policy changes. Indeed, from the Emergency budget to scraping the current default retirement age, the coalition certainly seems […]

According to a recent report, many small business and company formation owners are failing to adhere to even basic health and safety standards in the workplace. A recent report by business insurance providers ACAS, found that over thirty per cent of employees feel that they have been absent from work due to some form of […]

Prior to the general election, David Cameron caused quite the stir in the company formation sector as a result of his claims that company formation in the UK is extremely expensive and overly complex. Many business experts, including the CEO of Companies Made Simple, came out to discredit Mr Cameron’s statement, explaining how company formation […]

It is commonly said by both the government and leading economists that the small businesses and company formation sector are the backbone of the UK’s economy and absolutely crucial in address spiralling unemployment and turning around our current dire economic situation. But what about the Social Enterprise sector? Do most people even understand what it […]

The recession has put the SME and company formation sector under a large amount of pressure. As a result many companies have had to evolve and diversify to survive. For many companies that have meant offering a different range of products and services, for others it has meant investigating alternative routes to market, including online. […]

Throughout the general election all three political parties positioned themselves as the party for the SME. Each campaign gave details of how they planned to make company formation easier, cut bureaucratic red tape and re-establish the UK at the best place to run a company. However, according to a recent survey all three political parties […]

Three years ago, the UK had a reputation for having the worse absentee rates in Europe. It was thought that this was mainly a consequence of the fact that we also had the longest working hours. Once the recession hit, many business analysts predicted that the level of employee absence would increase as a result […]

Since the recession began, you couldn’t open a paper or switch on the television without being confronted by some story proclaiming the death of the small business and company formation sector. And, let face it, small businesses have undoubtedly been at the front line of the recession. However, are thing about to get a whole […]

When the recession first hit most company formation owners and employees were more concerned with avoiding redundancy than incentives. However, when it became clear that the recession would have long term implications and that even though it is now over, economic recovery is still a long way away, employers and employees alike have now begun […]

While the advertising sector has been aware that online is the future of their business for some time, many company formation owners who own retail companies have been some what left behind by the online revolution. Even failing to have adequate provision to answer customer emails, says a recent report by IT consultancy company ‘Snap […]

It is a well documented fact that the UK has one of the largest drinking cultures in the work and that this drinking culture permeates every part of life from staff Christmas parties to family celebrations. However, a recent report has revealed that staff drinking is now posing a significant threat to the UK’s economic […]

When the news was announced that Father’s were now entitled to three months paid paternity and a further three months unpaid leave , many people felt the move signified a more progressive future for UK business. However, four months since the new legislation was brought it, a recent report conducted by the Forum of Small […]

In the context of redundancy and pay freezes, it will come as little surprise to many that the UK’s workforce is among the most stressed out in Europe. However, what some people may find surprising is the lengths employees are going to, to ensure they both keep their jobs and receive pay rises. According to […]

Before the general election date was even announced, David Cameron caused waves throughout the company formation sector as he claimed that when he was Prime Minister the ‘bureaucracy’ involved in company formation. While we weren’t sure how he could make company formation any easy than us – three hours, £24.99 for fully formed and registered […]

When the coalition government was announced, feedback from the SME and company formation sector was mixed; some small business owners felt that a Lib-Lab coalition would be great for enterprise, while others felt that, in the light of economic instability, we needed a strong and decisive executive. However, if the figures from a new survey […]

The recession has had many consequences for the SME and company formation sector; an increase in the number of companies going into administration, spiraling consumer confidence and hostile market conditions. But what about the impact it has had on a company’s workers? According to a recent survey by mental health charity ‘ STRESS’ , the […]

Throughout the general election all three political parties said that the small business and company formation sector were key to the UK’s economy recovery, and pledged to support them. However, one of the main areas the Conservative party promised to concentrate on was improving the number of skilled workers, working in the UK. However, a […]

Over the past two years, the SME and company formation sector have been under enormous financial pressure; not only have they had to contend with difficult market conditions, they have also had to overcome the challenge of having restricted access to finance. Consequently, many of these companies have had to diversify their business and consider […]

One of the main consequences of the recession was a decline in consumer confidence. Consumer’s loss confidence in enterprise and preferred to plan for future economic instability by saving. However, as figures from the Office of National Statistics confirm, consumer confidence is relative to many seasonal factors; remember lasts year when we enjoyed a brief […]

When the ‘credit crunch’ first began, it was felt by many that the number of people considering company formation would decrease significantly. However, in a context of redundancy and pay freezes the number actually increased. Indeed the Office of National Statistics has revealed that over one million people have gone through the company formation process, […]

This general election was arguably one of the most interesting we have seen in a number of years – as indicated by the fact that the number of people who voted has risen enormously. It also marked many new developments in UK politics – namely its increasingly ‘presidential’ style and introduction of televised debates – […]

In the current economic context in which Greece’s economic future hands in the balance and we wait to see how the markets react to a potentially hung parliament, it is easy to forget that people still have companies to run! But they most definitely do and recent research conducted by IT software company ‘Think IT’ […]

As we have noted on numerous occasions, forming your own company and managing your own business requires a number of key skills; from marketing and accounting to distribution and sales. However, according to a recent report by IT specialists HP, company formation owners are so concerned about the day to day running of their company […]

From the feedback we have received from our clients, many small business owners feel ‘unsupported’ by the government, to a large extent. Subsequently, the government is now being encouraged to devise a ministerial role dedicated entirely to revitalise enterprise in the UK. Nearly sixty per cent of all MPs believe that appointing a ‘Credit Crunch’ […]

In Tuesday’s post we discussed recent changes to the Data Protection Act and how small business and company formation may be effected. However, in the light of news that nearly eighty per cent of all small businesses have been the subject of some form of security breach over the past year, maybe companies should be […]

Throughout the recession, business owners and people who had recently formed a company had to make many tough decisions when it came to their workforce. For most small business, they had to find the quickest and most cost effective way of reducing overdrafts. Subsequently, many employers were forced to make redundancies or freeze salaries. However, […]

The way in which businesses market to their consumers has changed exponentially over the last few years. It is estimated that the averaged British person sees around three thousand images a day and does not engage with 87% of them. Subsequently, marketers, advertising agencies and company formation owner alike, have had to become more strategic […]

Running you own company is notoriously stressful, you are expected to be a marketing manager, accountant and HR consultant. Therefore, it is inevitable that in some areas skills will be more developed than others. According to a recent report conducted by the CIPD business owners who run their own company are the most disliked bosses. […]

When the recession first hit, many thought that the SME would be the worst hit, however, a large proportion of small businesses survived and the number of people forming a company actually increased. Yet now, as the UK’s economy emerges from the recession, a poll conducted by Abbey Commercial banking has revealed that the same […]

Job losses weren’t the only casualty of the recession; along with the threat of redundancy and pay freezes, many employees also had to sacrifice additional training and personnel development initiatives which were previously put in place by their employers. Indeed, according to a recent survey conducted by the Forum of Small Business Owners, during the […]

According to a recent report, businesses that have survived the recession have emerged optimistic about the future and are looking forward to expansion in 2011. The Forum of Small Business conducted a report which asked over two thousand small business owners what their main objective was over the next two years. An overwhelming 63% said […]

According to a recent report, one of the main and most far reaching consequences of the recession is a disaffected graduate workforce. The Institute of Development and Human Resources has found that over fifty per of employees who left University in 2008, are dissatisfied with their current roles. While many say that this has always […]

It is a well known fact that the UK keeps the longest working hours in Europe. This culture of long hours has been made worse by the fact that many employees have been desperate to keep their jobs during the current economic downturn. However, while the UK has the longest working hours our employees also […]

Running you own company can be extremely stressful. From the point of company formation, you are expected to have an in depth knowledge of all areas of your business, from accounting and marketing to human resources and supply chain management. That being said, from the feedback we receive from our customers it is clear that […]

What with the Iraq war enquiry and the fact that the country seems to be in the grip of election fever, much has been made in the media about the fact that our armed forces are fighting the war without adequate equipment. Yet, there has been little in the media about what ex-members of the […]

If you ask a small business owner what is the most valuable thing they handle in the day to day operations of their company, most would say their products, some may say the intellectual rights to their brand, however, I doubt any would say the customer information they hold on file. Customer data has become […]

If the popular press are to be believed most workplaces in the UK are characterized by redundancy and mounting job insecurity. And as unemployment figures continue to rise, you would think that most workers employment would be doing their best to hold on to their existing roles. However, according to a recent survey by the […]

As we have noted on a number of occasions on this blog, running a small business can be extremely stressful. One of the main challenges is the fact that, in a lot of cases, you have to manage all elements of the company you formed. That means dealing with day to day operations, marketing, accounts […]

The concept of ‘flexible working’ is a relatively new , however, encouraged by the rise of high speed broadband and various other technological advances which have made communication much easier, many employers have introduced a flexible working initiative within their business. And, according to a recent report they could end up with a healthier workforce […]

Many people perceive the company formation process to be overly bureaucratic, expensive and time consuming. Among these people is leader of the opposition David Cameron, who said as much in his appearance on The Andrew Marr Show, a couple of weeks ago. However, as our company formation packages start from use £24.99 and we can […]

Under current employment regulations, both men and women in the UK can be forced to retire by their employer at the age of sixty five. However, last year the government announced plans to abolish the right of employers in the UK to enforce involuntary retirement on workers at the age of sixty five. The theory […]

New legislation, beginning in April 2010, means that almost 500,000 men, employed in the UK, will be entitled to take six months paternity leave. At the moment, the maximum time a new Father is allowed to take off as paternity leave, is two weeks. However, extending this period – as they have done in Scandinavian […]

The government has invested heavily in communicating to companies the importance of ensuring their businesses operate as environmentally efficient as possible. They have also developed a dedicated ‘Green’ fund to support companies who are investing time and resources into becoming ‘Greener.’ However, today company formation owners have hit back, claiming that regardless of how many […]

It is the same every year, the UK gets hit by some bad weather and the whole country comes to a standstill; trains get cancelled, public transport virtually grinds to a halt, the roads are treacherous and the news is dominated by dramatic ‘extreme weather’ stories. So, why aren’t we more prepared? In a country […]

‘Tis the season to be jolly, right? Most companies, at this time of year are looking forward to an increase in revenue due to Christmas sales, Christmas parties and for many, congratulating themselves for surviving one of the worst economic climates this country has ever seen. However, many business analysts are advising company owners to […]

What with Companies House now being stricter in regards to what you can and can’t call your company there has never been a better time to get creative when setting one up. Why be another face in the crowd when your company name can convey your area of business with a little zest? Whilst a […]

Once you have decided to complete the company formation process, it is vital you write a business plan. This plan should set out your business proposition, objectives and how you plan to achieve them. However, there is a crucial step before you begin the plan; research. Take a look at our guide: 1. Understand What […]

The instability of the current economic climate is encouraging many people to review their future career options. While we came to terms with the demise of the ‘job for life’ concept a while ago, employees are now facing impending unemployment in an in-hospitable job seeker market. Subsequently, many more people are considering the possibility of […]