Company Formation - Companies Made Simple

There are a few things you need to prepare before you form your limited company. Use our step-by-step guide to make sure you haven’t missed anything. 

Starting a business can be an exciting, yet overwhelming journey. There are so many aspects to consider, from developing your product or service, to setting up your business structure. One of the crucial steps in starting a business is choosing a name. You want a name that reflects your brand identity, is memorable, and legally […]

If you’re planning to launch your own business, there’s no harm in asking for help. There are hundreds of government-run grants available to British entrepreneurs who want to lower their start-up costs, invest in innovation, and achieve much faster growth. 

How you decide to structure your new business will have a significant impact on how your venture operates and how much tax you’ll need to pay – not to mention how it is perceived by potential clients. 

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”

Dropshipping is not a new concept. However, it is a flourishing concept. In 2023, there are hundreds of dropshipping businesses and whilst it is a competitive market it is still possible to make a great income from dropshipping. In this post, we’re going to take a quick look at what exactly dropshipping is, how dropshipping works

There are many benefits to life as a freelance graphic designer.  You get to work on your own terms, on a schedule that suits you, and claim better pay for your projects than if you were to operate through an agency.

Registering a limited company is extremely simple. However, sometimes applications are rejected by Companies House (don’t worry; if you are forming with us you can resubmit the application for no extra charge). Here are 3 of the most common reasons why applications tend to be rejected. 

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.  

Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, you can now manage all your company filing (officer appointments, confirmation statement, updating the registered office and much more) online. This is all enabled by a code known as the Webfiling Authentication Code (WAC) that is provided straight after a company has been formed. 

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 […]

If you’ve misplaced your company’s registration number there are a number of places that you can find it free of charge. Let’s take a look.

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. 

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 construction industry is booming — with almost one in five of the UK’s 5.5 million small businesses operating in the sector. This goes to show that if you’re in this industry, there’s a huge incentive to go alone and set up your own construction company.

All of our company registration packages come with digital share certificates for each shareholder in the company. This blog talks you through what a share certificate is and how to download your share certificate. 

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. 

In recent years, it’s been tougher for property rental businesses in the UK. With changes in legislation and lending criteria has been tightened, regulations have become less generous and rental yields have fallen — but can lessors still have good earning opportunities despite these challenges? Here, we’ll take you through the cases for and against. 

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.

We asked our friends over at FreeAgent seven common(ish) questions about the Limited by Guarantee (LBG) company structure – a structure commonly favoured by charities. Take a look, and remember to get in touch if you’re interested in incorporating your own LBG company.

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....

You’re an advisor, problem solver, a motivator and a confidante — all rolled into one. Success as a personal trainer comes from your ability to gain trust and build relationships: something that applies just as much to your online presence as it does to your sessions on the gym floor.

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 […]

The big question: residential or commercial? When you’re thinking of starting up a cleaning business, this is a decision that all cleaning businesses need to make early on.

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. […]

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 […]

When forming your limited company you will have noticed the Standard Industrial Classification code (or SIC code), which represents the type of business or industry your business identifies with. This is also part of the information that makes up the Confirmation Statement, the annual filing obligation required by Companies House (the UK’s registrar of companies). 

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

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 […]

According to sources, Napoleon once said “L’Angleterre est une nation de boutiquiers” – “England is a nation of shopkeepers”.  Whilst the number of shops on the average UK high street has certainly diminished greatly, we may well still be a nation of entrepreneurs.

When forming your company with us you will notice an optional extra on the basket page; a Fraud Protection service. In this post we’re going to explain how the service works and ultimately, how it protects you and your business from becoming a victim of fraudulent activity.

It is currently taking Companies House (the UK’s registrar of companies) an average of 15 hours to process limited company incorporations. This being the amount of time it takes for a company to be formed once the company information has been completed and the incorporation request has been sent to Companies House.

We’re absolutely delighted to announce that we’ve been named as finalists at this year’s UK Customer Experience Awards in the ‘Employee Engagement – Improving CX’ category.

In January 2016, with help from Virgin StartUp, Names.co.uk, Startups.co.uk and London Small Business Centre, we contacted small and micro-businesses across the UK asking them a series of questions exploring… “What’s NOT simple for UK’s startups?”. We’ve created an infographic to highlight some of the key findings.

Monday to Friday, 9-5. Boo. Weekend. Yay! Sound familiar? Of course it does. The average person spends 10.5 years of their life working, and working for someone else nonetheless. It’s pretty much how we all choose (yes choose) to live our lives. Are we suggesting there is an alternative? Another way to do it? We’ll […]

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.

All of our company formation packages include a digital copy of the company’s certificate of incorporation (plus some of them include a hard copy of the certificate). In this post we’re going to look at how you can download your certificate as soon as your company has been formed.

Yes. If you’ve not yet formed your company and for some reason would like a specific date of incorporation (in the near future), we can help. Here’s how.

Starting a limited company is one of the most popular ways for entrepreneurs to go into business in the UK. But did you know that there’s multiple ways to structure a limited company? These different structures suit different types of businesses, what’s suitable for one business may be inappropriate for another. 

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 […]

All limited companies formed with us are provided with a digital version of the certificate of incorporation (think of it as a company’s birth certificate) that is available to view and download as soon as the company has been formed. In this post we’ll look at how you can download yours.

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.

One of the most common questions that we get asked is ‘How do I change my registered office?’ In this post we’re going to thoroughly explain how to do this. 

When the subject of company formation comes up the image of suits and conventional offices might come to mind. After all, for so long businesses have been associated with formalities – and companies exist to drive revenue. And to a degree that is still the case. 

Yesterday’s Budget was particularly relevant for the small business world. Here we break down the key points that you need to be aware of:

One of the most common questions that we get at Company Formation MadeSimple is ‘How do I change my director details?’ It’s perfectly understandable that the details of your directors may change – this could be for a number of reasons, name change because of marriage for example. Whatever the reason, we want to show […]

Opening (or starting, or forming, or registering, or incorporating) a company limited by shares is now extremely simple thanks to formation agents (such as us!) and the registrar of companies, Companies House, simplifying the process. A company can now be formed online in just a matter of hours.

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.

When forming your company online, certain information is required by Companies House to allow you to register your business. After all, government bodies need to know who you are.

Registering a company is a big, yet simple step, that comes with a number of benefits. In this post we’re going to look at three reasons why you should take the plunge and register your company. If at the end you do decide that now is the time, register a company here! Let’s get started.

In this, the final part of our interview with Lord Young, he talks to us about what he has done to encourage entrepreneurship in young people. In particular, we look at initiatives such as The Youth Training Scheme, The Small Business Charter and The Enterprise Passport. 

With five company formation packages available, you may need some assistance in picking the one that suits you best. In this video we look at the five packages and what’s included in them, and how each could be beneficial to you.

As part of our continued endeavours to make business and life simple for our customers (and ourselves) – we’re undertaking some research to get close to what’s really going on with our customers – and importantly, what’s NOT making business simple for them. As brilliant as we all are at interpreting how to make business […]

We caught up with Andrew Weaver of LawyerFair at their riverside offices in Battersea for our first ever filmed Startup Story! Watch the video for Andrew’s entrepreneurial tips and much more.

Firstly, congratulations. You are now at a stage where your business idea is ready to become a reality. The next step is registering a company with Companies House, the question is; what is the best way to go about doing this? You can of course go straight through Companies House, but what if you want […]

The company formation arena is one that’s full of jargon. Here at Company Formation MadeSimple we like to explain what some of these key company terms mean and look at how you can benefit from understanding the details. One of the most significant things that you will need to be aware of is the registered […]

As a business owner it is important to know about wider issues – which may indirectly affect not just your venture but the business landscape in which you operate in. As a small business one of the most important skills that you will need to have is adaptability. Circumstances may never be totally ideal so […]

If you are looking to create a company that operates in this way then turning your business into a social enterprise may be the way to go. This blog will look at various different types of social enterprise’s and how exactly they work. 

Here at Company Formation MadeSimple one of the questions that we get asked often is about maintenance of statutory books. A typical question we get is firstly what is it? And secondly how does it work? Not to worry – it is entirely understandable that you might ask these questions as this is something that […]

In this Startup Story, our series of inspirational interviews with people who have taken the plunge and started up their own business, we chat with Jessal Shah – the entrepreneur behind Mayfair FX.

Airbnb, Uber, Netflix, Zopa, Zipcar, Spotify and Lending Club. These companies, and many others like them, are a part of what is known as the ‘sharing economy’. This has become an extremely widely used term,  but nevertheless,  it’s important to understand exactly how this phenomenon came about. Celine Herweijer of PWC manages to summarise its meaning […]

After last week’s hiatus – looking at the VW crisis – The Week in Startups returns for your usual fix of all the latest news in the SME world. In another boost for small businesses a large European bank has agreed to invest in a very popular peer-to-peer platform. At MadeSimple we believe in the importance of our […]

The ‘Company Details’ page is the go-to place for all information on your limited company. As well as being able to view a multitude of info, it also allows you to make various changes/updates to the company. For example, you could appoint a new director, change the registered office, file an annual return and more. To […]

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.

We’re constantly looking at ways that we can improve our company formation process, making it easier for our customers to successfully set up their limited companies. 

Are you considering forming a Private Company Limited by Guarantee (a good model for non-profit making organisations)? Great. In this blog post we’ll look at the information you need to get the company started.

At MadeSimple Group we want to help you create the best business possible, and part of that is keeping you informed and aware of any fraud that might occur.

At Company Formation MadeSimple we’re proud to offer a great deal of freedom and flexibility for your business, whatever type of company you choose. Although a large segment of our customers are interested in setting up a limited company, we also make an effort to cater for those with more specific business needs.

We live in a globalised age of digital communications and multiple interacting networks. There are a huge amount of businesses within these networks, and it’s plain to see that you need to slot in within this framework and find your niche to become a successful company.

When you register a company, it is often a very exciting time. You’ve come to the point that you need to officially put your business on the books – and set it up as a legitimate company. It’s quite a momentous occasion, especially if it is your first business.

Filing an annual return is one of the most important parts of running a good business. Not only is it important, but it is essential and indeed compulsory to file one – even for dormant companies There is no getting around it, you are going to have to file a return – luckily with the […]

One of the best things about being in a global economy with all of the communications and digital possibilities of the modern age is that companies can invest internationally. Trading with the world is now a possibility for companies of all shapes and sizes.

Many people have ambitions of running their own business, however it can sometimes be tricky to navigate the waters of bureaucracy and make sure you tick all the right boxes.

We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded the Gold Trusted Merchant Accreditation by Feefo. Who are Feefo? They are a ‘Global ratings and reviews provider’. After a customer has successfully formed a limited company with our services, they are invited to rate our system as one of the following: Excellent Good Poor Bad […]

The Final Summary page is the last step before your company formation application is sent to Companies House. The purpose of the page is to give you the opportunity to review – and change if necessary – the information that you have provided. The summary page is broken up into eight sections, hence 8 reasons […]

Incorporation of a limited company through our systems is, as our name suggests, a simple process. However, this simplicity can lead to points being overlooked that can have a negative impact on your company. This can lead to unnecessary stress and focus being diverted away from the more important matters of running your business. The […]

On 8th June 2014, Companies House introduced a new system that will see company formations being rejected if the company includes a director who is an “Undischarged Bankrupt” – meaning that they’re going through the bankruptcy process. This is because undischarged bankrupts can not act as limited company directors. Now, Companies House will reject the […]

Since 2014, formation agents have reported a record number of companies being formed each month, compared to figures from previous years. This can be attributed to a variety of factors, but ultimately what emerges is a renewed sense of optimism and confidence by the public in the current economic climate. We are by no means […]

If you have formed a limited company, you have two filing obligations with Companies House; annual returns and annual accounts. Due to the wording, these two are often mistaken for each other – the aim of this post is to put an end to this confusion! Annual Returns The return is a yearly update with […]

When forming a limited company you need to choose how many shares to allocate to your shareholders. The number of shares that you allocate multiplied by the value of these shares makes up the company’s share capital. It’s very easy to add new shares If you wish to add new shares to the company once […]

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 […]

Ever wondered what the difference between a limited company subscriber and a limited company shareholder is? Watch team member Sinead’s explanation below! Brought to you by Mathew Aitken at … For the start-up onwards. We provide services that make business simple: Company Formations, Virtual Offices, Company Credit Reports & more. — MadeSimpleGroup (@MadeSimpleGroup) August 14, […]

We offer a whole range of postage services. Because of this, it’s important that you know exactly what mail is included in each service. Let’s get started.

The Company Register is a physical register that comes as part of our Ultimate Company Registration Package; it can also be purchased separately from our General Company Products area for £24.99 plus VAT. As described on our General Company Products page, the Company Register is; “A stylish register to store all of your official statutory […]

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 […]

Brought to you by Mathew Aitken at … For the start-up onwards. We provide services that make business simple: Company Formations, Virtual Offices, Company Credit Reports & more. — MadeSimpleGroup (@MadeSimpleGroup) August 14, 2013 Find me on Google+ Keep up to date. Subscribe to our RSS.

We have compared the Companies House formation statistics for 2013 with those for the previous year. Here’s what we found: • 517,210 companies were formed in 2013 compared with 479,545 in 2012. • The only month in 2013 that saw fewer companies formed than its 2012 counterpart is March. The difference being 1,613 companies. • […]

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 […]

Our registered office service is available to anyone who has a UK limited company – it doesn’t matter if you’ve formed your company with us or not. If you formed your limited company with us and now want to use our registered office service: • Log in • Select ‘Buy Now’ here; Registered Office Service […]

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 […]

Welcome Daniel Abrahams and Stevan Litobac are the co-Founders of MyCurrencyTransfer.com & MyTravelMoney.co.uk. Founded in September 2010 (with a little help from Companies Made Simple!), the award winning foreign exchange comparison site helps over 100,000 visitors per month find a fairer, cheaper and more transparent deal on currency. Last October, the site won an OPP […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

If you have used one of our annual return services to file an AR01 with Companies House (for more information on our two annual return services take a look here), here’s how to view it once accepted: • Login to Companies Made Simple • Select “My Companies” • Click on the company name • Scroll […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

A subscriber of a limited company is someone who was shareholder at the time of the company’s incorporation. Our company admin portal has a field dedicated to subscribers that includes their name, share information and the option to download a copy of their share certificate. This field is static and can’t be removed, even if […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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” […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

The company number is a unique reference number supplied by Companies House upon company incorporation. The company number is not allocated randomly, it is sequential. The beginning of the number depends upon the incorporation type: • England and Wales Limited by Share companies start with 0 although this is often removed • Scottish Limited by […]

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 […]

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 […]

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

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

A company’s share capital is the total value of shares that it has issued to its shareholders. So, if a company has issued one share worth £1, the share capital would be £1. If a company has issued three shares worth £2 the share capital would be £6. The number of shareholders is irrelevant. Number […]

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 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 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 […]

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 […]

You can carry out various admin tasks for your limited company via our online admin portal. This includes Director changes such as: Appointing New Directors To add a new Director simply select “Appoint New Director”.

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 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 […]

After forming a UK limited company you may notice that our company admin system (login and click on your company name) has a field entitled “Registered In”. Obviously this means the country where the company was formed but there are some things worth noting: • A company registered with a registered office based in England […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Yes, another post about filing obligations! Once a UK limited company is formed, it has two filing obligations with Companies House: • Annual Returns: A snapshot of the company’s current appointment, address and share situation. “What if the company is dormant”? It doesn’t matter; if you wish to keep the company going a return is […]

Once you have formed a limited company with us, you will have access to your very own company admin portal. This page contains various details regarding your limited company; it also allows you to make numerous changes to your company. If you’re on the company admin page and you notice that the “Nature of Business” […]

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 […]

If you would like for us to remove a company from your account, be it because it’s dissolved or simply nothing to do with you anymore, simply email your request and we’ll take care of the rest. It’s as easy as that! This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple […]

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

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 […]

When Companies House produce the Certificate of Incorporation, the company number does not start with a zero. However, when you search the Companies House WebCheck, it does start with a zero. So which is correct? Both. They are the same thing; you are free to write it with or without the zero. 

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 […]

Last Updated: 15/12/2014 A very brief post today; all of our company formation packages include the £13 Companies House fee as part of the quoted price. We do not provide a quote and then add the fee on just before payment is made, it is already included. No hidden costs! This post was brought to […]

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 […]

If you wish to remove a shareholder the first thing you need to consider is who is going to receive the share (limited companies can’t have unallocated shares)? Therefore you need to complete a stock transfer form; this demonstrates the movement of the share. Click here for more information on our stock transfer service: Transfer […]

Yes they can! Our Service Address Service is open to: • Directors • Secretaries • Shareholders Just one purchase of the service (per year) is required to use the address for all of the above. For more information on the service click here: Service Address Service This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken […]

We have withdrawn our CT41G assistance service until further notice. This is because HMRC have changed the processes for new limited companies and no longer send out the CT41G form for completion. We shall keep you updated on any developments. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The […]

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.

Our online admin portal, open to customers and non customers alike (login or sign-up here), relies upon us having a valid Companies House WebFiling authentication code for your company. If the code our system holds has expired, you can update this by clicking the “Update Code” link from the company admin page. Once clicked simply […]

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 […]

We have added a new selection of “ shelf” companies for customers who do not wish to form a brand new limited company but would rather take over an existing one. For more information on our shelf companies click here: “Our Shelf Companies: Some Information” To buy a company click here: Shelf Companies This post was brought to […]

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 […]

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 […]

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

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

We’re delighted to announce that we have now formed over 250,000 Limited Companies! We are extremely proud of this landmark (a quarter of a million!) and wish to thank all of our customers for helping us reach this mammoth figure! This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The […]

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 […]

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 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 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 […]

We have just added a new batch of companies to our list of “Shelf Companies”: Kangertoo Ltd Pudfellas Ltd Nish Burger Ltd Constant Refresh Ltd Lukes Racquet Ltd Slantenchant Ltd Westeros Ltd Revolucian Ltd Tiptoptap Ltd Prittee Ltd Our Shelf Companies are all dormant and completely up to date with their filing obligations. For more information or to […]

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 All of our company formation services include the £13 Companies House fee as part of the quoted price. We do not add hidden costs at the transaction stage of your company formation. It’s as simple as that! This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The […]

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 […]

Last Updated: 25/09/2014 If you are signed up to our ICAEW accredited Company Secretarial System (it’s free to sign up to and free to use), you can choose how you view your limited companies. Once logged in simply click the arrows next to “Company Name” to sort by alphabetical order, “Company No.” to sort by […]

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 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 […]

If you have a registered office service with us and you wish to change the address where we forward on your Companies House and HMRC mail, simply do the following: • Login at Companies Made Simple • Select “My Details” • Edit the address to your new address Hey presto! All Companies House and HMRC […]

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 have added a new batch of customer reviews and testimonials to our aptly named “Reviews & Testimonials” page. The latest additions are admittedly all positive but we do also add negative reviews when they come in and also comment on the reviews when we see fit. Read the latest reviews and testimonials now: Reviews […]

Last Updated: 25/09/2014 All of our UK limited by share company formation packages include digital copies of share certificates for each shareholder. To view and download your share certificate all you need to do is: • Login to your Companies Made Simple account • Select “My Companies” • Click on the relevant company name • […]

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 […]

When you are carrying out admin for your limited company on our online admin system, you may notice the “Update Code” option next to the “Web Filing Authentication Code” area. This section is for changing an old code to a new one that has been provided to you already by Companies House. It is not […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

If it has you can easily update it on our system. All you need to do is: • Login at Companies Made Simple • Select “My Companies” • Click on the company who you wish to update the code for • Select “Update Code” – enter the new code Please note that this can’t be […]

Last Updated: 17/09/2014 The SAIL address (or the Single Alternative Inspection Location) is the address where registers and records are stored if they’re not kept at the registered office (it must be UK based). It is a completely optional address. To let Companies House know if you have a SAIL address, or to notify them […]

Last Updated: 17/09/2014 If you are using our Online Admin Portal to resign an existing company director and to appoint a new one, it’s important that you go about this the correct way. Once logged into you company’s admin page: Do select “Resign” next to the director you wish to resign. Once pending with Companies […]

Our “How It Works” page details the four step process required to form a UK Limited Company with us. As our name would suggest, the company formation process is extremely simple, but, if more help is required the page breaks the formation process up into four easy steps: 1. Search 2. Select 3. Buy 4. […]

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 […]

We’ve now updated our “Companies Made Simple Reviews” page so that it includes reviews as recent as the 27th of March. The page contains both positive and negative reviews (from customers) of our services as well as comment from us where we see fit. We’re constantly monitoring the page so that we know what areas of […]

Last Updated: 17/09/2014 If you wish to transfer a limited company from one account with us to another all you need to do is the following; email [email protected] from the email address of the account where the company currently sits requesting the company be moved to another email address. We’ll take care of the rest. […]

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 […]

Our ICAEW accredited Company Secretarial System is designed for customers who administer and/or form numerous limited companies. It’s completely free to sign up to and boasts numerous features, one of which is the “My Credit” option. “My Credit” means that once logged in you have the facility to add an amount of credit of your […]

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 […]

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 […]

Last Updated: 17/09/2014 If you would prefer to step into an already set-up limited company rather than form a brand new one, our Shelf Companies are ideal. We’ve a whole host of dormant companies formed for the sole purpose of selling on at a later date. None of our Shelf Companies have traded before and all of […]

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 […]

If you’re on Companies Made Simple and have a question regarding our company formations or any of our other services, try using our “Live Chat” facility. Live chat means that you can have an online conversation with a member of our team whilst sat in front of your computer. Simply click “Live Chat” (located at […]

If your limited company was formed by us (if it wasn’t click here), did you know that you can update your Director and Secretary information with Companies House via our online admin portal? To do this simply login at Companies Made Simple, access “My Companies” and click on the relevant company. From this page you […]

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 […]

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 […]

When it comes to company formations, we offer two different address services: • The Registered Office Service • The Service Address Service Our Registered Office service allows you to use our address (20-22 Wenlock Road, London, N1 7GU) as your company’s official address with Companies House. Any mail from HMRC or Companies House that comes […]

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  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  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 […]

Yes, yes, we’re always banging on about Annual Returns and Annual Accounts, but for good reason. Missing your Annual Return due date will result in threatening letters from Companies House which may result in a fine and ultimately being struck off whilst filing your Annual Accounts late will definitely result in a fine.

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 […]

Last month we posted about the common misconception that dormant companies don’t have to file annual returns. Today we’re posting about another similar and just as common misconception; that dormant companies are not required to file annual accounts with Companies House. Dormant companies have the same filing obligations with Companies House as trading companies (annual […]

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 […]

If you are forming a Private Company Limited By Shares with us, the company must end in the prefix Limited or Ltd. There’s absolutely no difference between Limited and Ltd, it is purely aesthetic. When searching to see if your proposed name is available from our homepage you don’t have to enter Limited or Ltd, […]

It’s great to see so many of you using the different Social Media channels to contact us, but we want more! If you’ve a quick question regarding any of our services why not reach for your mouse and contact us online? We pride ourselves on our speedy response times, so next time you’ve a question […]

We have made a minor change to the company formation process that allows you to view our standard memorandum and articles (the memorandum and articles we use are the model articles as provided by Companies House with a “templated” memorandum attached) before you submit the application to Companies House. To view the document simply click […]

Our free Online Admin Portal is a fantastic resource for managing your limited company. Every company that is formed with us is given free access to the portal which allows you to make various changes to your company such as: • Change of Registered Office • Change of Appointments (Director & Secretary) • Return Of […]

We have just added ten new limited companies to our list of available “shelf” companies. All formed on the 26th of January, the new companies are: TREADTHROUGH LTD TWINT LTD MINTEDMIND LTD SLASHTECH LTD SUNDIAL STRATEGIC LTD IMPERATIVE FUSION LTD DATA EXCERPTS LTD FUTURES ADVANCED LTD FUNDER ROAD LTD TIME TO GO UN LTD For […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  We’re delighted to announce that our FREE domain name with Namesco offer has been opened up to all our Company Registration Packages. Previously the offer was included in everything but the Printed Package but being the generous types, we’ve made the offer available to all packages (UK Limited by Share packages). For more […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  We know that forming a company, whilst extremely simple (when using us!), is a big step. That’s why we have pages dedicated to providing you with answers to any questions or concerns you have about starting a limited company. • The Facts A one-stop-shop for all things UK limited company. If you […]

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 […]

If you have formed your limited company with us and have misplaced the certificate of incorporation or the memorandum and articles, don’t worry, you can download them from our company admin portal. To locate your company documents: • Login at CompaniesMadeSimple • Select “My Companies” • Click on your company name • The documents can […]

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 […]

Gone are the days of filling out paper forms for Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) formations! We now offer an online facility which not only simplifies the formation process but also speeds it up (the company is normally formed within three working hours). As part of the move from paper to online, we’ve also been able […]

Last Updated: 16/09/2014  Your Limited Company’s WebFiling code is your (and your company’s) key to online filing. And like a key you’ve got be careful with it. If someone has your WebFiling code they can do all sorts to your company including: • Change Directors • Change the Registered Office • File Annual Returns This […]

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 As posted last week, we can now form Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) online as one of our online company formation services. To form an LLP (once the service has been purchased): • From “My Companies” click on “Change your LLP company name” • Click “change company name” and enter your chosen company […]

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 […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 As the New Year approaches, it’s out with the old and in with the new at Companies Made Simple. We‘re delighted to announce that we can now form Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP’s) online in just three working hours. This is opposed to the old paper forms that were both time consuming and […]

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 As well as offering a Registered Office service we also offer a Service Address service. The Service Address is the official address for a company director. With our service you can use our N1 address rather than your own address which goes some way in protecting your personal address from the public register. […]

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 […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 If you have just bought a service from us, be sure to check your email account. A number of our services require action on your part after purchase; if action is required we will send detailed instructions to you via email. Services that require action include (to mention just a few): • […]

The latest batch of reviews have been uploaded to our Reviews & Testimonials page. As per normal, for full transparency we have posted both positive and negative reviews. You’ll also notice that where we’ve seen fit, we’ve commented on reviews. All Companies Made Simple customers are given the option to write a review once they […]

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 […]

We have now added Google Plus to our extensive list of contact options. So if you’re on Goggle Plus, simply click the Google Plus option on the right hand side of Companies Made Simple and +1 us! Feel free to leave feedback or any other comments on our wall. As well as Google Plus you […]

We’ve given our Company Formation Packages Page a bit of a freshen-up this last week. We’ve made the page much clearer to understand by reducing the size of the Company Formation Packages table and added a hover feature; if you’re not sure what a feature is, simply hover over it and a box will pop […]

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 This is one of our customer’s most common concerns, but it needn’t be. The Companies House status “Active” does not mean that the limited company is trading; it just means that the company is “live” and not in liquidation or being struck off. Tomorrow we shall look at how to let Companies […]

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 your company is dormant and the due date for your annual accounts is nearing, don’t panic, we can help! With our Dormant Company Accounts Service we will file the accounts with Companies House on your behalf. All we need is a valid Webfiling Authentication Code (if we formed your company we’ll […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 Once you have formed your Limited Company with us, we will automatically set your company up on our free Online Admin Portal. From here you can carry out various admin duties on your Limited Company such as: • Appoint Directors • Resign Directors • Appoint Secretaries • Resign Secretaries • Update Director […]

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 […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 We offer a variety of services that require annual renewal. Such services include; Registered Office, Service Address, Nominee Services and some of our Company Formation packages. If the time has come for you to renew a service, simply visit our renewals page and pick up the renewal that you require. Once you […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 We’ve just added some new companies to our Shelf Companies List! The new companies are: JASMINE DECOR HOUSE LTD LEATHER AND STUDS LIMITED SWEET ADDICTION CLOTHING LTD LIGHTHOUSE BOOKS LIMITED GREYHOUND WORKWEAR LIMITED GREEN VALLEY COMMUNICATIONS LTD BAREFOOT ADVENTURES LIMITED BIOTEC HEALTHCARE SERVICES LIMITED MEDITERRANEAN BAKERS LTD LEGEND BIOTECH LTD For more information, […]

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 […]

Companies Made Simple has taken the next step into the Social Media universe. We’re now on Google Plus! If you’re already on Google Plus, why not visit our homepage and click the +1 box located under “The Simplest Company Formation Agent” at the top of the page? Google Plus Us! This post was brought to […]

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 […]

Another day, another exciting partnership to announce! We can now offer Companies Made Simple customers a free 60 day trial with KashFlow, providers of online “Accounting Software for Small & Medium Size Businesses”. Once the trial period is up we can offer a special price of £14.99 per month. For more information, or to sign-up […]

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 […]

Last Updated: 12/09/2014 Companies Made Simple are delighted to announce a brand new partnership with premier domain name provider, Names.co.uk. Forming a limited company and registering a domain name go hand in hand, especially today when online business is so important. A free .co.uk domain name is included as part of all our company registration packages. For more […]

New reviews have been posted on our “Companies Made Simple Reviews” page. We’re constantly updating the reviews page to show both positive and negative reviews that we have received. Here’s a selection of the latest reviews: Eric: “Fantastic. First time I’ve formed a company, I found your site full of useful information that was easy […]

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 […]

We’ve some exciting news (well to us at least) regarding limited company share certificates and our online admin portal. Our system now automatically creates share certificates when a shareholder change has taken place (via the annual return). Even if your company wasn’t formed by us but has been imported onto our system, we’ll still create […]

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 […]

If you have requested a change to your Companies House WebFiling Authentication Code, or your previous code had expired, you can now update the code via our system. Once you have received the letter from Companies House with the new code, simply: • Login • Select the relevant company from “My Companies” • Select the […]

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 […]

Our free to use company name search engine searches the Companies House system for any names that match your proposed name, we can then let you know if your name is available or not. If it is available, great, if not we’ll give you a list of familiar names that are also taken. Try it […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 It’s not just companies limited by shares and companies limited by guarantee that we form; we also set up Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP). Our Limited Liability Partnership service includes: • 3 hour online formation • Free LLP agreement • Hard copy of the Certificate of Incorporation • Free domain name and adwords voucher For more […]

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 […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 Companies House have introduced new 5 digit SIC codes to replace the existing 4 digit codes. View the full list of new SIC codes here. Not sure what the SIC code is? Click here. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The Simplest Company Formation […]

Did you know that it’s possible to change your Companies House webfiling code? Very handy if you administer a number of limited companies and want one standard authentication code. To find out how to do this click here. If you do change your Companies House webfiling authentication code please remember to let us know the […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 When you login to your account at Companies Made Simple, you may notice at the top of the page in bright orange font “Your Action is Required”, this means one of three things: • You have bought a company formation service with us but you have not yet completed the company formation […]

We’re absolutely delighted to announce that Companies Made Simple is now the approved company formation partner of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. This relationship is a testament to our formation services and procedures that have formed over 250,000 companies in the UK. For more information on this fantastic news click here. […]

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. […]

On top of email, telephone and Social Media Sites (follow us on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook), we also offer a “Live Chat” facility. Simply click “Live Chat” at the top of our homepage and type away, your query will be directed straight to us and we’ll soon get back to you with a […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 Amongst many other things, our ICAEW accredited cosec (Company Secretarial) system allows you to form Limited Companies. To purchase one of our cosec formation packages: 1. Login 2. Select the “Form a Company” tab 3. Enter the proposed company name 4. Choose a formation package 5. Make payment (or pay on account) […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 A Limited Company is said to be in “Good Standing” if all filing obligations with Companies House have been met and there are no inconsistencies with the information held at Companies House. If this is the case then the company qualifies for a Certificate of Good Standing. The certificate contains information on […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 When it comes to forming Limited By Share Companies, we offer 5 different packages: • Basic – £16.99 • Printed – £29.99 • Privacy – £49.99 • Comprehensive – £129.99 • Ultimate – £199.99 If you want to form a Limited Company then there’ll be a package that suits you. To compare packages see our register […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 If you have a Limited Company on our system (or numerous Limited Companies) then you want our system to be completely up to date and hold the information Companies House hold. To make sure this is the case login, access “My Companies”, click on the relevant company and the click on “Sync […]

Companies House will not allow you to be a Limited Company Director if you are: • Bankrupt • Banned by Court from being a Director • Under 16 years of age Last Updated: 11/09/2014 This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The Simplest Company Formation Service Keep up […]

Yesterday we brought you the fantastic news that our Company Name Search App is now available on Android Marketplace. Well the news gets even better, Our Tax Saver UK App is also now available on Android Marketplace! Check if you are better off as a sole trader or a Limited Company whilst on the move […]

We’re delighted to announce that our Company Name Search Application is now available on the Andoid Market! This means you can now search the availability of your proposed Limited Company name whilst on the move with both the iPhone and Android Devices. For more information on the FREE app, or to download the app, click […]

We’ve created a brand new “Why choose us” page to demonstrate why, if you’re forming a Limited Company, you should choose Companies Made Simple as your company formation agent. You can view the page here. And if you still need convincing you can also take a look at our most recent reviews and testimonials. This […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 One of the most common questions we are asked is “how many people does it take to form a limited company?” Well the answer is just one person. In a limited company one person can act as: • Director • Shareholder • Secretary (optional) To start the company formation process click here. […]

We’re constantly updating our reviews page to show the latest comments from our customers. Both positive and negative reviews are posted plus we’ll comment on reviews when necessary. And of course, every review is genuine. Read the latest reviews. This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The Simplest […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 Our Cosec (Company Secretarial) System, the only secretarial software accredited by ICAEW, is constantly being updated with new benefits and features. The latest upgrade is the ability to update all your Limited Companies (on our system) with Companies House, providing you with the latest up-to-date due dates for annual returns and annual […]

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 You may know about our “company name availability” search box but did you know we have a site search box too? Located on the top right corner of Companies Made Simple the search box can be used to search for products, information and anything else relevant to Company Formation. If it’s on […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 If you want to protect your director’s address from the public register then our Director’s Service Address Service is ideal. For just £49.99 per year we’ll allow you to use our address as the Service Address for all your company directors – rather than residential addresses. For more information or to buy […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 We want our customers to know if forming a Limited Company is right for them. That’s why we’ve a page dedicated to the UK Limited Company. Everything you could want to know about forming a Limited is on this page and what’s more, you can also download “The Facts Whitepaper”. Visit THE […]

As well as being able to upload companies (all you need is the company number and authentication code), our ICAEW Company Secretarial System also allows you to remove companies. So if you do not carry out admin for a limited company anymore: 1. Login 2. Select “My Companies” 3. Select the company you wish to […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 We provide 2 different online Annual Return Services: the DIY Annual Return Service (£30) & the Standard Annual Return Service (£40). Today we shall look at how our Standard Annual Return Service works. Once the purchase for the service has been made, our team will look at your annual return due date. […]

Our ICAEW Company Secretarial Management System is designed for everyone who administers numerous Limited Companies. As you would expect from us, the system is ridiculously simple to use, but just in case it’s not simple enough, we’ve made a video demo that shows exactly how the system works. View the demo now. This post was […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 This is important! Annual Returns and Annual Accounts are two completely different filing obligations Limited Companies have with Companies House. Two of our Limited Company packages (Comprehensive & Ultimate) come with an Annual Return Service, none come with a Company Accounts service. Regardless of the trading status (trading or dormant) of your Limited Company, […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 All the Limited Companies that we form are registered for Companies House webfiling, we do not however register YOU for webfiling. Registering a company for webfiling is different from registering a person. When a company is registered for webfiling it is given a company authentication code (this can be viewed on your […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 Our Online Admin Portal is an excellent tool when it comes to administering Limited Companies. With the Portal you can make appointments, complete resignations, change appointee information, update the registered office, change the accounting reference date, file a return of allotments of shares and file an annual return (for a small fee). […]

Did you know that Companies Made Simple provide Company Secretarial Management Software and what’s more, it’s the only software of its type accredited by ICAEW? The system is ideal for all ICAEW members who administer numerous Limited Companies. Via the system you can: • Appoint/Resign Directors • Appoint /Resign Secretaries • Change Director/Secretary information • […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 Not only do we form Companies Limited by Shares and Companies Limited By Guarantee, we can also assist with the formation of Offshore Companies. We provide offshore service in the following places: Anguilla Belize Seychelles For more information on our offshore services, click here. This post was brought to you by Mathew […]

Sorry,  we no longer offer the assistance service as HMRC no longer uses this paper form. Let’s face it, no one likes filling out forms. That’s why we’ve launched the CT41G Assistance Service. The CT41G is sent by HMRC to all new Limited Companies a few weeks after incorporation. With our assistance service (£10), all […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 If a director of your Limited Company changes their name (marriage etc), changing the name with Companies House on the Companies Made Simple portal is extremely simple: 1. Login 2. Select “My Companies” & choose the relevant Limited Company 3. Select “Edit” next to the Director whose name you wish to change […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 If you have completed a Return of Allotment Shares for your Limited Company your next step should be to create share certificates for your new shareholder/s. You can now download a share certificate template from your Companies Made Simple Dashboard under the option “Statutory Forms”. Simply open up the document, enter the […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 We have a number of Limited Companies set up for the sole purpose of selling on at a later date as “Shelf Companies”. When you buy a vintage company, we will: • Update the Registered Office • Update the Director Information • Complete a Stock Transfer form detailing the transfer of the […]

Yes, we’ve mentioned it before but something this useful is worth shouting about. Our Sole Trader v Limited Company calculator tells you if you’re better off as a sole trader or as a Limited Company. All you have to do is enter your predicted annual profits and we’ll do the rest. Try the calculator out […]

Sorry, we can no longer offer a HSBC Business Bank Account. If you are using our White Label Company Formation Service on your website, you can now enable and disable the HSBC banking option. To do this: 1. Login at our Affiliate Site 2. Select “White Label” 3. On the left-hand side of the screen […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 When buying a service with Companies Made Simple, we will never charge the Companies House filing fee on top of the quoted price. The filing fee will always be included. No hidden costs! This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The Simplest Company Formation Service […]

Companies Made Simple has launched a site dedicated to affiliate marketing opportunities! Our Affiliate Marketing Made Simple page outlines the various affiliate opportunities currently available, including: • White Label Company Formation • Sole Trader vs. Limited Company “widget” • Affiliate Links Over the coming weeks we’ll go into much more detail in regards to these […]

Last Updated: 11/09/2014 One feature that sets our ICAEW accredited company secretarial system apart from our standard system is the ability to add and pay for limited company formations with “credit”. Rather than pay for each individual formation as you go, you can add credit and then knock the cost of future formations off of […]

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 […]

If you want exposure for your business the best way of doing this is through networking. But where exactly is the best place to do this? Firstly exhibitions, local and national events and trade fairs are powerful things. They allow your business to become more ‘personable’ and allow you to get stuck in with your […]

The government has recently announced that it plans to cut 160 burdensome regulations as part of the ‘Red Tape Challenge’. Following the launch of the Red Tape Challenge website, businesses are invited to share their opinions and views on the rules and regulations that they deem difficult or redundant, eventually resulting in a break down […]

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”.

Did you know that our site has an area dedicated to customer reviews and testimonials? Our reviews page is constantly updated with the latest feedback from our customers. And whilst we’re always delighted to read nice things about our services, we recognise the importance of negative feedback as it helps us to develop and improve […]

Last Updated: 10/09/2014 As well as forming Private Limited by Share Companies, we also form Limited by Guarantee Companies. Here’s how. 1. Purchase our Limited by Guarantee Service 2. You will be directed to your Dashboard – select “Continue” next to “Please Choose a Company Name Limited” 3. Next to “Please Choose a Company Name […]

Last Updated: 10/09/2014 Our free Company Admin Portal is a valuable resource for your Limited Company. Through the portal you can: • Appoint/Resign Directors • Appoint/Resign Secretaries • Update Director/Secretary information • Update the Registered Office • Complete a Return of Allotment of Shares • Change your Accounting Reference Date • File an Annual Return […]

Well first off, ask us if we have it. We hold authentication codes for all the limited companies that we form. If however, the code we have has expired, simply: 1. Register for Companies House WebFiling 2. Sign in to Companies House WebFiling 3. Select “Forgotten your authentication code?” 4. Select if the authentication code […]

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 […]

The team at the Made Simple Group recently got together with James Bland, owner of SweetBar, to congratulate him on being our Small Business of the Year 2010 winner and to have a quick chat with him about his business.

Last Updated: 09/09/2014 Our DIY Annual Return service is very simple to use. However, just in case you’ve purchased the service and are having problem, here’s a quick walkthrough:

The latest video in our “All you need to know” series has just been added to our YouTube channel. “All you need to know about Forming a Limited Company with Companies Made Simple” gives you a breakdown of how our formation process works. View the video here: “All you need to know about Forming a […]

Did you know that you can change the accounting reference date for your Limited Company with us? Here’s how: • Login • Select “My Companies” – choose the relevant company • Next to “Accounting Reference Date” select “Change Date” • Enter the new date and select “Send” The application to change the date is then […]

Last Updated: 08/09/2014 We receive many calls from customers concerned that when on the Companies House webcheck, the status of their company is shown as “Active”, despite the fact their company is dormant. This is no cause for alarm. This status has nothing to do with the trading status of the company; it just means […]

Our ICAEW accredited Company Secretarial System lets you import companies that were not formed with us onto the system, free of charge. This allows you to carry out various admin tasks (all free unless otherwise stated) such as: • Appoint / Resign Directors • Appoint / Resign Secretaries • Update appointee information • Update Registered […]

The third in our “All you need to know” video series has just been uploaded to our YouTube Channel. Titled “All you need to know about… The Certificate of Incorporation” the video sees myself (so be kind!) talk about the Limited Company Certificate of Incorporation. View the video here: “All you need to know about… […]

There are numerous statutory duties that apply to directors, many linked to defaults by the company. If a private company offers shares to the public, the company ’and any officer of the company in default‘, are guilty. However, there are some duties, whose breach is a criminal offence, that apply only to directors. One of […]

Each director of a Limited Company must act in accordance with what he or she believes to be the best interests of the company. Directors must not place themselves in a position in which there is a conflict between their duties to the company and their personal interests. For example, in a take-over bid, the […]

Last month we announced SweetBar as our Small Business of the Year winner for 2010. The team at Companies Made Simple were delighted to welcome James Bland, owner of SweetBar, at our offices for a quick chat and to award him his fantastic prizes! He is now the proud owner of a beautiful glass trophy […]

Our ICAEW accredited Company Secretarial System has a number of features designed to make your life easier. In this series of posts we intend to highlight different areas of the system and explain how to use the features. In this post we shall look at the “My Details” area. When you login for the cosec […]

Easy! 1. Login at Companies Made Simple 2. Click “My Companies” 3. Select the relevant company 4. Scroll down to “My Company Documents”, select “view” next to the desired document, the document will then be downloaded Last Updated: 08/09/2014 This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple – The Simplest […]

Legislation protecting and controlling the employment of individuals has been considerable over the last few years. It is particularly important that however few employees you intend to take on, you take appropriate advice to ensure that you comply with all legislation particularly with regard to: • The recruitment process • Terms and conditions of employment […]

Last Updated: 08/09/2014 When forming your Limited Company with us, it’s possible that you have to upload extra company documents before submission to Companies House. These could be your own memorandum and articles (although we do provide standard memorandum and articles for you to use) or supporting documents because your company contains a reserved word. […]

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 […]

Are you better off as a Sole Trader or as a Limited Company? That’s the exact question we can answer with our Sole Trader v Limited Company calculator. Simply enter your annual profits, hit “Calculate” and we’ll give you a detailed breakdown helping you make that all-important decision. Try it now! Sole Trader or Limited […]

We’ve just posted a new video to our YouTube Channel, “All you need to know about… The Annual Return”. The video is the second in our “All you need to know” video series and sees Claudia talk expertly about the Annual Return. View the video here: “All you need to know about… The Annual Return” […]

Serviced offices are a very flexible and attractive option for new start ups and those who want something more than that offered by working at home and/or using a virtual office. It is particularly of interest where people need to collaborate on projects. Many serviced offices around the country offer short-term licenses with little or […]

Small Business of the Year 2010 has a winner! We saw many fantastic entries submitted and the judges had a difficult time choosing a winner. However, SweetBar Limited, owned by James Bland, fought off the competition and is crowned our Small Business of the Year 2010! Since incorporation in 2010 and in just six months […]

Regular readers of our blog will be aware of our “All you need to know about” series of microsites (example “All you need to know about… Dormant Company Accounts”). We’ve now taken the same idea, but transferred it to videos. The first video concentrates on the Registered Office and is aptly titled “All you need […]

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 […]

It’s an easy mistake to make (although we always stress the importance of double-checking formation documents, online or not). You appoint one shareholder with 50 shares worth £1 and another shareholder with 1 share worth £50 therefore accidentally creating 2 share classes. So what should you do in this situation? Simply file an annual return […]

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 […]

We’ve just launched the seventh page in our “All you need to know” micro-site series. Company Formation with Bank Account tells you everything you need to know about forming a UK Limited Company and then opening a business bank account. Company Formation with Bank Account Previous entries in the series: Register a Company Name Registering […]

Last Updated: 09/09/2014 Please note the following is for the appointment of a director once a company has been formed. A post dealing with the same situation but at incorporation shall be posted within the next few weeks. To correct the date of birth for your director follow these steps: 1. Complete a new AP01 […]

Our Company Secretarial System, the only secretarial system accredited by ICAEW (The Institute of Chartered Accountants), is aimed at anyone who administers numerous UK Limited Companies. A common issue for such people is keeping track of due dates for both the annual return and annual accounts. With the Secretarial System this in no longer an […]

Be selective about the organisations with which you intend to do business. This can be difficult if you are dependent on a few large customers or if your customer base is dwindling, but once your business has reached a manageable level of stability it is a good idea to research all prospective clients. You should: […]

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 first funding source which typically comes to mind when borrowing money is a bank (which is effectively why they are in business). Banks typically lend to small businesses on a secured basis using equipment, stock or debtors. The more liquid and readily saleable the assets you have to offer as security, the more acceptable […]

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” […]

Last Updated: 08/09/2014 Oh dear. Unlike a director or secretary appointment, an incorrect spelling for a shareholder can’t be changed with the CH01/CH03 (change of director/secretary details) form. The only way to rectify this is the following 2-step process: 1) Transfer of Shares: To transfer the share/s held by the existing shareholder (incorrect name) to the new […]

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 […]

Keeping good records is an essential aspect in running a successful business. Apart from the fact that they will form the basis of your annual accounts which need to be submitted to the tax authorities, (and Companies House if you trade as a Limited Company), they are also the only way to make meaningful decisions. […]

Earlier in the month we told you about our delight at having the only company secretarial system with an ICAEW (The Institute of Chartered Accountants) accreditation. Now, with the accreditation under our belt, we’re going to concentrate on explaining different parts of the cosec system. Today we shall look at importing companies. Our cosec system […]

Last Updated: 08/09/2014 As a director, shareholder or secretary of a limited company, there are times when you will be asked if the shares within the company are paid or unpaid. So: Paid If the total value of allocated shares within the company is paid into a nominal account, the shares are paid. Unpaid If […]

Forming a limited company and buying a domain name go hand in hand. Therefore we are delighted to announce that Companies Made Simple, partnered with domain specialists Namesco, now provide domain name services! For more information click here and select the “Domain Name – £8 for 2 years!” option. Secure your domain now! This post […]

Last Updated: 05/09/2014 There are some limitations on a UK limited company’s registered office regarding changes to the address. If a company is formed with a registered office in England, all future registered offices must be based in either England or Wales. This is the same for a company formed in Wales. A company formed […]

If you form a limited company with Companies Made Simple and opt for the free Barclays Business Bank Account, you will receive £50 cash back once the account is open. That is an increase of £15 from our previous cash back offer of £35. This means that if you choose our Basic or Printed package and also […]

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 […]

After you have formed your limited company the logical next step is to start selling your product. This is why we’ve teamed up with Amazon. Signing up on Amazon Marketplace allows our customers, new and old, the opportunity to sell their products on Amazon to 130 Million potential customers For more information click here. This […]

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 […]

Another week, another new micro-site launched! Register a Company Name tells you all you need to know about registering a company name in the UK. One page, everything there is to know! Previous entries in the “All you need to know” series: Registering a Business Name Setting Up a Limited Company Limited Companies For Sale […]

Our offices are closed on the following days over the next few weeks: Friday 22nd April Monday 25th April Friday 29th April Monday 2nd May Companies House are closed on exactly the same days, therefore any company formations submitted on these days will be processed on the next working day. From all at The Made […]

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 […]

Users of our Company Secretarial System may have noticed a few updates over the last week: • Annual Return / Annual Accounts Filter We’ve now added a toggle that allows you to filter through your companies revealing those which have filing obligations near. For the more technically inclined there’s also a “export to CSV” option”. […]

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 […]

NEWS: Companies Made Simple offers customers a ‘simple’ way to donate to charity. Matching donations pound for pound to raise money for the charity Bliss via the ‘Three Peaks in 24 hours’ challenge. DETAIL: Companies Made Simple has added an optional 20p donation to their online basket, with a commitment to match funds, pound for […]

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 […]

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

At The Made Simple Group, we love feedback. That’s why we’ve added a “feedback tag” to all the pages on www.companiesmadesimple.com. If something about a specific page bugs you, or you just want to say how great we are, simply click the tag and write down what you want. Of course this is completely anonymous. […]

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 In years gone by, company seals were mandatory for all companies to use to certify company documents. Nowadays, these are no longer compulsory but are still hugely popular with companies who use them to emboss and authenticate genuine documents such as share certificates. The company seal is available in a range of […]

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 […]

We’ve recently launched a brand new page specifically to show off our Mobile and Web Apps. Mobile Apps View the page for further information on the Company Name Search app and the Tax Saver UK app. Web App You can also view our brand new Sole Trader v Limited Company web app. View the page […]

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 […]

Prime Minister David Cameron says his government will “Back Small firms” and “Boost enterprise” as part of his growth strategy for the UK. Speaking in Cardiff on Sunday, Cameron went on to say he will “be on the side of everyone in this country who wants to create jobs, and wealth and opportunity.” The Prime […]

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 […]

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 […]

Last Updated: 26/08/2014 The process for forming a limited company based in Scotland (with Companies Made Simple) is the same as forming a limited company based in England or Wales, the only difference being that the registered office address must be based in Scotland. Our system will simply recognise the address is in Scotland and […]

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 […]

As our name suggests, we pride ourselves on being Simple. Making our processes as simple as possible for our customers is a priority. So when the “Global Brand Simplicity Index” survey was released by design agency Siegal+Gale, we were very interested. The survey questioned 6,000 consumers on all things “simple”. Not surprisingly, the findings, in […]

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 […]

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 […]

Last Updated: 21/08/2014 Due to popular demand we’ve created a package that includes everything you’ll need to get yourself up and running as a sole trader; • HMRC Registration – We send you a 1 page form, you simply return this to us • Barclays Business Bank Account • Business Start Up Guide • How […]

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 + […]

A quick update on our new search function. We now have a search box on the top-right corner of Companies Made Simple so it’s even easier for you to search our site for services and information. Give it a go! This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple Keep up […]

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 […]

Innovative small businesses will have the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a panel of experts, similar to the popular TV show Dragon’s Den, from April. Launching in Birmingham, the initiative has been set up to “fast track” small business services thought to be innovative and beneficial to both the government and other small […]

Once you have completed the company formation process with us your company is automatically registered for Companies House WebFiling. You, however, are not yet registered for WebFiling. 

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 […]

As part of the continuous drive to improve our site, Companies Made Simple now has a wonderful new search function. If you know what service you want but just don’t know where to find it, simply pop it into the search bar and you’ll be directed to it. Try now! This post was brought to […]

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 […]

The keen-eyed amongst you will have noticed a new video embedded on our homepage. The curious amongst you will have hit play and been treated to some nice people saying some very nice things about their experiences with us. If you haven’t yet pressed play, what are you waiting for! Watch the video here. This […]

Last Updated: 21/08/2014 Not surprisingly, Companies House will not form Limited Companies with Royal connotations in the name without written permission. Therefore, if you wish to use words such as King, Queen, Prince or Princess in your company name you must seek approval from (depending on location): England & Northern Ireland – The Ministry of […]

Last Updated: 21/08/2014 If you are a director of a Limited Company you may have come across the term SAIL address. So what is this? Well first off, nothing to do with a boat. The SAIL (Single Alternative Inspection Location) address is simply the location where company registers and records are kept if they’re not […]

Franchising is a common method of registering a company  – by adopting a tried and tested formula. A franchise is a method of running an enterprise with a ‘blueprint’ designed by a franchiser licensed to the franchisee. In exchange for a fee of varying amounts, you, (the ‘franchisee’) pay a fee to the company with […]

The National Consortium of University Entrepreneurs (NACUE) is expected to announce its relaunch as a charity today. A number of private sector sponsors are also expected to be announced. NACUE currently “supports over 85 universities in stimulating student-led activity and represents the view of over 40,000 enterprising students.” This post was brought to you by […]

Last Updated: 21/08/2014 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 […]

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. 

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 […]

Last Updated: 20/08/2014 The company number is a unique 8 digit number attached to your Limited Company distributed by Companies House upon incorporation. If formed in England or Wales the number will start with a 0, some choose to show their number without this 0, this is perfectly fine. Companies formed in Scotland start with […]

Last Updated: 20/08/2014 You can’t be a Limited Company Director if you’re: a. under 16 b. currently bankrupt c. banned from being a director by court This post was brought to you by Mathew Aitken at Companies Made Simple   Keep up to date. Subscribe to our RSS

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 […]

Promising figures recently released point to an increase in start-ups in the UK. Companies House have reported that 359, 651 new companies were formed from January to November 2010. This is a 12% increase on 2009. The British Bankers’ Association have also confirmed around 570,000 companies set up bank accounts last year, the highest figure […]

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 […]

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.

Last Updated: 20/08/2014 The Certificate of Incorporation is the main document which states your limited company is in existence. It includes your company name and number. In the UK, a certificate of incorporation is usually a simple certificate issued by the relevant government registry as confirmation of the due incorporation and valid existence of the […]

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 […]

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 • […]

Last Updated: 19/08/2014 Our Reserve A Company Name Service is perfect for anyone who’s not quite sure if they want to go Limited but knows they want to put a name on hold. Just let us know what name you want and we will form the company for you, stopping anyone else from registering the name […]

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 If you are involved in a Limited Company it’s very possible that you’ve had to move shares from one person to another. Transferring shares is a two step process: 1. Complete a stock transfer form stating both the new and old shareholder and how many shares are being transferred. This form acts […]

Updated on 18/08/2014 A limited company is a separate legal entity that exists under the authority granted by statute. A limited company has substantially all of the legal rights of an individual and is responsible for its own debts. It must also file tax returns and pay taxes on the income it derives from its operations. […]

In July we launched our Reviews & Testimonials page. Open to all Companies Made Simple customers, the page invites both positive and negative reviews. So why, as one of our customers, leave feedback? • To let us know what you like about our system • To let us know what you don’t like about our […]

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 […]

At The Made Simple Group we form a number of limited companies with the intention of selling on. We call these our Shelf Companies. Of course every company needs a name and whilst we appreciate and fully understand the requirement for professional names we also like to get a bit “creative” with some names (you […]

1. Don’t just do it for the money. You really need to be passionate about whatever you do. Starting a business is rarely, if ever, an immediate route to riches. 2. Do something you know about. If you set up a limited company in something you know little or nothing about, you have made things […]

Last Updated: 20/08/2014 The company authentication code was introduced by Companies House to ensure that any instructions it received about making changes to a company had been given by authorised persons in the limited company. In the past, forms such as Form 287 (change of registered office) were sent to Companies House by bogus individuals. On […]

Updated on 18/08/2014 1. A Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) offers limited liability to its members but is tax transparent and offers flexibility in terms of its internal organisation. 2. LLPs were primarily intended for use by the professions. However, any type of business operating for profit may use LLPs. An LLP may be suitable for […]

Updated on 18/08/2014 A Company Dissolution is the process of closing your company. As outlined by Companies House, a company can only be dissolved if it: • Has not traded within the last 3 months • Has not changed the company name within the last 3 months • Is not subject to any legal proceedings, […]

According to a recent report published by the International Finance Corporation and the World Bank, the UK remains one of the world’s best countries to do business ahead of both the USA and the rest of Europe. Without doubt, part of this is due to both our own home-grown talent and entrepreneurial spirit, but also […]

Updated on 18/08/2014 Your company name is a vitally important part of your business, it makes up your identity and contributes largely to the image that you portray to your customers. With that in mind, it is wise to carefully consider your choice of name. Obviously, one could recommend simple tips such as choosing something […]

Updated on 18/08/2014 A UK Limited Company can have multiple secretaries, although having a company secretary is no longer a legal requirement. To appoint a new secretary after the company has been formed, you can submit an AP03 form to Companies House. To resign a secretary after the company has been formed, you can submit […]

Two years ago business analysts and economists alike predicted that the company formation sector would be the biggest casualty of the recession. This was mainly due to the fact that many people believed that in a context in which finance is hard to access and consumer confidence and spending is at an all time low, […]

Throughout the recession the banks have been the subject of much negative press: from bail outs and bonuses through to the head of the Bank of England’s comments on how banking was holding back enterprise. All in all, it has been a tough couple of years. However, the fact remains each company formation needs a […]

According to a recent report by the British Chamber of Commerce, the retail sector has increased its overall turnover for the second month in a row. It is a well documented fact that the British high street felt the recession in a more pronounced way than almost any other sector; indeed, both big brands such […]