Private Limited Company By Shares - Formation

Formation

To incorporate a company in the UK (other than Northern Ireland) the following documents, together with the registration fee (£40 as of August 2012), must be sent to the Registrar of Companies:

• Form IN01
• The articles of association
• The memorandum of association

The memorandum of association states the name of the company, the registered office and the company objectives. The objective of a company may simply be stated as being to carry out business as a general commercial company. The memorandum delivered to the Registrar must be signed by each subscriber in front of a witness who must attest the signature.

The articles of association govern the company's internal affairs. The company's articles delivered to the Registrar must be signed by each subscriber in front of a witness who must attest the signature.

Form IN01 states the first directors, the first secretary and the address of the registered office. Each director must give his or her name, address, date of birth, and occupation. Each officer appointed and each subscriber (or their agent) must sign and date the form.

In other jurisdictions companies must make similar applications to the relevant registrar — the Northern Ireland Registrar of Companies in Northern Ireland, the Companies Registration Office, Ireland in the Republic of Ireland, or the Registrar of Companies in India.

In reality it is far easier to contact one of the Company Registration services that can now form a company online without your written signature. Companies House now offers this service on their website using a system called business link (costing £18 as of August 2012 ), meaning this method is often cheaper.