Operating a Business

Legal Forms of Companies

Choose a legal structure for your business

Private limited company by shares or Ltd

Number of partners: One or more directors
Capital (max/min): No minimum share capital requirements, typically the minimum subscribed is GBP 1. The entire capital must be unlocked.
Shareholders and liability: Liability is limited to the amount contributed.

Public limited company (Plc)

Number of partners: One or more directors
Capital (max/min): Minimum share capital requirement is GBP 50,000 of which 25% must be paid-up
Shareholders and liability: Liability is limited to the amount contributed.

General partnership

Number of partners: At least two partners
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital requirements
Shareholders and liability: Partners' liability is joint and indefinite.

Limited liability partnership (LLP) or Limited partnership (LP)

Number of partners: At least two partners
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital requirements
Shareholders and liability: Liability is limited.

Community interest company

Number of partners: No minimum
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital requirements
Shareholders and liability: Partners' liability is joint and several

Unlimited company ou Unltd

Number of partners: No minimum
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital requirements
Shareholders and liability: Partners' liability is joint and several

The Competent Organisation

Companies House

Company Directories

Companies House website, Companies House incorporates and dissolves limited companies, registers the information companies are legally required to supply, and makes that information available to the public. Companies House is an executive agency, sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills.

Source: Doing Business, 2016