Choosing your accounting year end
Companies House normally sets a new company’s year end to the last day of its incorporation anniversary month. A company can usually change it before accounts…
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Starting a company
Practical guidance, with links to the sources and relevant IFM services.
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Company director duties in plain English
UK company directors have seven general duties under the Companies Act 2006 and remain responsible for records, accounts and filings even when work is delegated. Important…
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Director identity verification: what you must do
Companies House identity verification became mandatory from 18 November 2025. A director verifies once, receives an 11-character personal code and uses that code to connect each…
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How to set up a limited company step by step
To set up a UK private limited company, choose its ownership, directors, name, registered office, SIC code and constitutional documents, then verify identities and register with…
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Registered office and service addresses explained
A registered office is the company’s public legal address; a service address is the public correspondence address for an individual director or PSC. Both may use…
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Sole trader or limited company: which is right for you?
A sole trader owns the business personally and is responsible for its debts; a limited company is a separate legal person. Choose by weighing risk, ownership,…
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What happens after incorporation: your first-year checklist
After incorporation, secure the company documents, verify directors, open separate records and identify the trading start date. A private company normally files its first accounts within…
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