Registering a company

[alex]

I’m going to set up a limited company. Having just completed modules in business law and accounting I have a fair idea of the whole process of setting up, but I am in rented accommodation hence I can’t use my house as the registered office address. My parents’ mortgage prohibits the use of their house so are there any suggestions? There are several online services that charge around £70 (increases subsequent years) and a solicitor or accountant would charge more. Given that all I need is an address and not the full set-up service, does anyone have any similar experiences?

 

[aZooZa]

These people are good:

http://www.companiesmadesimple.com/company-formation-name-search.html

£70 to include EC1 address. They have a direct connection to CH so you can make statutory changes at their site online.

 

[alex]

These people are good:

http://www.companiesmadesimple.com/company-formation-name-search.html

£70 to include EC1 address. They have a direct connection to CH so you can make statutory changes at their site online.

Thanks for the link, I've been looking at their diamond package as £250 + VAT for 3 years is less than my solicitor so it seems a good hassle-free package. Does anyone else recommend this company, or any others, before I take the plunge?

 

[rob]

UKPLC.net are decent as well

 

[Pred]

These people are good:

http://www.companiesmadesimple.com/company-formation-name-search.html

£70 to include EC1 address. They have a direct connection to CH so you can make statutory changes at their site online.

i would say having to go with barclays is a very good reason not to use them
barclays are the spawn of satan

 

[alex]

i would say having to go with barclays is a very good reason not to use them
barclays are the spawn of satan

A Barclays account isn't compulsary is it? I would have my account with HSBC as my current business account is with them and they are perfect for what I need, my business manager is really friendly too.

I'm looking up UKPLC Rob...

 

[aZooZa]

A Barclays account isn't compulsary is it? I would have my account with HSBC as my current business account is with them and they are perfect for what I need, my business manager is really friendly too.

I'm looking UKPLC up Rob...

No - not compulsory. As pred suggests, you can ignore that demon

 

[grantw]

A Barclays account isn't compulsary is it? I would have my account with HSBC as my current business account is with them and they are perfect for what I need, my business manager is really friendly too.

I'm looking UKPLC up Rob...

The barclays account is optional. I used companies made simple myself, had no problems with their service at all.

Grant

 

[alex]

Great stuff, thanks for the confirmation. I have a friend with a Barclays account and he says they are terrible, but can't get away as he can't open another account to cover the loan he has with them which would allow him to leave them.

 

[aZooZa]

Your choice of bank is quite important for your new company Alex. I suggest you research that carefully. You can still form the company. The bank account can come at your leisure unless you are in hurry to trade.

 

[alex]

I've been selling skateboards as a sole trader since I was 14 (nothing big, but kept me out of trouble) and my intention is to put a proper shop on skate.co.uk for when I finish Uni next year. I don't need it to happen instantly, but this is the beginning of things. Unfortunately the name I want (skate UK Ltd) cannot be registered as companies house say it is too similar to 'skate llp' which is currently active. I'm just going through names, but as for trading through the company I'm not expecting it to happen for a good few months.

 

[rob]

skate.co.uk ltd?

 

[aZooZa]

I've been selling skateboards as a sole trader since I was 14 (nothing big, but kept me out of trouble) and my intention is to put a proper shop on skate.co.uk for when I finish Uni next year. I don't need it to happen instantly, but this is the beginning of things. Unfortunately the name I want (skate UK Ltd) cannot be registered as companies house say it is too similar to 'skate llp' which is currently active. I'm just going through names, but as for trading through the company I'm not expecting it to happen for a good few months.

Yes, I can see that. Why not try Skating LLP or Limited/Ltd - you then get skating.ltd.uk to which you can redirect traffic from skate.co.uk...

 

[Ellis]

skate.co.uk ltd?

No .co.uk or .com in company names since the Companies Act came in.

A company's registered adress can be any physical adress - rented, mortgaged doesn't matter. Can even be your solicitors or accountants and you can change it anytime - just contact Companies House.

Watch the banks! - business banking charges are ridiculous, especially for new or small businesses. Go with one that will offer at least 12 months free business banking.

 

[aZooZa]

A company's registered adress can be any physical adress - rented, mortgaged doesn't matter. Can even be your solicitors or accountants and you can change it anytime - just contact Companies House

This can be excluded under tenancy agreements.

 

[willbon]

This can be excluded under tenancy agreements.

It can. Just ask for the rental agreement to be ammended.

Also, just get a standard articles and memorandum for £50 and send to co's house. Sometimes it's better to do it yourself. Accountants and lawyers get paid too much already.

 

[alex]

Thanks for the comments... the landlord doesn't want the house as registered office in case things go wrong and people start poking around, which I can understand. As for my parents' house I will double check, but I was told the mortgage terms express that the house cannot be used as a registered office.

I'll keep looking at names and see what I come up with. I totally agree about doing it myself and may just go for a registered office service similar to UKPLC's service.

 

[rob]

No .co.uk or .com in company names since the Companies Act came in.

Is that new one this year or 2006? As have registered XYZ.co.uk Ltd since 06

 

[Ellis]

Companies Act 2006 - became effective September 2009.

Registrations made before 09/09 are ok

 

[Ellis]

The clauses in tenancy agreements, mortage, deads etc refer to using the property for it's sole intended purpose - which is residential use.

They're in to deter people from, lets say, opening a restaurant in their living room.

In effect, running a business from the property.