Who this service is for

This service is for people in and around Birmingham getting a limited company off the ground: someone moving from sole trader to company, two or more people going into business together and needing a sensible share structure, contractors setting up to work through a company, and existing businesses adding a new company to the mix. It suits anyone who wants incorporation done thoughtfully, with the tax and accounting arranged from the outset, rather than simply registering a name and hoping the rest follows.

How we can help

We start by helping you decide whether a limited company is actually the right vehicle for you, because it is not the best answer for everyone. If it is, we handle the incorporation and, just as importantly, the setup that sits behind it: the share structure, the registrations, the accounting date and the systems you will use to keep records. We explain the first-year deadlines so they are known in advance. What we do not do is provide legal advice or draft a shareholders’ agreement; where those are needed we will say so and suggest you involve a solicitor.

What’s included

  • A discussion of whether a limited company is likely to suit your circumstances
  • Checking your proposed company name for availability and suitability
  • Explaining the registered office requirement and what it means in practice
  • Setting up directors and their responsibilities on the record
  • Setting up shareholders and an appropriate share structure for your situation
  • Recording people with significant control correctly
  • Choosing suitable SIC codes to describe the company’s activities
  • Submitting the incorporation to Companies House
  • Registering the company for Corporation Tax
  • Considering PAYE and VAT registration where these apply to you
  • Setting a sensible accounting reference date
  • Getting initial accounting systems and record-keeping in place
  • Mapping out the first-year filing and payment deadlines so they are clear from day one

How it works

  1. We talk through your plans and whether a company is the right structure for them.
  2. We agree the scope in writing, including what is and is not part of the setup.
  3. We confirm the details: name, directors, shareholders, share structure and SIC codes.
  4. We submit the incorporation and then deal with Corporation Tax and any PAYE or VAT setup.
  5. We hand over the company details, set up your accounting systems and explain your first-year deadlines.

What we’ll need from you

To form the company we need the proposed name, the details of the directors and shareholders, how the shares should be split, and identification information where it is required. We also need a registered office address and a note of the company’s intended activities so we can select SIC codes. If you are moving an existing business into the company, we need a picture of that too. Having these ready lets us incorporate promptly and set everything up correctly first time.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Incorporating on impulse without checking whether a company genuinely suits you
  • Splitting shares between people without a shareholders’ agreement to sit behind it
  • Assuming incorporation alone deals with Corporation Tax, PAYE and VAT registrations
  • Picking an accounting reference date without thinking about the deadlines it creates
  • Recording people with significant control loosely, so the register is inaccurate
  • Overlooking first-year filing dates, which run from different starting points

Serving Birmingham and the Midlands

We form companies for people across Birmingham and the wider West Midlands, working cloud-first so incorporation, registrations and your opening accounting records can be set up remotely and shared securely from the very first day. When the decision to incorporate deserves a proper conversation, we are happy to have one.

Frequently asked questions

Should I definitely set up a limited company?

Not necessarily. A limited company suits some people well and others less so, depending on your income, your plans, your appetite for the extra administration and how you want to take money out. We can talk the options through against your situation so the decision is an informed one, rather than assuming incorporation is automatically the right move.

Does forming the company deal with the tax registrations too?

Incorporation at Companies House is only the first step. Once the company exists there are further registrations to think about, including Corporation Tax, and PAYE if you will pay yourself or staff. VAT may also be relevant. We set up the accounting and tax registrations that apply to you so nothing is overlooked in the first weeks.

Do you provide legal advice or a shareholders' agreement?

No. Our support covers the accounting and tax side of incorporation. It is not a substitute for legal advice, and where there is more than one shareholder we would generally suggest a shareholders' agreement, which is a legal document that a solicitor should prepare. We can flag when that conversation is worth having.

What deadlines will the new company have?

A new company has several first-year obligations, including its confirmation statement, its first accounts and its Corporation Tax filing and payment dates, each running from different starting points. We explain the dates that apply to your company and how the accounting reference date affects them, so the first year does not catch you out.