Company formation sites that don't require secretary

[Cougar100]

Seems most of the company formation sites still require a company secretary to be appointed to complete the registeration, even though it's no longer required.

Can anyone recommend a site that doesn't require one a company secretary to create a company?

 

[Jenni384]

I can't remember which one I used, but I remember a recent one did not require a secretary.

It was either Companies Made Simple or it was Simple Formations. I have used both and can highly recommend both of them too.

One last word, please make sure you are fully aware of the implications of having a Ltd Co before you incorporate one

 

[Cougar100]

Companies Made Simple I've been most interested in using and contacted them since I want to combine the registered office + mail forwarding service but customer services were not so helpful

Yet their ordering page requires payment details before you submit company details

 

[Jenni384]

Yet their ordering page requires payment details before you submit company details

Yes that's one thing that I don't like - you have to pay first, as opposed to completing all the details and then paying when everything's final. That said, I didn't have any problems with it, and I knew for definite I wanted to create the companies, so the service was just fine.

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

A1 company services

http://www.a1companies.com/free/

 

I am not sure what you gain from this. it is my understanding that a live company must have a company secretary. There are people who will act as company secretary but then you are never quite sure that you business is running as it should. I would strongly advise sorting out who is going to be your company secretary and then forming the company in the normal way. Always make sure you have the foundations right from the beginning.

 

[Jenni384]

I am not sure what you gain from this. it is my understanding that a live company must have a company secretary. There are people who will act as company secretary but then you are never quite sure that you business is running as it should. I would strongly advise sorting out who is going to be your company secretary and then forming the company in the normal way. Always make sure you have the foundations right from the beginning.

Companies act 2006 kicked in April 2008 and there is no longer a need for a Co Sec. In small private limited companies, the reality is that the director and/or accountant often fulfils the role of the Co Sec and so having a the position filled formally is not really necessary.

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

it is my understanding that a live company must have a company secretary.

From April this year it is NOT necessary to have a company secretary, see this link:

http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/companiesAct/faq.shtml

 

[Cougar100]

I am not sure what you gain from this. it is my understanding that a live company must have a company secretary. There are people who will act as company secretary but then you are never quite sure that you business is running as it should. I would strongly advise sorting out who is going to be your company secretary and then forming the company in the normal way. Always make sure you have the foundations right from the beginning.

Advised by chartered accountant not to appoint one and that the director can do the duties. And after researching it and reading 3 company secretary duties books from Amazon, it looks pretty straightforward.

I think these company formation agents are not updating their systems so that they can sell their nominee secretary services for £200/year. And these nominees won't actually do anything - they charge £20 for every query/task they do. Or £100 for company secretary signature on a form you require. Or £10 per addition to the statutory books/registers.

 

OK Thanks for that. One of the nice things about this forum is that it keeps you uptodate with things that you don't deal with all the time.

 

[Ozzy]

Just to throw my few pence in, my website does not require you to appoint a company secretary if you don't want one. It also only asks for payment once you have completed all the required information.

...and there are more Companies Act 2006 changes coming into affect in October, then more April '09 and the last lot in October '09 ... unless they put it all back again!

 

[Cougar100]

According to some company formation sites, most banks have yet to upgrade their systems to allow the opening of business accounts for ltd companies without the signature of a secretary, is this true?

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

According to some company formation sites, most banks have yet to upgrade their systems to allow the opening of business accounts for ltd companies without the signature of a secretary, is this true?

Just opened an Abbey account and it was fine. Clients have been opening Barclays accounts without a secretary and this is fine too.

 

[dp0848]

Just opened an Abbey account and it was fine. Clients have been opening Barclays accounts without a secretary and this is fine too.

Natwest can be added to the list as well.

 

[Cougar100]

Thanks both, guess the formation agents are playing scare tactics.

 

[yorkshirejames]

HSBC were fine with a one-signature on the mandate last year (there was another director client didn't want on the bank account).

For formation, I always use (and can recommend) http://www.uk-plc.net

HTH