Company formation

[Joff]

I am just in the process of setting up a limited company and wondered if anyone had had experience of the remarkably cheap offers from various formation companies online?

My accountant recommended against them as he said that they can often cause problems as some return information incomplete, and so he recommended a more expensive reputable company. I'm not averse to this, but just wonder what the general feedback is about the online companies?

 

[Lime One]

We use for both our company formation and those of many clients www.quickformations.co.uk.
They are low in cost, excellent service, human beings on the phone and easy to use with very good efficiency. We recommend them constantly and no, we have no interest in the company nor do we get any form of referral fee

 

[Business News]

I doubt your accountant really know what he is talking about with this comment. There is lots of choice for setting up a company and the prices are low. You will have all the standard set up documents and registration number by e-mail within hours of filing.

 

[Joff]

I doubt your accountant really know what he is talking about with this comment. There is lots of choice for setting up a company and the prices are low. You will have all the standard set up documents and registration number by e-mail within hours of filing.

It might be he's just had a bad experience, but I did think it couldn't be that difficult to get wrong!

 

[mookgirluk]

What you have to beware of is the quality of the Memorandum & Articles of Association supplied by the formation agency. From my experience a lot (but not all) of the cheaper agencies have duff M&A's that end up causing problems later in the running of the company by not disapplying certain aspects of Table A. If looking for a cheaper option try justcompanies.co.uk their M&A's and service are comparable to most of the big boys.

 

[elaine@cheapaccounting]

Maybe he / she is referring to the fact that the formation house are good at doing the formation. However there is little / no support when the forms start coming in from HMRC etc.

 

[JGOffshore]

They have different options at different prices and know what they are doing. If you need ongoing advice and assistance it is available.

http://www.arcorporatesecretaries.co.uk/

 

[mahutchinson]

Articles are almost certainly going to be wrong with the ongoing Companies Act implementation. Don't forget that statutory registers are a legal requirement - very cheap bucket shops won't provide these (another £25 expense for them) or even tell you that they are required.

 

[annethedonn]

We can help:

http://www.freelanceofficeservices.co.uk/company_formation.shtml

 

[Companies4u]

Try Companies 4 U Limited

 

[Claton]

I am about to set up as a limited company and have seen a few online companies who offer this service.
However there are a couple of things that I could do with some advise on.
1. I would like to become VAT registered as part of the formation and I am not certain if this comes as part or not has anybody chosen a company who also include this in their package?
2. If your registered office is your home do you have to have a name playe of the company outside?

Thanks in anticipation

 

[Companies4u]

We can setup a new Limited Company for you same day.

The cost for the service is £33 + VAT for the Company plus £50 + VAT for a Bank Account with HSBC and VAT registration.

If you use your home address for the Registered Office address you are exempt from displaying the name of the Company outside your address.

Where must I disclose my company’s name?
Every company must display its registered name:
- at its registered office and its inspection place. However, dormant companies are now exempt from 1 October 2008.
- at any place where the company carries on business. But if that place is primarily used for living accommodation (for example the director’s address) the company will be exempt.
- in the company business correspondence and documents. This includes documents in hard copy, electronic or any other form.

 

[JGOffshore]

The formation of a company and VAT registration are two completely separate matters.

Indeed, you cannot apply for registration until you have a company number and even then you will find that HMRC will want much more information and evidence that you either are trading or have contracts in place aand will soon be trading.

Certainly some formation agents will handle a VAT application after your company has been set up but you might find it preferable to handle it yourself (HMRC staff will guide you) or get your accountant to do it.

For many years there has been legislation which says that a company should have a notice outside it registered office but that seems more honoured in the breach. What you should have is the certificate of incorporation on display inside the office.

 

[Claton]

Thanks for your genuine advice.
I still think with so many formation comanies it is very difficult to find the right one for price and quality. I have narrowed it down to Quickformations, mainly because it is reccommended on the forum so much, (price is on the high side though £129) UKcorporate, nice and simple site and good testimonials (£89) and I have to think about comapnies4u, (£69) because he was kind enough to mention it here and there has been no bad comments.
Hope this helps others in my posittion one day.

 

[JGOffshore]

People might also have a look at AR Corporate Secretaries.

I must declare an interest as I founded the business 15 years ago but these days am just a shareholder. So, think of my dividend - give them a try!

 

[Danny Bluestone]

Try www.wisteriaformations.co.uk, they provide video tutorials and instant company registration in 10 steps.

 

[mahutchinson]

I must say I have never in 20 years seen a certificate of incorporation on display anywhere. Certainly no professional firm would consider doing this - imagine the wall space required.

 

[Business News]

I must say I have never in 20 years seen a certificate of incorporation on display anywhere. Certainly no professional firm would consider doing this - imagine the wall space required.

The registration certificate is A4 size so any company that cannot display that at their head office must be working in a pretty small space. Maybe the ceiling would be OK to suspend it from? We have ours up on the wall so I guess that makes us very unprofessional or possibly we just need more pictures.

 

[JamesCartwright]

I had a similar problem when I set up my company. Eventually I used Wisteria Formations which is part of a London accounting firm and only charged me about £25.