Do I "need" official hard copy print outs of my Certificate of Incorporation, etc?

[IDN101]

I am just about to incorporate my company and will probably do it through a Formation Agent.

One option that seems common to all packages that the Agents offer is as to wether I want just emailed PDF's of the key documents or whether I want actual official printed documentation.

Personally I would have everything electronic if possible (I'm generally paperless wherever possible)- but am i going to disadvantage / complicate anything I if I don't have the official hard copies? ie will it be difficult setting up a business bank account, etc- or will they just accept print-outs of the PDF's?

Many thanks,
Regards,
Ian


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[StevensOnln1]

There are no official hard copies, Companies House issue the certificate electronically. If you order hard copies, the formation company just print them for you on nice card, which you could easily do yourself with a normal printer.

 

[VanillaOnlineAccountancy]

Banks are happy with printed PDFs. If you pay for printed copies then you get the PDF on nice shiny paper!

 

[Alan]

As above, never had to provide a hard copy certificate in at least the last 5 years.

 

[BTC1812]

As a formation agent I can tell you that the official certificate of incorporation is the image sent through by Companies House in PDF format, so having your documents in PDF only is not an issue, however a few pointers, the public documents the bank may want to see is the registers of the company and share certificates of the shareholders, which many agents such as ourselves provide in both PDF and if required a printed version as well, this will see you comply with the requirements of the Companies Act.

We do if wanted a printed version of the certificate on the sand coloured card, all companies are obliged under the Act to display a sign of some sort with the Company Name and registration number in view of the public in their Registered Office this official looking certificate does the job, (as would a plain paper print) rather than resulting to a brass plate.