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Guides on Limited Companies, Sole Traders and Partnerships

company guides

A selection of our most popular business structure articles:

  • What is a limited company?
  • Company formation
  • What is a Partnership?
  • Limited company advantages
  • The process for registering a UK limited company can now be completed entirely online, without the need for any paper documentation. As you work your way through the company formation application – whilst you may not know it – you are providing the information for 3 key documents that you need to register a limited company. Here we explain what these documents are.

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    When most people refer to a ‘company’, they usually mean a private limited company which has shareholders. However, there are several other types of company which all serve a different purpose. The types of limited company are the company limited by guarantee, a private company limited by shares, public limited companies and private unlimited company.
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    There are a number of steps you need to follow before you can start trading as a limited company, including choosing a company name, appointing officials, and the method of formation itself. Here is our guide on how to set up a limited company and start running your business.
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    A private limited company is a business structure in which the liability of its members, shareholders and directors is limited, hence the term ‘limited liability company’.
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    Black Friday has become a highly anticipated period of the year which businesses and customers have suddenly found themselves planning for.  On Black Friday most businesses, from those within the clothing industry to the technology industry offer many products and services at a discounted rate or provide limited time special offers. It is an opportunity for businesses to increase sales or even awareness.

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    Setting up a business as a limited company is the second most popular way of setting up a business in the UK. In 2021, there were around 4.5 million private limited companies. There are both huge advantages and disadvantages of running a limited company, as well as, other structures such as sole traders (which is the most popular business structure, with their being 3.2 million in 2021).  It’s important for any aspiring entrepreneurs to understand the range of benefits and pitfalls of different business structures to determine if they are the right fit for their business idea.

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    The sole trader business structure is the most popular in the UK. In 2021 there were approximately 3.2 million sole traders, accounting for 56% of small businesses. The sole trader structure has been popular due to its many advantages and the ease of setting up.

    Sole trader business owners are known as self-employed and most freelancers opt for this structure of the business. There are both advantages and disadvantages of the sole trader business structure that need to be taken into account before making any business decisions.

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    You can commence the striking off procedure for a limited company providing certain conditions are met, and the company has not traded for the past three months.
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    If you are thinking about setting up a limited company, you might be surprised to find out that you can incorporate a new company for only £12.99 with our partner 1st Formations. Here, we look at how incorporation costs vary according to the formations service you choose, together with additional costs you may incur.

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    There are numerous reasons you may wish to close your limited company, from approaching retirement, switching operating structures due to IR35 reform or as your business has reached its natural end. Driving factors behind operating through a limited company may be the financial set-up and the associated credibility, however, as legislative measures change and employment opportunities vary, limited company contractors may switch structures.

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    The alternative to setting up a limited company is to become a sole trader or a member of a partnership, for example, if you decide to trade a sole trader you will essentially be classed as ‘self-employed’. In this guide on how to register as a sole trader, you will be made aware of all the relevant taxes, optional taxes you can register for and how to actuallly set up as a sole trader/ sel-employed.
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    There are a number of ways in which you can set up and run your business in the UK. In this guide created by OrangeGenie, we look at the differences between sole trader, partnership, Ltd and PLC. We will focus on explaining what the type of company is, the tax implications, and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
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    Changes to IR35 tax rules for contractors may only be two months away, but most contractors remain confused about what the changes will mean – and whether they need to do anything before the 6 April implementation date.

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    The share capital in a private limited company is the amount of money invested by its owners in exchange for shares of ownership. Company directors are typically shareholders in their own companies. Shareholders exercise certain powers over how the company is run.

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    With the evolution of financial technology, international money transfers are now easier, faster, and more secure. One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is that these international transfers still come at a steep price.

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    Reader’s question: I am about to start working for several companies as a self-employed transport consultant. Which would be better for me limited company or sole trader?

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    If you are running a small business or a limited company with employees, you will need to get acquainted with a P60 form. Here, Dannielle Stapleton MAAT from Orange Genie brings you a guide to the P60 form, addressing what it is, when you would need one and where to get one.

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    In this article, we look at another type of business structure – the partnership – which enables two or more self-employed people to set up in business together.
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    Becoming ‘self-employed’ is the most popular means of starting up a new business. You can become self-employed through becoming a sole trader or forming a partnership.  Sole traders make up over 60% of all UK businesses (3.4 million), and partnerships account for another 7% (414,000). Here we look at the basics of what is a sole trader and things you should consider before taking the leap.
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    With over 1.8m limited companies operating in the UK today, compared to 3.3m sole traders, we look at the advantages afforded to business owners who decide to trade via their own limited companies.
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