Their main roles and responsibilities can include:

Ensuring that all routine documentation is filed with Companies House such as the confirmation statement and company accounts. The confirmation statement confirms that the information Companies House holds for the company is up to date and accurate and must be filed within 14 days of the review period ending.

Updating and maintaining the company’s statutory registers for example the Register of Members, Register of Persons with Significant Control and Register of Directors and Secretaries.

Retaining company documents such as the company seal (if there is one), share certificates, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and the Certificate of Incorporation.

Arrange and provide notice for director’s and shareholder’s meetings including circulating agendas, notices and other supporting papers. The company secretary is also usually responsible for preparing board minutes of director and shareholder meetings (to record the business transacted and decisions taken), resolutions, consent documents and ensuring that general meetings are held in accordance with the articles of association and UK regulations.

Does my business need a company secretary?

No, you do not have to appoint a company secretary for a private limited company. Any officer of the company can prepare and submit the required filings mentioned above. However it can ease the administrative burden and allow the directors to focus on running their business, knowing there is someone else responsible for these duties.

Who can be the company secretary?

Normally a person with experience in preparing and making companies house filings is appointed as company secretary. It can be any person capable of fulfilling the duties of the role, including a person who already holds another position within the business, like director or shareholder. If a company has multiple directors, it can be useful to appoint one of those directors, in addition to their role as director also as the company secretary if no other person holds the position, so that every officer knows who is responsible for making the correct filings on time.

Get Started Now

Whatever your business is going to be one of the first things you need to do is get your business registered. In the UK its really simple and affordable to set up a new company, it’s also basically instant, so don’t hesitate to get it done. Once your business is registered you can focus on making the sales and services that are going to bring in the real money, while having the satisfaction of being your own boss and having complete control over your work goals.

Private Limited Companies can be one of the simplest ways of setting up a business, this blog post will only look at this type of company, however there are other types available and it’s always good practice to speak with a qualified business advisor or accountant to discuss your unique requirements and circumstances.

Why set up a Limited Company?

It’s all in the name, a limited company, while having lots of other benefits, primarily protect the business owners from the risk that come with running a business and the elevated risks a business may take to be successful. The limited part means it’s the business taking the risk, not you the business owner.

Step One

Decide on the ownership structure of the company, who is going to own the company, who is going to be in charge of the company? Normally this is very simple, one owner, one director. So you will need to decide the following:

1 – Who the company Directors are going to be – The people responsible for the day to day operations of the business.

2 – Who the shareholders of the company are going to be – The owners.

If it’s a simple one person business, that one person will be the 100% shareholder and also occupies the position of company director.

There is no requirement to appoint a company secretary. Find out more about company secretaries here.

business-hierarchy

offices-to-let

Step Two

When you set up a new limited company it is a legal requirement to have a real street address for the company’s registered office address, this address is available for anyone to see and find on the public register of companies.

To avoid using your personal home address for this requirement, and to keep your home address private, you can use a virtual address service. OfficeServ can provide a professional business address location to for-fill this requirement, all for the low yearly cost of only £20. See our Registered Address Services Here.

Step Three

How to actually register the business, formally known as Company Formation. There are several ways you can go about doing this. Below we have outline four simple ways.

1 – Directly from your Company with Companies House, you can do this via the companies house website, the only cost involved is a £12.00 fee. This method is pretty simple, their website has a step by step guide.

2 – Using a formation agent, this is a business/agent that submits your application to form a company on your behalf to Companies House. You may think, what’s the point? Cut out the middleman and save money. However, using a formation agent can be really helpful, they will make sure your application will be approved before you submit it, so there will not be any delays. They also normally waive the £12.00 filing fee, you can sometime form a company for less than £12.00 using an agent! OfficeServ currently do not provide company formation services.

3 – Tide Bank – Tide is a “fintech bank” that provide banking services to UK businesses. At the time of writing, they currently have an offer to form your business and open your business bank account completely free of charge. What’s the catch? No catch really, they do however encourage you to use their Virtual Office partner Hoxston Mix but you don’t have too! Hoxston Mix provide virtual office service from an address in Hoxston London, their pricing is fair but can be much more expensive that other providers like us, OfficeServ!

4 – Using a Solicitor – There are solicitors that specialise in company formation and corporate business structuring. We recommend this option if your requirements are more complex and sophisticated.

How much does it cost to set up a company?

Only £24! It can be as little as £24 to officially form a company and have a business address! If you use Tide Banks offer and the OfficeServ Registered Address Service you can set up a business and have an official business address provided by us for only £24! What is even better, we do not up our charges for our address the next year, you will only pay £24 each year for our Registered Address Service.

National
Forwarding

£20 +VAT per year £24 inc.VAT

One Year Service ?
The yearly cost covers using our office address for your company’s Registered Address at Companies House. 365 Days cover starting from the day of purchase.
Forwarding Of Statutory Mail ?
Physical forwarding of any mail sent from Companies House or HM Revenue & Customs addressed to your Company. We forward the official letters the same working day to your confidential UK mailing address, 2nd Class Royal Mail at no extra cost to you!
Instant Set Up ?
Ready to use right away!
Optional Scan & Email ?
If you prefer we can open, scan and then email your letters the same working day they arrive. Original documents are held and available on request for 10 working days before being securely destroyed.
Directors Service Address ?
This service includes using our address for one company officer, they can be the Director, Secretary, Shareholder or Person of Significant Control (PSC). This cover is provided per person, regardless of the amount of positions they hold within the business.
Additional Directors * ?
The First is Included for Free! Additional Directors, Secretary's, Shareholders or Person of Significant Control (PSC) can be purchased for £5.00+VAT each, per year, as an Add-On. Please email reception for this if required after signing up.

International
Forwarding

£50 +VAT per year £60 inc.VAT

One Year Service ?
The yearly cost covers using our office address for your company’s Registered Address at Companies House. 365 Days cover starting from the day of purchase.
Forwarding Of Statutory Mail ?
Physical forwarding of any mail sent from Companies House or HM Revenue & Customs addressed to your Company. We forward the official letters the same working day to your confidential International mailing address, Standard Air Mail at no extra cost to you!
Instant Set Up ?
Ready to use right away.
Optional Scan & Email ?
If you prefer we can open, scan and then email your letters the same working day they arrive. Original documents are held and available on request for 10 working days before being securely destroyed.
Directors Service Address ?
This service includes using our address for up to two company officers, they can be Director, Secretary, Shareholder or Person of Significant Control (PSC). This cover is provided per person, regardless of the amount of positions they hold within the business.
Additional Directors * ?
The First is Included for Free! Additional Directors, Secretary's, Shareholders or Person of Significant Control (PSC) can be purchased for £5.00+VAT each, per year, as an Add-On. Please email reception for this if required after signing up.

What is a Company Secretary?

Their main roles and responsibilities can include:

Does my business need a company secretary?

Who can be the company secretary?

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