Limited or Umbrella Company? We look at the pros and cons of each type of business structure. Which is the best route for contractors?
Business Structures - Limited Company
Most professional contractors work via their own limited companies. It remains the most tax-efficient business structure, despite the April 2016 dividend tax hike.
Company directors have more paperwork and legal obligations than umbrella company contractors, but in reality, a specialist accountant can take care of these administrative duties for you.
- If you only have 5 minutes, make sure you read 10 things you should know before setting up a limited company
- How much does it cost to set up a limited company?
- Limited company basics - how to set up a company, and the responsibilities you have as a director
- Limited vs. Umbrella - find out more about the advantages and disadvantages of each business structure
- For in-depth guides to setting up a company, try Limited Company Help
- Company Formation from £12.95 - visit Clever Formations
10 things you should know before setting up a limited company
If you have decided to set up your own limited company in 2022, you have to submit an application to Companies House, the registrar of companies. Here, we’ve listed 10 bits of information you need to collect in advance to ensure your formation can be processed correctly the first time.
Limited company shares and shareholders
If you work through a limited company, you’re not the business, even if you’re the company’s sole owner. But how do shares work, who can be a shareholder, and what are your rights and responsibilities?
Being a limited company director – the basics
If you decide to start trading via your own limited company, you may at first be put off by the perceived ‘hassle’ associated with being running the company and becoming a director. However, if you hire a reputable accountant and undertake some basic administrative tasks, you should find that you can manage your company’s affairs […]
Limited company registered address – what are my options?
When you apply to Companies House to form a company for the first time, you’ll have to provide a number of addresses, the most important one being your registered office address. What can you do to protect your privacy?
Limited company or PAYE umbrella – advantages and disadvantages
Almost all contractors who provide professional services to clients trade via their own limited companies, or join a PAYE umbrella. Here we’ve compiled a table to help compare the pros and cons of each structure.
Forming a company – Articles and Memorandum of Association
If you want to form a new company, alongside the Companies House application itself (IN01), you must also file Articles and a Memorandum of Association. Here, we explain what these documents are, and how to submit them.
In what sense is your liability limited if you run a company?
One of the main attractions of contracting via your own company is that the liability of its shareholders is limited. So, to what extent is the liability of company directors limited?
How much does it cost to set up a limited company?
There are several ways to set up your own limited company; via an accountant (a popular way), via a company formations agent, or direct with Companies House. Here we look at the typical costs associated with each option.
Members’ Voluntary Liquidation (MVL): a guide for contractors
If you’ve decided to close your limited company, a members’ voluntary liquidation is the most tax-efficient way to do it. Here we explain what an MVL is, and how the process works.