Community Benefity Society
About
A Community Benefit Society (CBS) is a democratic, community-owned legal structure that exists to serve the wider community rather than private shareholders. It is registered and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and is designed to embed participation, accountability, and long-term sustainability at the heart of an organisation.
Characteristics
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Democratic ownership – one member, one vote, regardless of investment.
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Community share offers – CBSs can raise significant capital through community share schemes with potential access to social investment tax reliefs.
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Asset lock – ensures assets are used for community benefit.
Who Is It For?
CBSs are most commonly adopted by semi-professional sports clubs, supporter-owned football teams, and community-focused organisations who want to lock in community benefit as their primary purpose. This model is particularly popular where community engagement and democratic decision-making are central to the club’s ethos.
Why Choose Us?
Full Service
We provide full support, from drafting rules to registering with the FCA.
£1k
Our pricing is competitive. We can typically deliver all required work from £1000. There are no hidden fees to our work.
Experienced Team
We have provided support to over 100 sports clubs across the UK.
Trusted Process
We use regulator-approved constitutions.
What We Provide
We offer end-to-end support to take your club from an unincorporated association to a fully incorporated organisation. Our service includes clear advice on the right legal structure for your club, drafting regulator-approved governing documents, handling all correspondence with the relevant regulator, and guiding your committee through compliance requirements.
We also manage practical steps such as transferring assets and registering for Gift Aid (where eligible).
With our experience of incorporating over 100 sports organisations, we make the process straightforward, affordable, and stress-free, allowing your club to focus on what matters most: delivering sport to your community.
Initial discussion on incorporation and legal structures
We start with a dedicated session with your committee to explore what incorporation would mean for your club. We’ll explain the different legal structures available, highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each, and help you decide whether a CBS is the right fit for your goals, governance, and community ambitions.
Drafting of CBS-specific rules
Once you’ve chosen the CBS route, we’ll draft a tailored set of rules for your club. These documents cover governance, membership, and how the organisation will operate. We use club-specific templates that have already been pre-approved by regulators, saving you time and reducing the risk of delays.
Submission to the FCA and regulator liaison
We manage the entire application process with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This includes preparing and submitting your documents, responding to any regulator queries, and keeping you informed throughout. Our experience means we know what regulators are looking for, making approval more straightforward.
Compliance workshop for your committee
Once incorporated, your committee will need to understand their responsibilities under the CBS structure. We’ll deliver a tailored workshop (online or in person) to walk you through statutory requirements like reporting and filings, alongside best practice governance advice to help your club thrive.
Asset transfer support
A key part of incorporation is moving assets, contracts, and obligations from the old unincorporated association into the new CBS. We’ll guide your committee step by step, making sure everything transfers smoothly and your club continues operating without disruption.
Gift Aid registration (if eligible)
If your CBS qualifies, we’ll register your club with HMRC for Gift Aid. This enables you to claim an extra 25% on eligible donations — turning every £1 donation into £1.25 and boosting your fundraising capacity.
