Company (Limited by Shares, Guarantee & Community Interest Companies)
About
A company structure offers limited liability and a clear legal identity, enabling clubs to enter contracts, own property, and employ staff. Companies are regulated by Companies House and can take several forms: Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG), Company Limited by Shares (CLS), or Community Interest Company (CIC).
Characteristics
-
Fast setup – registration often within 24 hours.
-
Limited liability – protects committee members and directors.
-
Flexibility – range of structures for different goals (CLG, CLS, CIC).
-
Recognition – credibility with funders, sponsors, and partners.
-
Ease of management – simple compliance requirements compared to charities.
Who Is It For?
Company structures are typically chosen by grassroots clubs, development academies, and community organisations that want a quick and straightforward route to incorporation. CICs, in particular, are popular for clubs with a clear social purpose but without charitable status. Companies Limited by Shares (CLS), by contrast, are generally more suited to organisations seeking to generate profit and distribute dividends to shareholders, rather than clubs with a purely community focus.
Why Choose Us?
Speed
Companies formed in hours, not weeks.
Value
Transparent pricing from £1000.
Expertise
Regulator-approved Articles of Association.
Support
ompliance, reporting, and fundraising guidance from day one.
What We Provide
We provide a complete, end-to-end service to help your club become a fully incorporated company.
From advising on the most suitable structure to handling the Companies House application, our approach ensures your incorporation is quick, stress-free, and fully compliant.
Beyond registration, we support your committee with the knowledge, tools, and processes needed to operate confidently as a company, helping you protect your members, meet legal obligations, and unlock new opportunities for funding and growth.
Initial discussion
We begin with a structured conversation to understand your club’s goals, financial model, and governance needs. We’ll explain the differences between a Company Limited by Guarantee (ideal for most sports clubs), a Company Limited by Shares (suited to profit-making ventures and shareholder dividends), and a Community Interest Company (for organisations with a defined social purpose). This ensures you select the structure that fits your long-term ambitions.
Drafting Articles
Every company needs a governing document — the Articles of Association. We’ll draft articles specifically for your chosen structure, using templates that have already been approved by regulators. These cover essential areas like membership, decision-making powers, director responsibilities, and financial rules, while being flexible enough to reflect your club’s unique needs.
Company registration
Once your articles are finalised, we handle the formal registration with Companies House. Using our streamlined process, we can often have your company incorporated within hours. We’ll provide you with your Certificate of Incorporation and all official documentation, so you’re ready to operate as a legal entity immediately.
Compliance workshop for your committee
Incorporation brings new legal responsibilities for directors and committee members. To ensure you’re confident in these roles, we deliver a compliance workshop or webinar covering the essentials: annual returns, financial filings, and directors’ legal duties. We also share best-practice governance tips to help your company run smoothly.
Asset transfer support
Once incorporated, your club’s assets, contracts, and liabilities must be moved into the new legal entity. We guide you step by step through this process, making sure nothing is missed and your operations continue without disruption. This provides reassurance that your new company is fully functional from day one.
Gift Aid Registration (if eligible)
If your company is structured as a Company Limited by Guarantee or CIC and meets eligibility requirements for charity or CASC status, we’ll help you register with HMRC for Gift Aid. This allows your club to boost fundraising by claiming an additional 25% on qualifying donations, giving you more resources to invest back into sport.
