Setting up a social enterprise

You must choose a business structure if you바카라 사이트™re starting a business that helps people or communities (a 바카라 사이트˜social enterprise바카라 사이트™).

If you want to set up a business that has social, charitable or community-based objectives, you can set up as a:

If you바카라 사이트™re setting up a small organisation like a sports club or a voluntary group and do not plan to make a profit, you can form an 바카라 사이트˜unincorporated association바카라 사이트™ instead of starting a business.

Community interest companies (CICs)

A CIC is a special type of limited company which exists to benefit the community rather than private shareholders.

To set up a CIC, you바카라 사이트™ll need:

  • a 바카라 사이트˜community interest statement바카라 사이트™, explaining what your business plans to do
  • an 바카라 사이트˜asset lock바카라 사이트™- a legal promise stating that the company바카라 사이트™s assets will only be used for its social objectives, and setting limits to the money it can pay to shareholders
  • a constitution - you can use the CIC regulator바카라 사이트™s model constitutions
  • to get your company approved by the community interest company regulator - your application will automatically be sent to them

The CIC regulator has guidance on setting up a CIC.

Set up a CIC online

with Companies House.

It costs £65.

You바카라 사이트™ll need to create sign in details for your company. You cannot use your personal sign in details.

Set up a CIC by post

Use the forms from the CIC regulator to register a CIC by post.

Further information

Get advice and case studies from and or download guidance on business structures for social enterprises.

Find out about legal forms for social enterprise.

There are also opportunities to invest in local enterprise with community shares or to bid to run a local service.

Part of Set up a limited company: step by step

  1. Step 1 Check if setting up a limited company is right for you

    1. Check what a private limited company is

    How you set up your business depends on what sort of work you do. It can also affect the way you pay tax and get funding.

    Check if you should set up as one of the following instead:

    1. Get help deciding how to set up your business

  2. Step 2 Choose a name

    1. Check the rules for company names
    3. Check existing trade marks

  3. Step 3 Choose directors and a company secretary

    You must appoint a director but you do not have to appoint a company secretary.

    1. Find out what directors are responsible for
    2. Check who can be a director or company secretary

  4. Step 4 Decide who the shareholders or guarantors are

    You need at least one shareholder or guarantor, who can be a director.

    1. Check if you바카라 사이트™ll need to issue shares or set a 'guaranteed amount'
    2. Find out how dividends from shares are taxed

  5. and Identify people with significant control (PSC) over your company

    For example, anyone with voting rights or more than 25% of the shares.

    1. Find out what counts as a PSC

  6. Step 5 Prepare documents agreeing how to run your company

    You need to prepare a 'memorandum of association' and 'articles of association'.

    1. Find out how to create a memorandum and articles of association

  7. Step 6 Check what records you'll need to keep

    1. Check the company and accounting records you must keep

  8. Step 7 Register your company with Companies House

    You'll need to register an official address and choose a SIC code - this identifies what your company does.

    1. Check the rules for registered office addresses and email addresses
    2. Check what your SIC code is
    3. Register your company with Companies House

  9. Step 8 Manage your Corporation Tax

    1. Add Corporation Tax services to your business tax account