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Registered as auditors in the United Kingdom by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

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Should I Incorporate?  -  We‘re often asked about the benefits of incorporating a business into a limited company.

• A limited company is a business structure which has a legal form separate from that of its owners.
• It enters into contracts in its own name. For example, when it opens a bank account the account will be in the name of the limited company.
• It must appoint at least one director who is responsible for managing the company.
• The owners of the company own shares which are issued by the company and are called shareholders.  Any person or corporate body can be a shareholder of a private company limited by shares.  The minimum quantity of shares that a company can issue is one. This is common when someone is setting up a limited company as the sole owner and director. There is no upper limit, so you can issue as many shares as you like during the incorporation process or after your company has been set up.
• The same person can be a shareholder and a director.  This is very common in small companies and start-ups.  The difference is that a shareholder owns a company through the purchase or acquisition of shares; a director is appointed by those shareholders to manage the operational activities of a company.

Below we look at the differences between operating as a sole trader and a limited company.

 

Structure

As a sole trader you are the business, the owner and the manager.  In comparison, if you decide to incorporate your business, it becomes a separate legal entity, you become a shareholder and you serve the company as a director.

 

Protection

In the event that the business has a legal dispute or if the business fails and owes money, as a sole trader you would be sued personally.  As a limited company is a separate legal entity its finances are separate to yours, so your personal assets are safe.

 

Tax on Business Profits

As a sole trader you’ll pay Income Tax and National Insurance on your business profits in the year that they’re earned.  A limited company pays Corporation Tax on the business profits in the year earned.

Company tax rates are currently lower than Income Tax rates.

Paying yourself

Business profits for a sole trader are subject to Income Tax and you’ll have no further tax to pay when you withdraw money from the business.  Monies withdrawn from a limited company are subject to Income Tax and National Insurance at the time payment is made.

 

Business Accounts

As a limited company director, each year you are obliged to prepare and submit financial accounts in accordance with the Companies Acts, to Companies House. A company tax return, along with your financial accounts must also be filed with HMRC.

There’s no requirement to prepare formal business accounts as a sole trader.

 

Privacy

Information about your limited company, including the financial accounts will be in the public domain. Each document filed at Companies House is readily available to be downloaded by any third party.

There are no requirements to publish business information as a sole trader.

 

Costs

You should expect to pay more in accountancy fees when you incorporate your business.  However, this cost is usually outweighed by tax savings.

 

Legal Responsibilities

You’ll have certain legal responsibilities as a limited company director.  Failure to meet these responsibilities can lead to disqualification, fines, or in the worst case, a criminal prosecution.

 

 

Key benefits of incorporating

 

As well as the differences already noted, here are some of the benefits of incorporating your business.

 

   PROFESSIONAL IMAGE

 

 

                            FINANCE

 

 

                          PENSIONS

 

 

SUCCESSION PLANNING

 

 

 

There are many factors to consider before incorporating your business, so we’d always advise you to speak to an accountant to find out what’s best for you.

 

Contact us now at info@adrianmooy.com or call 01332 20266

 

Being a director of a company can provide you with kudos as it can portray the success of your business. The reputation of your business will be enhanced, hopefully attracting more customers.

 

Whilst obtaining funding is difficult for most businesses, having a company separate from yourself may make it easier.

 

As an employee, the company could provide you with a pension. This would be a tax-deductible expense, giving you a tax advantage over a sole trader.

 

As a shareholder, should you wish to retire or sell your business it’s much easier to transfer the business ownership than with a non-registered business.