Despite England not being part of the EU, it is still one of the strongest countries financially in the world, particularly in Europe. London, like New York and Hong Kong, is one of the most important financial centres in the world. Registering a company in the UK allows you to take advantage ofancillary benefits such as the reputation of the country as well as others.

There are various options one can choose from with regards to a UK limited company structure. All companies registered in the UK however, must be registered with the official Registrar of Companies, Companies House.

There are a number of benefits one has when registering a limited company in the UK, such as the limited financial liability that is provided to the company’s shareholders or beneficial owners. Their financial liability is limited to the value of their shares, meaning that the owners of limited companiesare not personally liable for any business debt beyond the value of their company shares.

One of the disadvantages of registering a limited company in the UK and something one should take into account is that all the company information, including the details of the directors and shareholders, is accessible to the public. In addition, one should note that all companies must file both annual accountsas well as annual returns to Companies House every year and that the information submitted in these documents is also on public record.

Another popular UK company structure is a UK Limited Liability Partnership, or otherwise known as an LLP. The advantage of this type of structure is that it offers a company the limited liability of a company and the added flexibility and tax arrangements of a traditional business partnership.This structure provides the company with a combination of unlimited capacity, alongside corporate status with the protection of limited liability for members together with the ability to operate and be taxed as a partnership. Usually professionals who are unable to form a limited company but require the protection of a limited financial liability, look to this structure as the ideal solution. LLP’s are not required to file a constitution at Companies House such that the internal company information regarding their profit-sharing agreements, decision-making structure and other company information remain private and closed to the public.

The most popular company structure option in the UK is the private company limited by shares. This type of company is owned by shareholders, managed by directors and formed with the intention of making a profit. The profits made by the company are then either reinvested into the company or distributed amongst the various owners of the company in the form of dividends. Should the business encounter any financial difficulty, the shareholders’ liability is limited to the value of the shares they hold in the company.

A company registered in the UK is seen as a reputable company and is generally viewed as being a more secure option for prospective clients.