Resources for limited companies

Companies House: This is where you register limited companies and limited liability partnerships amongst other entities. You can also do searches on other companies to find out their address, directors and latest accounts.

Register for VAT with HMRC if you’re going to supply more than £83,000 worth of goods or services. In most cases, you can do this online and pay VAT online after registration. If you plan to employ staff, you will also have to register for PAYE, which handles income tax and national insurance contribution.

General business advice: from the government’s website (previously Business Link)

Limited company formation: if you don’t want to do it yourself, there are specialist agencies who can do it all in a matter of hours e.g. 1st Formations will take care of filing, setting up registered and service addresses for the business and its directors, establishing business bank accounts and even setting up a .co.uk business site.

General business information:

U.K .Trade and Investment helps overseas companies get started in the U.K. Its site has a huge list of resources about doing business in the UK, including specific guidance on different industry sectors.

Great Business is a U.K. government site which covers all business areas, including information on markets, skills, innovations and finance. It’s also another place to learn about regulation and business support programs.

Federation of Small Business describes itself as “the U.K.’s largest campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and small business owners.” If you want to know what’s happening behind the scenes and how it will affect your ability to do business, this is a must-read.

The British Library’s Business & IP Centre: access is free and if you are researching an idea, this is the place to visit with free fact sheets and data on all business areas and very helpful staff as well as workshops and a nice place for coffee!

Intellectual Property Office: to register or research trademarks, learn more about copyright and patents. Great introductory guides to IP.

Information Commissioner’s Office: for all matters relating to Data Protection and registration under the Data Protection Act. Also includes useful self-assessment tool to decide whether you even need to register or not.

Advertising Standards Authority: to check if your advertising copy is legal