Forming a UK Business
Choose the right corporate structure before you sign anything, not after.
- Clear advice on which structure fits your plans: private limited company, public limited company, partnership, LLP, representative office or branch office.
- Protect owners from personal liability with a properly formed limited liability company holding separate legal standing.
- Understand the tax consequences upfront — limited companies and tax-transparent partnerships/LLPs are treated very differently.
- Practical, business-first advice, not just paperwork.
Talk to our team today to get your UK structure right from the start.
Steen Rosenfalck
Advokat (Denmark) (higher rights of audience), Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales, LL.M.
What is the most common way to form a business in the UK?
The limited liability company is the most commonly used business form in the UK. It is characterised by the limited liability of its owners, the issuance of shares, and its existence independent of its owners.
What happens once a limited liability company is formed?
Once formed, the company has its own separate legal standing, distinct from its owners. This separate legal personality is what protects owners from personal liability for the company's debts and obligations.
How is a limited company taxed compared with a partnership?
Limited liability companies have a different tax status to partnerships and limited liability partnerships (LLPs), which are tax-transparent — meaning profits are taxed at the level of the partners rather than the entity itself. Choosing the wrong structure can therefore have real tax consequences.
What structures can we advise on?
We advise on structuring across the full range of UK business vehicles: private limited company, public limited company, partnership, limited liability partnership, representative office, and branch office — matching the structure to your commercial and tax objectives.