Types of UK company

This overview is a guide to the content within the Types of UK company subtopic, with links to appropriate materials.

The company is a very commonly-used business vehicle; there are around 5 million registered companies on the public register.

A company is a separate legal entity, distinct from its members. It is owned by its members and it is managed by its directors.

The following types of company are regulated and incorporated under the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006):

1. •

   public companies limited by shares

2. •

   private companies limited by shares

3. •

   private companies limited by guarantee, and

4. •

   unlimited companies

There are also two other forms of company in the UK:

1. •

   community interest companies (CICs), which are partly regulated by CA 2006 but are primarily governed by specific CIC legislation, and

2. •

   unregistered companies, which are not governed by CA 2006

Companies are by no means the only forms of business vehicle available in the UK. There are many other alternative forms of business vehicle that could be chosen to carry on a business, which are considered in Practice Note: Forms