Business Formation and Business Structure in the UK

We can provide invaluable assistance when setting up your business by helping you navigate legal requirements, structure your business properly, and ensure compliance with relevant regulations. Specifically, we can assist with the following during the business setup process: 

• Choosing the Right Business Structure: We can explain, in clear, easy to understand jargon, the different business structures available to you and help you choose the structure that aligns with your goals and provides the appropriate level of liability protection.
• Registration and Incorporation: Depending on the chosen structure, we can assist with registering your business with the appropriate government authorities. For limited companies, this involves filing the necessary documents and creating the legal entity.
• Drafting Legal Documents: We can draft and review essential legal documents, such as bespoke articles of association, subscription agreements, sweat equity agreements, share vesting agreements, partnership agreements, and shareholder agreements. These documents outline ownership, management, decision-making, and other key aspects of your business.
• Compliance with Regulations: Depending on your industry, there can be numerous regulations and legal requirements that your business must adhere to. We can help ensure your business is compliant with all key regulations.
• Intellectual Property Protection: If your business develops or acquires intellectual property, such as trademarks or copyrights, we can assist with the protection of these assets.
• Contracts and Agreements: We can draft and review agreements that your business will need, including client contracts, vendor agreements, employment contracts, and more. Ensuring these documents are well-drafted can help prevent future disputes.
• Employment Law: We can guide you through employment-related matters, such as creating employment contracts, complying with labour laws, and understanding employee rights. 
• Risk Management: We can identify potential legal risks and provide strategies to minimise liability, helping you safeguard your business from legal challenges.
• Financing and Funding: We can assist with legal aspects of obtaining financing, whether through loans, investment, or crowdfunding, and help ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Tax Planning: We can work alongside tax professionals to help you understand the tax implications of your business structure and transactions, ensuring that you’re optimising your tax position.
• Exit Strategies: We can help you plan for the future by drafting buy-sell agreements, succession plans, or exit strategies that outline what happens if you decide to sell the business or pass it on to someone else.

Engaging a lawyer early in the business setup process can help you avoid legal pitfalls, establish a strong legal foundation, and position your business for long-term success. We can tailor our guidance to your specific needs and industry, ensuring that your business complies with all crucial laws and regulations.

Contact Entrepreneur Legal® UK to find out more.

We have assisted businesses in many different industries with setting up and structuring various types of business entities including:

• Private limited companies
• Public limited companies
• Partnerships
• Limited partnerships
• Limited liability partnerships

We can also assist sole traders looking to operate under a trading name.

Contact Entrepreneur Legal® UK to find out more.

Yes, we can help restructure your business to better align with your growth plans or changes in the business environment.

Absolutely. We will assist with all legal documentation to ensure your business is compliant and ready to operate.

We can also assist with drafting, reviewing and/or negotiating various business entity related documents including, but not limited to:

• Partnership Agreements

• Shareholder Agreements

• Founder Term Sheets

• Capital Raise Term Sheets

• Subscription Agreements

• Sweat Equity Agreements

• Share Vesting Agreements

We can help you select and implement a business structure that facilitates scalability and provide ongoing advice as your business evolves.

Our affiliate, Entrepreneur Legal™ US, can provide legal guidance on, and help you set up and manage, a wide variety of business structures in the US.

We can also assist with the set up and management of business entities in several other jurisdictions through the use of reliable local counsel.