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What happens if your company cannot pay its debts and is given a court judgment, statutory demand or winding-up order by your creditors

• If your company cannot pay its debts

  Your limited company can be liquidated (‘wound up’) if it cannot pay its…

• Responding to a court judgment

  You have 14 days to respond to a court judgment. To respond, you must do…

• Responding to a statutory demand

  You have 21 days to respond to a statutory demand. To respond, you must do…

• Getting a winding-up order

  Your creditors can apply to the court to close down your company. They do…

Incorporate a private limited company - register it with Companies House and rules on directors, shares, articles of association and telling HMRC about the company.

• Limited companies

  A limited company is one way to set up a business. It is legally separate…

• Types of limited company

  There are 2 types of limited company: limited by shares limited by…

• Choose a company name

  You must choose a name for your business if you’re setting up a private…

• Check the rules for registered office addresses and email addresses

  You must provide a registered office address and email address when you…

• Appoint directors and a company secretary

  Your company must have at least one director. Directors are legally…

• Choose your shareholders for companies limited by shares

  A company limited by shares must have at least one shareholder, who can be…

• Choose guarantors for a company limited by guarantee

  When setting up a company limited by guarantee you must have at least one…

• Prepare documents agreeing how to run your company

  When you register your company you need: a ‘memorandum of association’ - a…

• Register your company

  Use this service to register your company with Companies House. You will…

• Add Corporation Tax services to your business tax account

  You can add Corporation Tax services to your business tax account if you…

Choosing a legal structure when you're starting a business: the differences between being a sole trader and a limited company, including legal risk, registration and taxes.

Employment status (worker, employee, self-employed, director or contractor) affects employment rights and employer responsibilities in the workplace

The rules for employment agencies and businesses: licences, vulnerable people, opting out, job advertisements, transfer fees, trade unions, terms and conditions and contracts, travel and accommodation for work-seekers

Decision for applicant Tiffany And Company registration number 16256679, applicant successful.

• Updated: 1 April 2026

This instrument is being made using powers in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 in order to address failures of retained EU law and other deficiencies arising from the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. It will...

• Updated: 23 November 2018

Running a limited company - including directors' responsibilities, company annual returns, reporting company changes and how to take money out of a limited company.

Set up and run a business partnership - naming a partnership, registering with HMRC, partnership tax returns and legal responsibilities

How to close a limited company - strike off, dissolution, voluntary liquidation - or allow to become dormant