Company Formation & Company Secretarial Services in Hertfordshire
Starting a new business or moving from sole trader to limited company is one of the most significant financial decisions you'll make. Get the structure right from the outset and you create a platform for tax efficiency, credibility, and long-term growth. Get it wrong and you may face unnecessary costs, compliance headaches, or a complex and expensive restructure further down the line.
At CoreAcc, we provide a comprehensive company formation and company secretarial service — not just registering your company on Companies House, but advising on the right structure, share allocation, articles of association, and ensuring you stay compliant with all ongoing filing obligations from day one.
Limited Company Formation — What We Do
- ✓Advise on the most tax-efficient business structure: limited company, sole trader, partnership, LLP, or limited company with holding structure
- ✓Register your company at Companies House — typically within 24 hours of instruction
- ✓Draft or review bespoke Articles of Association
- ✓Set up your share structure, including different share classes (ordinary, preference, alphabet shares) where appropriate for family businesses or investors
- ✓Register the company for Corporation Tax with HMRC
- ✓Register for VAT (if required or beneficial)
- ✓Set up PAYE for directors' payroll
- ✓Advise on your first director's salary and dividend strategy
- ✓Register for Making Tax Digital (MTD)
- ✓Open business banking relationships (we work with a number of business banking providers and can make introductions)
Company Secretarial — Ongoing Compliance
Once your company is formed, there is a series of ongoing legal and regulatory obligations that must be met. Failure to file on time results in Companies House late filing penalties, director fines, and — in serious cases — strike-off. Our company secretarial service ensures nothing is missed:
- ✓Annual Confirmation Statement filing (previously the Annual Return)
- ✓Maintenance of statutory registers (members, directors, PSCs, charges)
- ✓Filing of director appointments and resignations
- ✓Filing of People with Significant Control (PSC) changes
- ✓Share transfers, allotments, and the issue of stock transfer forms
- ✓Preparation of board minutes for key decisions (dividend declarations, director appointments, etc.)
- ✓Registered office address provision (Borehamwood address available for use)
- ✓Companies House correspondence management
When to Consider a Holding Company Structure
As your business grows, a single limited company structure may no longer be optimal. Common reasons to introduce a holding company include:
- ✓Protecting retained profits from trading risk — dividends can be paid to the holdco free of Corporation Tax (under the substantial shareholdings exemption) and held securely
- ✓Facilitating a business sale — selling the trading subsidiary while retaining other assets
- ✓Managing multiple business activities under one group structure
- ✓Enabling more flexible ownership structures for family succession or bringing in investors
If you're considering a holding company or group restructure, we can model the tax implications and advise on the most cost-effective route.
Sole Trader vs Limited Company: Which Is Right for You?
This is one of the most common questions we receive — and the answer depends on your specific circumstances. As a general guide:
- ✓A sole trader structure is simpler to administer and may be appropriate if your profits are lower or you are testing a new business idea
- ✓A limited company typically becomes more tax-efficient once your annual profit exceeds approximately £25,000–£30,000, due to the ability to split income between salary and dividends
- ✓A limited company offers limited liability — protecting your personal assets if the business faces claims or insolvency
- ✓A limited company carries greater credibility with some clients and can make it easier to access finance
We offer a free initial consultation to assess which structure is right for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly can you form a company?
Standard Companies House registration typically takes 24 hours when submitted online. We can advise on same-day formation in most cases. Before formation, we will have a conversation with you to ensure the structure, share allocation, and HMRC registrations are set up correctly — so the total process usually takes two to three business days to complete fully.
What is a PSC register and do I need to maintain one?
PSC stands for Person with Significant Control. HMRC requires all UK companies to maintain a register of individuals who own more than 25% of shares, control more than 25% of voting rights, or otherwise exercise significant influence over the company. This register must be kept up to date and relevant changes filed with Companies House. We maintain this as part of our company secretarial service.
Can I use your Borehamwood address as my registered office?
Yes. We offer a registered office address service at our Borehamwood, Hertfordshire address. This is useful if you run your business from home and prefer not to put your home address on the public Companies House register. All statutory correspondence is forwarded to you promptly.
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