You don't really even need an accountant. You can file it online at Companies House's website for something like £15 and minimally adjust a standard memorandum and articles of association. The record keeping is easy and all the processes for incorporating, running, and dissolving a company are very well explained by CH's guidance booklets.
The UK, for all its faults, is one of the easiest and cheapest places in the world to incorporate, and all the other formalities combined are trivially trivial. The only qualm I have about incorporating in the UK revolves around how much personal data Companies House sells that subsequently gets splashed across the internet for all to see, free of charge. It's better than it used to be (directors' and secretaries' home addresses are now finally protected under the 2006 Act) but it's still a little too much unnecessary data that's made public.
Hmm, do you have any details as to the filing? My accountant helps me with advice and only costs about 100 pounds a year, but it would be nice to know how I can file by myself in case I need to...
Thanks, but how the hell did you know?! Thanks for the information, I'll have a look at the site and see what I can glean. The HMRC are indeed very helpful, I even have my own tax officer I can call. I'm beyond satisfied, especially when comparing the experience to the Greek one (ugh).
All your personal details you filled out on form 10 become public record, including your date of birth, former names, etc. Before the 2006 Act, all former directorships and personal residential addresses were also part of the permanent record. Also, all amendments you make become part of public record too.
If I really wanted, for a few pounds I could buy copies of your filings from Companies House! [1] [2]
Search your own name and you'll see a lot of information show up about you and the two British companies you've been involved in.
Ugh, that's horrible how accessible people's personal information is.
New York State has it right:
How can I find the names of officers and directors of a corporation or other business entity?
The Department of State does not require or maintain information regarding the names and addresses of officers or directors of corporations, the members or managers of a limited liability company, the limited partners of a limited partnership or the partners in a limited liability partnership. These records are internal records maintained by the corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership or limited liability partnership.
Actually, I find Duedil an extremely helpful service, and I think the increased transparency is a very positive thing.
If you start a business, you're not just a private person - you are the Director of a "legal person" who could be up to all sorts of stuff, including many bad things. You are entrusted with limited liability, lower taxes, and all sorts of other goodies, but there is a tradeoff.
The net effect of increased transparency is that it's much easier to tell when a business is dodgy. For example, Duedil allows me, when doing the due diligence on a possible client or supplier, to check the trading history of the owner. If, for example, I can see that the Director of that business has previously run 10 different businesses with similar names over the last 10 years, that might save me from a very, very costly mistake.
Transparency in the business world promotes trust. Trust is fundamentally necessary for a healthy business environment.
The UK, for all its faults, is one of the easiest and cheapest places in the world to incorporate, and all the other formalities combined are trivially trivial. The only qualm I have about incorporating in the UK revolves around how much personal data Companies House sells that subsequently gets splashed across the internet for all to see, free of charge. It's better than it used to be (directors' and secretaries' home addresses are now finally protected under the 2006 Act) but it's still a little too much unnecessary data that's made public.