Advantages of a Limited Company
  • If a limited company should fail there is less risk to personal and family assets than there is with sole traders or partnerships.

  • These days a company only needs one shareholder who can also be a director, and a company secretary who does not need to be a director.

  • Companies with a turnover below £5.6 Million do not need an audit making the cost of year end accounts much closer to those of a Sole Trader.

  • Shareholder Directors can select a package of Low Salary and Higher Dividends aimed at reducing Tax and National Insurance both for the individual and the company. Savings can easily be about £1,500 per year if sole trader profits are as low as £20,000, and over £4,600 per year compared to a sole trader with £45,000 profit.

  • Shareholdings can be split between family members to spread the dividends and reduce higher rate tax liability (or eliminate it all together).

  • Companies with profits below £300,000 pay tax at just 19%, rather than basic rate of 22% or higher rate of 40% personal tax and Self Employed National Insurance of 8%.

  • Limited Companies often have a higher marketing profile than other businesses.

  • Limited Companies can be easier to sell than Sole Traders or Partnerships.

  • There are a few disadvantages, but as long as the company does not trade whilst insolvent and there is no fraud there is very little risk to the directors.

  • There is a higher paperwork burden with a company but the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

  • We can form your Limited Company from as little as £150.00 + VAT which includes lots of additional tax saving advice.

  • Also see our Tax Tips page for Company Directors.