<p>Companies House recognises several different legal structures. Inform Direct supports company records for all of the following types except overseas entities. This guide gives a brief overview of each, and links to more detailed guidance where it exists.</p> <h2>Private company limited by shares</h2> <p>This is the most common structure, and the one most Inform Direct guidance assumes by default. Ownership sits with shareholders, each holding one or more shares, and liability is limited to the amount unpaid on those shares. Inform Direct fully manages share allotments, transfers, share classes, PSC/RLE registers, statutory registers, and Companies House filings for this type.</p> <h2>Private company limited by guarantee</h2> <p>Used mainly by charities, clubs, and membership bodies with no share capital. Instead of shareholders, the company has members who each guarantee a nominal amount (often £1) towards the company's debts if it's wound up. Inform Direct manages the Members register in place of a shareholder register, and PSC rules apply in the same way as for companies limited by shares. See <a href="https://support.informdirect.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/49079856097809">Companies Limited by Guarantee: Member Rights Explained</a> for more on member rights specifically. Note that guarantee companies currently cannot file accounts through Inform Direct — see <a href="https://support.informdirect.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/47842034028305">Filing Accounts with Inform Direct</a>.</p> <h2>Public limited company (PLC)</h2> <p>A PLC can offer shares to the public and is subject to additional regulatory requirements compared with a private company, including a minimum allotted share capital of £50,000 (at least 25% paid up) before it can start trading. Inform Direct supports PLC share and officer records, though PLCs are automatically excluded from the micro-entity accounting provisions — see <a href="https://support.informdirect.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/43667451361297">What Types of Company are Excluded From Micro-Entity Provisions</a>.</p> <h2>Limited liability partnership (LLP)</h2> <p>An LLP is owned and run by its members rather than shareholders and directors, combining the flexibility of a partnership with limited liability. Members must be either individuals or corporate bodies (a trust cannot be appointed as a member — see <a href="https://support.informdirect.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/50711718642065">Changing an LLP Member's Type Between Natural Person and Corporate Body</a>). Inform Direct manages the Members register, and PSC rules apply to LLPs in the same way as to companies. Like guarantee companies, LLPs cannot currently file accounts through Inform Direct.</p> <h2>Community Interest Company (CIC)</h2> <p>A CIC is a limited company (by shares or by guarantee) designed for businesses that want to use their profits for the public good, subject to oversight by the CIC Regulator as well as Companies House. Formation requires an additional CIC36 form and Regulator approval, alongside the higher £115 (online) / £139 (postal) Companies House incorporation fee. See <a href="https://support.informdirect.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/43667183550097">How do I form a Community interest company (CIC) via Inform Direct?</a>. CICs also cannot currently file accounts through Inform Direct.</p> <h2>Unlimited company</h2> <p>An unlimited company has no cap on members' liability if the company is wound up with outstanding debts. It's a rarely-used structure, generally chosen by businesses that want to keep their accounts out of the public record — unlimited companies typically qualify for an exemption from filing accounts at Companies House at all (this depends on the company's specific circumstances, so check current Companies House guidance or speak to your accountant if you're relying on this). Inform Direct maintains officer and PSC records for unlimited companies in the same way as other company types.</p> <h2>What's not supported</h2> <p>Inform Direct does not currently manage records for:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Overseas entities</strong> — non-UK companies registered on the Register of Overseas Entities.</li> <li><strong>Limited Partnerships (LPs)</strong> and <strong>Scottish Partnerships</strong> — these are partnerships rather than companies, with their own separate registration regime at Companies House, and aren't held as company records in Inform Direct.</li> </ul> <p>If you need to manage one of these, you'll need to deal with Companies House directly (or via another provider).</p> <h2>A note on choosing a structure</h2> <p>This guide is a general overview, not advice on which structure is right for your business. The right choice depends on your specific circumstances — liability, tax, funding plans, and more — so if you're deciding how to structure a new company, it's worth speaking to an accountant or solicitor first.</p> <p><em>See also: <a href="https://support.informdirect.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/43667298479889">What Companies House Forms Can I File Using Inform Direct?</a>, <a href="https://support.informdirect.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/43667183117201">What Is the Cost of Forming a Company Using Inform Direct?</a>, <a href="https://support.informdirect.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/43666986967057">Does the PSC Legislation Apply to My Company?</a></em></p>