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£119.99+VAT“CLGEssential™” Recommended for 1
package
Buy Now Formation £119.99 + VAT — £123.99 total payable. Includes the £100 Companies House incorporation fee, Coddan’s £19.99 formation and processing fee and £4.00 VAT. VAT applies only to Coddan’s fee, not the official fee. Identity-verification guidance is included; paid verification, further drafting, printed documents and continuing support are separately selected or agreed. Need a particular registration date? Check the separately charged same-day option before selecting it in the order form. It is distinct from paid priority handling. Start your CLGEssential™ order, or ask about your requirements and price without committing to an order. |
£159.99+VAT“CLG AddressPro™” Recommended for 2
package
Buy Now Registered Office £159.99 + VAT — £171.99 total payable. Includes the £100 Companies House incorporation fee, Coddan’s £59.99 service fee and £12.00 VAT. VAT applies only to Coddan’s fee, not the official fee. Digital incorporation documents follow registration. The EC3 office renews at £45 + VAT annually on the incorporation anniversary. Alternative registered-office upgrades start at £45; confirm the selected location’s VAT-inclusive price and renewal terms. Director addresses, physical forwarding and paid verification are separate options. Start your CLG AddressPro™ order; if timing matters, check same-day eligibility and the additional charge. |
£199.99+VAT“CLG ProtectPro™” Recommended for 3
package
Buy Now Director Address £199.99 + VAT — £219.99 total payable. Includes the £100 Companies House incorporation fee, Coddan’s £99.99 service fee and £20.00 VAT. VAT applies only to Coddan’s fee, not the official fee. Appointing up to five directors does not provide five addresses: only the first director’s service address is included; addresses for directors 2–5 cost £15 each. Confirm their VAT, service periods and renewal charges before ordering. The EC3 office renews at £45 + VAT annually on the incorporation anniversary. Digital incorporation documents are included. Start your CLG ProtectPro™ order, or confirm your complete address costs. |
£299.99+VAT“CLG ContinuityPro™” Recommended for 4
package
Buy Now Ongoing Support £299.99 + VAT — £339.99 total payable. Includes the £100 Companies House incorporation fee, Coddan’s £199.99 service fee and £40.00 VAT. VAT applies only to Coddan’s fee, not the official fee. Digital incorporation documents are included. The EC3 office renews at £45 + VAT annually on the incorporation anniversary. Continuing-support renewal depends on the required level, starting at £100; agree scope and applicable VAT before renewal. Only the first director’s address is covered; directors 2–5 cost £15 each, with VAT, periods and renewals confirmed separately. Future filings, accounts and tax work are separately instructed. Start your CLG Continuity Ro™ order, or discuss support and request a written service agreement. |
Online registration with professional preparation
A company limited by guarantee (CLG) is commonly used by membership organisations that want a company structure without share capital. Its members are guarantors rather than shareholders, and each member’s agreed guarantee generally applies in relevant winding-up circumstances. The amount need not be £1. This page explains the structure, the information needed for registration and the formation services available through Coddan.
A CLG may suit clubs, associations, community organisations, residents’ bodies and other membership-based groups. The right articles and service depend on how the organisation will operate. Incorporation does not itself register a charity or grant tax relief; discuss any charity-specific purposes or unusual governance requirements before choosing your service.
Professional formation support from Coddan. Coddan CPM Limited acts as a company formation agent and is supervised by HMRC for applicable anti-money-laundering purposes as a TCSP. It is also registered with Companies House as an ACSP. The identity-verification framework introduced by the ECCTA means that relevant individuals must complete the identity-verification steps that apply to them. Coddan explains the information needed, prepares the agreed documents and submits the application after your review and approval; Companies House retains responsibility for the incorporation decision.
You can place an order through the single-page form at any time from the UK or overseas. Coddan reviews the formation information and contacts you if clarification is needed. Priority handling with personal-manager support is available through separately priced options where offered; continuing secretarial support is a separate service.
Compare the current package inclusions and total payable before ordering. The entry-package price breakdown is set out in the formation section below; other packages and optional services have their own prices and inclusions.
A CLG has guarantor-members and a guaranteed amount rather than shareholders and share capital. A member may also be a director, but membership and directorship remain different capacities.
Use suitable established Coddan articles, provide purposes for inclusion, bring prepared articles or discuss particular membership and voting arrangements. For detailed preparation choices, see efficient CLG formation: preparation and articles choices, or our CLG objects and articles service. Any bespoke drafting is agreed and priced separately.
Choosing the right legal structure is one of the most important decisions your organisation will make — and for non-profits, membership bodies, and social enterprises, a Company Limited by Guarantee could be the perfect fit. Unlike a standard limited company, a CLG has no shareholders or share capital. Instead, it's governed by guarantors who commit a nominal sum — typically just £1 to £10 — should the company ever be wound up. It's a structure built for purpose-driven organisations that need credibility without the complexity of share ownership. Coddan CPM makes efficient CLG incorporation straightforward, guiding you through every step so you can focus on your mission rather than the paperwork. Whether you're launching a charity, a professional association, or a community enterprise, efficient limited by guarantee company formation starts right here.
Once incorporated, the CLG is a separate legal person. Its directors remain responsible for the company’s governance, records, accounts, confirmation statements and other applicable obligations.
Purpose and operational suitability
A Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG) is commonly used by membership organisations, associations, clubs and many organisations that do not distribute profits to shareholders. It has members, often called guarantors in this context, rather than shareholders, and it has no share capital. Each member’s guarantee is specified in the company’s constitution and generally sets the amount they agree to contribute if the relevant liability arises.
A CLG can earn income and generate a surplus. Whether it suits your organisation depends on its purpose, membership arrangements, governance and intended activities. Incorporation does not automatically establish charitable status, confer tax exemption or provide any separate regulatory permission.
For groups that need a legal entity, defined membership and decision-making arrangements, and limited liability subject to the applicable rules.
For industry networks and membership organisations representing shared interests or coordinating services for their members.
For organisations funded through grants, donations, membership fees or contracts, where their constitutional arrangements reflect how income and any surplus will be used.
A CLG may be used for certain residential management arrangements. Suitability depends on the lease, freehold ownership, management responsibilities and any applicable right-to-manage requirements.
A CLG can be a possible corporate structure for a charity, but separate eligibility, constitutional and registration requirements apply. The appropriate route differs across England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
This is a preparation aid, not a legal suitability test. Not every member needs Companies House identity verification, and relevant individuals may use a permitted verification route; using Coddan’s verification service is not compulsory in every case.
If your purpose, membership and governance can be met by the standard package, compare the current inclusions, price and any optional services before ordering.
Compare formation packagesIf you need multiple membership classes, special voting rights, tailored articles, asset-lock provisions or other bespoke governance arrangements, contact Coddan before ordering. We can clarify the work and price for you to consider.
Ask Coddan before orderingA charity or property-management company does not automatically require bespoke formation. The appropriate route depends on its actual arrangements. An enquiry does not oblige you to order.
A clear route from planning to incorporation
Efficient formation starts with clear decisions, not simply filling in a form quickly. Confirming the organisation’s purpose, proposed name, guarantor-members, directors, guarantee amount and intended governance early helps Coddan identify what the application needs and whether the selected service fits. Where these details are unresolved, clarifying them before documents are prepared can reduce avoidable follow-up, corrections or reworking; it cannot prevent every issue or determine how quickly Companies House will process an application.
You do not need to know every form or document name before you start. Explain in ordinary language how the organisation will operate and raise any uncertainties early. The usual route is to explain your plans, choose a suitable package or ask a question first, provide the necessary information and instructions, have the agreed application and documents prepared, review or confirm details where required, and then proceed to submission. Companies House—not Coddan—makes the registration decision.
Explain what the organisation will do, who will participate and how decisions should be made. This helps establish the proposed name and purpose, initial guarantor-members and directors, guarantee amount, membership and voting arrangements, relevant control information, addresses and any articles or other documents you already have.
Making important choices early can help avoid preparing documents around arrangements that later need to change. If you are unsure about a governance point, raise it rather than guessing; the detailed requirements section explains the information normally needed.
The journey is straightforward: explain your plans and any open questions; select the appropriate package or make an enquiry; provide the required information and agreed instructions; let Coddan prepare the application and documents covered by the service; review or confirm details where required; and proceed with submission.
After submission, the application is subject to Companies House processing and its registration decision. Preparation can reduce avoidable administrative friction, but it does not guarantee acceptance, incorporation or a particular processing time.
The online order form lets you compare available formation packages and their stated inclusions. A standard package may be suitable where the purpose, membership and governance arrangements are settled. Special membership classes, unusual voting rights, tailored articles or other constitutional work may need discussion and separate pricing before you order.
Priority handling, a named personal manager and continuing company-secretarial support should be treated according to the scope and price stated for each option; do not assume they are included in every formation order.
Where Companies House identity verification is required, Coddan offers standard verification for £40 + VAT (£48 including VAT), with no statutory fee; the process takes up to 24 hours. Priority identity verification costs £65 + VAT (£78 including VAT), also with no statutory fee, and can take 1–4 hours depending on how quickly you upload the required documents into the identity-verification app. These are estimates, not guaranteed completion times; check the current order terms before purchase.
Coddan’s involvement does not remove an individual’s own identity-verification responsibilities. Follow the applicable instructions and use the appropriate secure process for identity evidence and confidential codes rather than sending them in an ordinary pre-order email.
Compare the package contents before choosing. The formation fee covers only the work and deliverables stated for that package; address services, printed records and continuing support should not be assumed to be included unless listed.
CLGEssential™ package price and VAT: The supplied order-form information displays £119.99 + VAT and states that the £100 Companies House incorporation fee is included. On the stated breakdown of £100 statutory fee plus a £19.99 Coddan service fee, VAT at 20% on the £19.99 service fee is £4, giving an arithmetic total of £123.99. This calculation must be checked against the live itemised checkout before it is advertised as the final payable amount. Do not add the £100 statutory fee again if it is already included in the selected package. Other packages and optional services are priced separately.
The order form’s package details specify which digital incorporation documents are supplied. Printed documents, other company records and renewals depend on the selected or separately agreed service.
If your organisation’s purpose, membership, guarantee and governance arrangements are settled, you can go straight to the formation packages; you do not need to read every guide first. If you have existing articles, unresolved structural questions or a requirement that may involve additional drafting, email info@coddan.co.uk with a short explanation of the organisation and the points that need attention.
Coddan can explain the relevant service scope and any separately agreed work and charges before you decide. An enquiry does not oblige you to order, and a charity or property-management company does not automatically need a bespoke formation.
Answers before and after registration
Use these guides when a particular question needs attention. Ready to order? Go directly to the formation packages or the same-day option. You do not need to read every guide before starting.
For a club, association or community group deciding how to get started. Understand what incorporation changes, who will be members and directors, and how the company can support your activities. The guide helps you consider the structure before committing to an application.
Read the non-profit starting guideCompare membership and guarantees with shares and investment. Consider control, funding and the company’s intended purpose, including whether transferable ownership or equity investment is needed. Choose the structure that suits the organisation rather than assuming every non-profit must use a CLG.
Compare guarantee and share companiesCheck the name, jurisdiction, directors, guarantors, guarantee amount, registered office, email, control information and governing documents. Understand the applicable identity requirements and what to provide. Coddan can clarify missing details and prepare the application from the arrangements you approve.
CheckCLG Formationrequirements
See how easy online ordering works alongside review and preparation by our team. Begin through our Companies House-integrated portal 24/7 from the UK or overseas. Understand what Coddan handles, the documents you receive and the separately agreed help available after registration.
Explore formation with CoddanUnderstand the difference between the company’s purposes, its activities and its governing rules. Standard articles may suit an ordinary CLG; special membership, charitable purposes or property arrangements can need additional provisions. Describe what you intend so Coddan can explain the relevant document work.
Understand CLG objects and articlesExplore London EC3, W1W, Canary Wharf and Mayfair, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Belfast, subject to the company’s jurisdiction and service terms. Read about free scanning and portal uploads, weekly Royal Mail forwarding, and separate director-address and SAIL arrangements. Your own suitable address remains an option.
Explore CLG address servicesPut the company’s rules into practice, keep member and accounting records, and decide who handles correspondence and payments. Understand activity or dormancy, HMRC steps and applicable accounts, confirmation-statement, PAYE and VAT duties. Agree any records, filing or financial support separately.
Read the CLG post-incorporation guideFor a company that needs an annual filing, an address change, member or officer records, minutes or continuing administrative help. Tell Coddan what has changed or what needs doing. We explain the relevant work, information and approvals needed, and the price before you instruct us.
Explore CLG secretarial servicesPrepare the right information
Not every organisation is built the same, so why should your company formation package be? Coddan CPM's Package Customisation service lets you pick only what your organisation actually needs — no unnecessary add-ons, no paying for address or ongoing administration services you'll never use. For those looking at efficient limited by guarantee company formation, this flexible approach means a cleaner, leaner process from the start. Need to register a CLG efficiently without the faff of a one-size-fits-all bundle? This is it. One word of note: if your organisation has custom objects or bespoke governance arrangements, it's worth a quick chat with the advisory desk before selecting a standard package to make sure everything's set up just right.
Have the proposed name, purposes, jurisdiction, directors, initial guarantor-members, guarantee amounts, addresses and relevant control information ready. Explain how membership, voting and director appointments should work. If an answer is unsettled, ask Coddan before guessing: we help clarify the information and prepare the agreed application.
01 · Company name and jurisdiction
The proposed name must be checked against the company-name rules and existing register information. The application must also identify whether the registered office will be in England and Wales, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
02 · Director information
A private company must have at least one director. Directors do not have to live in the United Kingdom, but the company must have an appropriate UK registered office and the relevant director and service-address information.
03 · Guarantors and guarantee
At least one guarantor is required. The application must identify the initial guarantors, who become members, and the amount each agrees to contribute if the guarantee becomes payable in the relevant winding-up circumstances.
04 · Registered office and email
The company needs an appropriate registered office in its jurisdiction and a registered email address. If an address service is required, it should be selected according to the organisation’s actual needs and the services included in your chosen package.
05 · Control and identity information
Coddan reviews the actual voting and appointment rights for the appropriate PSC details or statement. Relevant directors and individual PSCs must meet their role-specific verification requirements. Tell us about an existing usable Personal Code; another paid verification is not normally needed. Guarantor membership alone does not require Companies House identity verification. AML customer checks remain separate.
06 · Memorandum and articles
Coddan prepares the prescribed memorandum, suitable articles and statement of guarantee from the arrangements you confirm. If you supply prepared articles, the standard order form directs you to email them to orders@coddan.co.uk after completing the form. Discuss particular drafting and any document-handling charge before ordering.
Preparation, submission and registration
The process begins with the information and decisions needed for your company, followed by preparation, applicable checks, your approval and submission. The stages below explain what you need to provide and what happens next. Standard and same-day processing options are described separately.
Supply the proposed company name, purposes, director and guarantor details, guarantee amounts, addresses and relevant governance information. Coddan reviews the supplied details, asks about missing points and prepares the application and formation documents covered by the selected service.
Coddan completes its anti-money-laundering customer checks separately from Companies House identity verification. If verification is required, standard identity verification costs £40 + VAT (£48 including VAT) and takes up to 24 hours; priority identity verification costs £65 + VAT (£78 including VAT) and can take 1–4 hours, depending on how quickly you upload the required documents into the identity-verification app. Neither option has a statutory fee. Provide any existing usable Personal Code through the appropriate secure process. For a new verification, follow the app instructions; Coddan reviews the results and submits the confirmation, and Companies House issues the Personal Code. Timing is an estimate, not a guarantee.
Approve the prepared application and documents once any questions and required checks are complete. Coddan then submits the ready application through the appropriate channel, requesting the selected processing service. Companies House examines it and decides whether to register the company.
After successful registration, receive the digital Certificate of Incorporation, memorandum and articles stated in the formation package. Coddan can also provide printed documents, membership certificates and other records through the selected or separately agreed service. Any personal-manager assistance depends on the priority-handling option selected; check its stated scope before ordering.
Select the same-day incorporation add-on in your chosen formation order form. For an eligible ordinary electronic England and Wales application, Coddan prepares and reviews the agreed information, obtains your approval and requests Companies House’s same-day software processing. It is an established processing choice for customers working towards a particular date.
For same-day service, Coddan must receive your order before 2:30 p.m. London time on a working day; ideally, place it before 11:30 a.m. This gives time for the required information, checks, customer approval and application preparation. The application must be complete and eligible for the Companies House same-day software service. An order received before the cutoff does not guarantee same-day incorporation: missing information, identity-verification steps, additional drafting, name or article issues, or Companies House processing can affect the outcome. Ask before ordering if you need supplied or customised articles, an exemption from “Limited” or another incorporation jurisdiction.
Same-day is a separately charged option. Companies House charges £156 for same-day software incorporation, compared with the £100 standard software incorporation fee included in the standard package: the additional statutory fee is £56. Coddan’s £75 same-day add-on therefore comprises the £56 statutory-fee difference and Coddan’s £19 service fee. VAT is charged on Coddan’s £19 fee, adding £3.80 at the current 20% VAT rate. The same-day add-on totals £78.80 including VAT, in addition to the standard package price. Check the order summary before payment.
The standard processing estimate is 24–48 hours, but the actual timeframe depends on the Companies House workflow and the completeness of the application. It is an estimate, not a guarantee. Coddan’s preparation and checks take place before submission, and unresolved questions, customer approvals or additional drafting can extend the overall timeframe. The same-day Companies House incorporation service is distinct from Coddan’s separately priced priority identity-verification service and any personal-manager support option.
The same-day option does not bypass Companies House examination. Registration still depends on a complete application that Companies House can accept.
Company formation agent
Coddan turns your approved company arrangements into the application and formation documents covered by your service. We review the information, ask about missing details and submit the completed application. After registration, you receive the included incorporation documents, with address services and further records work provided where selected or separately agreed.
Registered ACSP
Coddan CPM Limited is registered with Companies House as an Authorised Corporate Service Provider (ACSP), also known as an authorised agent. We can help with the applicable verification route; Companies House issues the Personal Code to the individual. Verification and incorporation are separate steps.
HMRC-supervised TCSP
Coddan CPM Limited is supervised by HMRC for anti-money-laundering purposes as a trust or company service provider. We check customer identity, authority and relevant control information for the agreed service and raise questions where details need clarification.
These services are separate. Formation prepares the company application; customer due-diligence checks assess the customer and instruction; identity verification confirms an individual’s identity for Companies House. Individuals remain responsible for completing any identity verification required of them. Coddan’s ACSP status does not transfer that responsibility, guarantee incorporation or amount to government endorsement. Standard identity verification is £40 + VAT (£48 including VAT) and takes up to 24 hours. Priority identity verification is £65 + VAT (£78 including VAT) and can take 1–4 hours depending on how quickly the client uploads the required documents into the identity-verification app. Neither service has a statutory fee, and the timeframes are estimates rather than guarantees.
If you select a priority-handling option, its description sets out the level of personal-manager assistance included. Otherwise, check your order confirmation for the support covered by the formation package. For official details, read the guidance on using an ACSP and TCSP supervision.
Use the structure for the right reason
After incorporation, the company can hold assets, enter contracts and incur obligations in its own name. The guarantee normally limits each member’s contribution to the agreed amount in the relevant winding-up circumstances; it is not a general exemption from personal responsibility for a person’s own conduct or duties.
The company does not issue ordinary shares to its members. This can suit organisations whose governance is based on membership and voting rights rather than an equity investment, but the articles must still reflect how membership and decision-making will work.
A CLG may be used as the corporate form for a charitable organisation, but charitable purposes, constitutional provisions, registration and continuing charity-law requirements must be considered separately.
Being limited by guarantee does not, by itself, impose every restriction on income, member benefits or asset distribution. Those outcomes depend on the articles, purposes, intended status and any applicable regulatory framework.
After incorporation
The certificate shows that the company exists. Its directors and members may then need to make initial decisions, establish working records, arrange banking and complete any separate tax, charity or regulatory steps that apply. Coddan can help with putting the company’s records and administration in place after formation; the relevant work depends on the organisation and the package selected.
The directors and members may need to approve initial arrangements, apply the articles and document decisions. Coddan can prepare first minutes and other agreed governance materials for the company to consider and adopt in the proper capacity.
The company must keep its own corporate and accounting records. Coddan can prepare agreed registers and membership certificates, with digital or printed materials where included or separately ordered. Internal records are distinct from the public Companies House entries.
A limited company has continuing Companies House filing obligations, including accounts and confirmation statements. The exact accounting, tax and audit position depends on its activities and circumstances.
HMRC, Charity Commission, CIC, banking, funding, registered-office and company-secretarial requirements remain separate. A service is included only where it appears in the confirmed package or written service agreement.
Plan the ongoing administration as well as formation. After incorporation, directors must keep the company’s records and meet applicable filing and reporting duties, including confirmation statements, accounts and relevant changes to company details. Coddan can provide separately selected company-secretarial support, registered-office services and assistance with relevant Companies House filings. The scope, fees and renewal terms depend on the service selected.
Getting your company number is just the beginning. While most formation agents clock off after Day One, Coddan CPM — an Authorised Corporate Service Provider — sticks around for everything that follows. As specialists in efficient CLG incorporation and beyond, we handle the ongoing responsibilities that keep your Company Limited by Guarantee above board: statutory register maintenance, annual confirmation filings, and full corporate secretarial support. It’s the kind of steady, reliable backing that means you can focus on your mission rather than your admin. With Coddan, efficient limited by guarantee company formation isn’t a transaction — it’s the start of a long-term working relationship built on compliance done properly.
Read the CLG post-incorporation guide, explore CLG secretarial services or review registered-office services to decide what additional support, if any, suits your organisation.
Before launch, decide who will manage company correspondence, maintain membership records, document decisions and arrange required filings. Overseas participation alone does not mean bespoke articles or a higher formation package is necessary.
Member records, first minutes, annual filings and other administration can be arranged as separate work. Use the post-incorporation guide for initial practical steps or explore CLG secretarial services. Formation does not automatically include an annual support subscription.
Choose your level of support
A standard CLG formation can be a quick and affordable starting point. If you need tailored articles, name consent, a registered office, printed documents or continuing support, select the relevant service or ask Coddan to explain the work and price. For efficient CLG formation with London address choices, explore the available formation and address combinations. Compare the current package price, included Companies House fee, VAT, documents and any renewal before placing your order.
To enquire before ordering, email info@coddan.co.uk with your purposes, proposed participants, intended decision-making, existing documents and relevant dates. You do not need to diagnose bespoke drafting. Coddan explains suitable work and confirms the price before you decide whether to order; an enquiry creates no obligation. A written service agreement, engagement letter and service schedule are available on request. Identity evidence and confidential codes follow the appropriate secure process.
The name checker provides an initial availability search. It does not reserve the name, guarantee Companies House acceptance, provide trade-mark clearance, approve sensitive wording or establish entitlement to omit Limited
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