Establish

Define the corporate structure, purpose, directors, members or guarantors and formation requirements.

Organise

Put the company's addresses, records, governance arrangements and corporate administration in place.

Maintain

Manage ongoing Companies House, governance, accounting, tax and administrative responsibilities as applicable.

Develop

Adapt the company's support arrangements as its activities, governance, international needs or future plans change.

Establish the company with the right foundations

A new CLG may require more than the filing of an incorporation application. The organisation may need to consider its constitutional framework, directors, members or guarantors, registered office, corporate records and applicable identity-verification requirements before incorporation.

Coddan can provide formation support and help identify additional corporate services that may be appropriate from the outset.

Continue with the support your company actually needs

An existing CLG does not need to purchase a formation package simply because it requires professional assistance. Individual services can be considered according to the company's current circumstances and responsibilities.

Support may relate to Companies House filings, corporate records, company secretarial administration, registered office arrangements, accounts, HMRC matters or other company-specific requirements.

I Am Establishing a New CLG

If your organisation has not yet been incorporated, the first step is to establish the company's corporate framework and determine what formation support is appropriate. This can include preparing the incorporation information, establishing the directors and members or guarantors, arranging the appropriate registered office and reviewing the information required for Companies House registration.

I Already Have a UK CLG

If your Company Limited by Guarantee is already registered, you do not need to purchase a formation package simply because you require professional assistance. We can assess your company's existing position and help you identify the corporate, governance, Companies House, tax or international support that is relevant to its current needs.

Purpose & Objects

Establish what the organisation intends to achieve and, where appropriate, define its objects clearly enough to support the company's constitutional framework and intended activities.

Directors & Management

Identify the people who will govern the CLG, understand their roles and responsibilities, and establish the director structure required for the organisation.

Members & Guarantors

Establish who the members or guarantors will be and understand the guarantee structure that distinguishes a CLG from a company limited by shares.

Articles & Constitutional Framework

Establish the rules governing how the company operates, including its constitutional arrangements, member relationships and governance framework.

Intended Activities & SIC Codes

Identify the company's intended activities and select appropriate SIC code information for its Companies House registration and corporate record.

Registered Office & Corporate Addresses

Determine the appropriate registered office and, where relevant, director service-address arrangements before the incorporation application is submitted.

How Coddan Supports the Establishment Process

Coddan can review the information provided for formation, identify areas that may require clarification and prepare the applicable incorporation information for Companies House submission.

• Professional review of formation information
• Formation documentation and Companies House submission
• Guidance on applicable corporate and identity requirements
• Registered office and service-address options where required
• Digital incorporation documents following successful registration

The Framework Should Reflect the Organisation

CLGs can be established for very different purposes and can have different combinations of directors, members or guarantors. The appropriate corporate framework therefore depends on the organisation's actual circumstances rather than a one-size-fits-all formation model.

Where the proposed structure raises questions about governance, charitable status, international participation or other specialist matters, additional professional advice may be appropriate before the company is incorporated.

Structure & Purpose

Consider whether a Company Limited by Guarantee is appropriate for the organisation and establish its intended purpose, activities and basic corporate structure.

Constitutional Framework

Establish the company's Articles, guarantee structure, membership arrangements and governance framework so that the proposed company has an appropriate corporate foundation.

Addresses & Corporate Infrastructure

Determine the appropriate registered office and, where required, director service-address arrangements before the incorporation application is submitted.

Incorporation Preparation

Prepare the information required for the incorporation application, including company details, directors, members or guarantors, SIC codes and the registered office.

Professional Review & Submission

Coddan reviews the formation information supplied by the client and, once the application is ready, submits the applicable incorporation filing to Companies House.

Incorporation & Next Steps

Following successful registration, the company receives its incorporation documents and can move into its ongoing corporate, governance, filing, accounting and administrative lifecycle.

The Registered Office Provides the Company's Official Address

• Provides the statutory registered address of the company.
• Provides an address for receiving formal company correspondence and documents.
• Provides an address for service of legal documents where applicable.
• Appears as part of the company's public Companies House record.
• Provides a consistent corporate address even where the organisation's activities take place elsewhere.

A Registered Office Is Not Automatically a Trading Premises

• It does not automatically provide a physical office for employees.
• It does not automatically provide customer-facing premises.
• It is not the same as a tenancy or leased business premises.
• It does not necessarily represent where the company's day-to-day activities take place.
• It should not be presented as a physical operating location where no such facility exists.

Official Correspondence

Companies House, HMRC and other authorities may use the registered office for relevant formal correspondence. The company should have appropriate arrangements for receiving and acting on important communications.

Public Corporate Record

The registered office forms part of the company's public corporate information. Choosing the address should therefore take account of the organisation's practical requirements and the implications of public disclosure.

Reliable Mail Handling

Where a professional registered office service is used, arrangements may include receipt, handling, scanning and digital access to company correspondence according to the selected service terms.

Registered Office

This is the company's official registered address. It is recorded on the Companies House register and is used for relevant statutory correspondence and service of documents.

Director Service Address

This is the address provided for a director's official corporate correspondence and public service-address requirement. It can be different from the company's registered office.

Residential Address

This is the director's actual home address. It is different from the service address and is subject to separate statutory requirements regarding disclosure and records.

Corporate Privacy Without Hiding the Director

A service address is not a way of concealing a director's identity or avoiding statutory disclosure. Its purpose is to provide the appropriate public and corporate address while separating routine corporate correspondence from the director's home address.

• Helps keep the director's residential address separate from routine corporate correspondence.
• Provides a professional address for relevant director correspondence.
• Supports a clear distinction between corporate and personal address information.
• Can be particularly useful where directors do not maintain a separate UK business premises.

A Service Address Is Not a Privacy Shield

Directors remain identifiable on the public corporate record where the law requires their information to be disclosed. A service address does not remove the director from the Companies House record and does not replace identity-verification or other statutory requirements.

The objective is appropriate address management: meeting corporate requirements while avoiding unnecessary publication of a residential address where a suitable service-address arrangement is available.

The Incorporation Application

The incorporation application brings together the information required to register the proposed company, including its name, registered office, directors, members or guarantors, intended activities and other applicable company information.

Identity & Access Requirements

Companies House now operates identity-verification requirements for relevant individuals. Depending on the circumstances, verification can be completed directly through the Companies House process or through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider.

The Ongoing Company Record

Once incorporated, the CLG has an ongoing relationship with Companies House. Changes to company information, statutory filings and other corporate events may need to be dealt with correctly and within the applicable requirements.

What Does a Professional ACSP Approach Add?

A professional corporate service should add value around the filing rather than simply reproduce the government's application process. Coddan's approach is to review the information supplied, consider the connected corporate requirements and help the client understand what needs to happen before and after incorporation.

An ACSP Is More Than an Online Filing Login

An Authorised Corporate Service Provider is a Companies House-authorised agent that operates within an AML-supervised framework. ACSPs can provide services such as identity verification for Companies House and act within the regulatory framework applicable to authorised agents.

This distinction matters when a client is comparing a professional corporate service with a simple do-it-yourself filing route.

The Objective Is a Correctly Established Company

The value of professional support is not that Companies House makes incorporation impossible without an agent. A client can use the available government services where eligible. The value is the additional professional process around the submission.

• Understanding what information the organisation actually needs to provide.
• Identifying connected corporate requirements before submission.
• Avoiding preventable administrative mistakes and misunderstandings.
• Having professional support available beyond the initial government transaction.

Prepare the Corporate Information

Establish the information that will form the basis of the proposed company, including its structure, directors, members or guarantors, objects, intended activities, SIC codes and registered office arrangements.

Complete Applicable Identity Requirements

Where identity verification is applicable, individuals can follow the relevant Companies House route directly or use Coddan's specialist ACSP verification service where appropriate.

Submit & Incorporate

Once the information and applicable requirements are ready, Coddan can professionally review the formation application and submit the appropriate incorporation filing to Companies House.

Move Into Ongoing Compliance

After incorporation, the CLG becomes an active company with continuing governance, Companies House, accounting, tax and administrative responsibilities, as applicable.

One Login Does Not Replace the Corporate Process

Government digital services make company formation more accessible, but accessibility should not be confused with professional corporate guidance. A Companies House online account or identity route does not determine whether the proposed CLG's structure, addresses, governance arrangements or wider corporate information are appropriate.

The Filing Is One Step — Not the Whole Service

The value of professional formation support lies in connecting the steps around the government filing: reviewing the information provided, identifying applicable requirements, preparing the application and helping the organisation understand what begins once the company is incorporated.

Beyond the Basic Companies House Transaction

A client can use government services directly where eligible. Professional support becomes valuable when the organisation wants a structured process around the filing rather than treating incorporation as an isolated online transaction.

Directors

Directors manage the company and must understand and fulfil their statutory and fiduciary responsibilities. Changes involving directors may also require the appropriate Companies House filing and supporting corporate records.

Members & Guarantors

A CLG has members rather than shareholders holding share capital. The company's membership arrangements, guarantee obligations and constitutional rules should remain properly documented and up to date.

Articles & Constitutional Records

The Articles provide the company's constitutional framework. Corporate decisions and changes should be considered against the company's Articles and any applicable statutory requirements.

Corporate Records

The company should maintain appropriate statutory and corporate records, including information relating to directors, members and significant corporate decisions.

Corporate Decisions & Meetings

Important corporate decisions may need to be authorised, recorded and documented in accordance with the company's Articles and applicable legal requirements.

Companies House Filings

Changes to the company's registered information and certain corporate events may require formal Companies House filings. The correct form and filing timing depend on the event.

Practical Administration Behind the Corporate Record

Company secretarial support can help the organisation keep its corporate administration organised and respond appropriately when company information or circumstances change. The precise services required depend on the CLG's activities, structure and governance needs.

Governance Support Should Reflect the Organisation

A small community organisation may require a very different level of corporate administration from an international organisation, a CLG with corporate members or a company operating alongside a trading subsidiary.

The objective is not to add unnecessary services. It is to identify the areas where professional administration can reduce avoidable corporate errors and help the organisation maintain an accurate company record.

Formation Support Can Continue Into Corporate Administration

Some CLGs only require assistance at incorporation. Others prefer to have a professional provider available when corporate changes, statutory filings or administrative requirements arise.

Coddan can discuss the level of continuing support appropriate for your CLG rather than assuming that every organisation needs the same package of services.

Annual Accounts

A CLG generally has ongoing accounting and reporting responsibilities. The precise accounts requirements and filing deadlines depend on the company's circumstances, size and applicable accounting regime.

Corporation Tax

A non-profit or community purpose does not automatically mean that the company is outside the Corporation Tax system. Tax treatment depends on the company's activities, income, exemptions and other applicable circumstances.

Confirmation Statement

Annual accounts and the Confirmation Statement are different corporate obligations. Keeping the company's public information up to date requires its own Companies House process and should not be assumed to be covered by the preparation of accounts.

Keep the Financial and Corporate Sides Connected

Your accountant may prepare the company's financial statements and deal with tax matters, while Coddan can support the corporate administration surrounding the company. Keeping these responsibilities clearly separated can make it easier to identify which provider should deal with each requirement.

Corporate Support Around Your Accounts

Depending on your requirements, Coddan can assist with corporate matters that sit alongside your accountant's financial work.

• Companies House filing support.
• Confirmation Statement administration.
• Registered office and director service address arrangements.
• Company secretarial and corporate record support.
• Coordination of corporate changes where applicable.

Professional Support Does Not Have to Mean Starting Again

If you are satisfied with your accountant, there is no need to change providers simply because you are establishing a CLG or need additional corporate support.

The important point is to establish who is responsible for each area and ensure that relevant information is communicated between the parties where necessary.

Corporation Tax

A CLG may have Corporation Tax obligations depending on its activities and financial circumstances. Non-profit status alone does not determine whether Corporation Tax is payable or whether particular reliefs or exemptions apply.

HMRC Registration & Communication

Where HMRC registration or notification is required, the company needs appropriate arrangements for dealing with HMRC correspondence, tax returns, payments and other applicable obligations.

Accounts & Tax Reporting

Financial accounts and tax reporting are related but separate corporate processes. The company's accountant should determine the appropriate accounting and tax treatment based on its actual activities and circumstances.

VAT & Other Tax Matters

Depending on what the CLG does, VAT or other tax considerations may become relevant. Registration, filing and treatment should be assessed according to the company's activities and applicable HMRC rules.

HMRC, Your Accountant and Coddan Can Have Different Roles

A well-organised CLG should know which professional is responsible for each part of its corporate and tax administration. Coddan can support the corporate and administrative side of the company while an existing accountant or tax adviser handles specialist accounting and tax work where appropriate.

A CLG's Purpose Does Not Automatically Determine Its Tax Treatment

Two CLGs can have very different activities and financial arrangements. The fact that an organisation describes itself as “non-profit”, “community-based” or “not-for-profit” does not, on its own, establish a particular Corporation Tax treatment.

If the organisation is also a registered charity, additional rules and reliefs may apply, but charitable status is a separate question from simply incorporating a CLG.

Tax Questions Should Be Assessed on the Facts

Whether a CLG is liable to Corporation Tax, can claim a relief, needs VAT registration or has another HMRC obligation depends on its actual circumstances.

Coddan can help identify the corporate administration involved, but specialist tax advice should be obtained from an appropriately qualified accountant or tax adviser where the position is complex.

Coddan Can Help Keep the Corporate Side Organised

Where your CLG requires professional corporate administration, Coddan can support the company alongside its accountant or tax adviser rather than attempting to replace specialist tax advice.

Coddan Helps Connect the Corporate Administration Around Your CLG

The purpose of a corporate and compliance bridge is not to replace Companies House, HMRC, your accountant, your bank or your other professional advisers. It is to help connect the administrative requirements that sit between them.

Understand the Responsibilities

Different requirements belong to different authorities and professional advisers. The first step is understanding which obligations apply to the CLG and who should deal with them.

Coordinate the Corporate Side

Corporate addresses, Companies House filings, company records, director changes and other administrative matters can be managed as part of a connected corporate process.

Respond When Circumstances Change

A CLG can change after incorporation. New directors, address changes, governance decisions, membership changes and other events may create new administrative requirements.

A Corporate Support Layer Around Your Existing Professional Network

Coddan can provide the corporate and administrative layer while your organisation continues to use specialist professionals for areas such as accounting, taxation, legal advice, banking or regulatory matters.

Connects the Administrative Pieces

• Helps identify which corporate requirement is relevant.
• Provides practical support with applicable corporate administration.
• Helps keep Companies House information aligned with company changes.
• Provides a clear route for obtaining additional specialist support where necessary.

It Does Not Replace Specialist Advisers

Coddan's corporate support does not replace an accountant, tax adviser, solicitor, regulated financial adviser or other specialist professional where their expertise is required. The purpose is to make the corporate administration around the organisation clearer and easier to manage.

When Might a Corporate & Compliance Bridge Be Useful?

Companies House & Filing Support

You may need assistance with a Confirmation Statement, changes to directors or company details, appointments, resignations or other applicable Companies House filings.

Registered Office & Director Addresses

An existing CLG may need a new registered office, director service address, mail handling arrangement or a more suitable UK corporate address infrastructure.

Company Secretarial Support

If corporate administration is becoming difficult to manage internally, ongoing company-secretarial support can provide a more structured approach to records, changes and filings.

Corporate Governance Support

Where directors or members need help organising corporate records, decisions, appointments or other governance administration, support can be structured around the company's needs.

Compliance Administration

Your organisation may require assistance coordinating corporate compliance requirements, statutory information and administrative deadlines.

Overseas & International Support

Internationally managed CLGs may need a UK point of contact for corporate administration, address arrangements and Companies House-related matters.

Combine Services Around Your Existing CLG

There is no requirement to purchase a complete formation package simply because you need one additional corporate service. Where appropriate, services can be combined to create a support arrangement that reflects your company's actual requirements.

Start With a Corporate Review

If you inherited an existing CLG, have recently changed advisers, or simply do not know whether the company's current corporate arrangements are complete, a structured review can help establish the starting point.

• Review the current corporate information and arrangements.
• Identify obvious administrative gaps or upcoming requirements.
• Establish which additional services may actually be useful.

Your Existing Accountant Can Stay in Place

If an accountant already handles your accounts and tax affairs, there is no need to duplicate that work. Your Coddan support bundle can focus on corporate administration, Companies House, addresses and other services outside your existing engagement.

The objective is a coordinated support structure, not an unnecessarily large collection of overlapping professional services.

Your Starting Point Determines the Right Support

One Login Is Available to Overseas Applicants — But It Is Not the Only Route

Companies House states that individuals can verify their identity online using GOV.UK One Login if they have an accepted form of photo identification, including a biometric passport from any country. The process also requires the applicant's current address and the year they moved into it.

International Verification Can Be Less Straightforward

The direct government route is designed to work for many users, but an overseas founder may still encounter practical difficulties if their identity document is not supported, their address circumstances are unusual, or they have difficulty completing the digital verification journey.

• The available identity document may not meet the applicable requirements.
• Overseas address information may require additional care when entered into a UK administrative process.
• Digital identity checks can become frustrating when the applicant cannot complete the prescribed route successfully.
• Founders managing several corporate requirements may prefer one professional point of contact rather than troubleshooting each process independently.

You Do Not Have to Solve Every Verification Problem Alone

Companies House expressly provides an alternative route through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider. An ACSP can verify an individual's identity on their behalf, and the government guidance confirms that this can be done from any country.

This can be particularly useful for international founders who would rather work with an authorised professional than navigate an unfamiliar government verification process without assistance.

A Professional Route for International Founders

Companies House confirms that an ACSP must be registered with Companies House and supervised for Anti-Money Laundering purposes. The ACSP route allows an authorised professional to verify a client's identity on their behalf.

Overseas Management Does Not End After Incorporation

An existing UK CLG managed from abroad may still need a UK corporate administration relationship. Changes to directors, addresses, company information, governance or filing requirements can create additional administrative work.

From Overseas Founder to UK-Established Organisation

Directors Can Change

New directors may join, existing directors may resign or director details may change. These events can create Companies House filing and identity-verification considerations that need to be dealt with correctly.

Membership Can Develop

A CLG may develop its membership structure as its purpose, activities or community changes. The organisation should maintain appropriate records and follow its constitutional requirements when membership changes.

Activities Can Expand

The organisation may begin new projects, enter contracts, work with partners, employ people or develop new sources of income. These changes may introduce additional accounting, tax, governance or regulatory considerations.

Governance Can Mature

As the CLG becomes more established, directors and members may need more structured corporate records, decision-making procedures, meeting administration and company-secretarial support.

Corporate Addresses Can Change

Your organisation may eventually need a different registered office or director service address. Keeping these arrangements current helps ensure important corporate correspondence reaches the appropriate destination.

International Relationships Can Grow

A UK CLG managed internationally may develop relationships with overseas organisations, funders, members or partners. This can make reliable UK corporate administration even more valuable.

Your Support Can Develop With the Organisation

You do not necessarily need every corporate service from the beginning. A sensible approach is to establish the core structure first and add further support when a genuine business or governance need arises.

The principle: add support when it solves a real requirement — rather than purchasing services simply because they are available.

Additional Support Can Be Added When It Becomes Relevant

Depending on your organisation's circumstances, development may create a need for additional corporate or administrative services.

Corporate Changes Should Be Treated as Part of the Company's Lifecycle

A new director, a change of address or an important governance decision is not simply an isolated administrative event. It can affect company records, Companies House information, identity-verification requirements and the way the organisation operates.

Professional corporate administration helps ensure that changes are considered as part of the wider company structure.

Growth Does Not Mean Buying Everything

A developing CLG does not automatically require a larger package. Some organisations may only need a single filing, while others may benefit from a continuing corporate support arrangement.

The objective should be to match the support to the organisation's actual stage of development.

Growth From Overseas May Create Additional UK Administration

If your CLG is managed from outside the UK and begins working with more members, partners, funders or projects, maintaining a reliable UK corporate administration structure can become increasingly important.

Establish

Create the CLG on a properly organised corporate foundation.

Organise

Establish the governance, records and Companies House framework.

Comply

Connect the CLG with annual accounts, HMRC and statutory compliance.

Develop

Add international, structural and future corporate development support.

Support Should Add Clarity — Not Unnecessary Complexity

Professional support should help you understand what your CLG needs and why. It should not mean automatically purchasing every available service.

The exact services included depend on the CLG solution you select. Optional services, additional filings and specialist requirements are not treated as though they were automatically included. Where an additional service is requested, its cost can be identified separately.

CLG Formation

Designed for founders who primarily need professional assistance establishing a new UK Company Limited by Guarantee and completing the initial incorporation process.

CLG Corporate Essentials

For founders who want formation together with practical UK corporate infrastructure, such as suitable address arrangements and additional administrative support.

CLG Governance & Compliance

For organisations that need more structured corporate administration, governance support and assistance with ongoing Companies House requirements.

CLG Comprehensive Support

For organisations with broader, international or developing requirements that benefit from a coordinated corporate support relationship.

The Difference Is the Level of Support Around Your CLG

The solutions are not simply larger versions of the same package. Each is designed around a different stage or type of corporate requirement.

You Do Not Need the Largest Solution

If your organisation only requires straightforward formation, a formation-focused solution may be sufficient. If you later require additional addresses, filing support, company secretarial services or governance assistance, those services can be added when they become relevant.

Already Have a CLG? You Can Start With One Requirement

Existing companies do not need to purchase a formation solution. You can instead discuss the specific corporate, filing, address, governance or compliance support your CLG needs.

Tell Us Where You Are Starting

Let us know whether you are planning a new CLG, already have a UK CLG, or are managing the organisation from outside the UK.

Explain What You Need

Explain the purpose of the CLG, your current arrangements and any particular requirements such as addresses, identity verification, filings, governance or company secretarial support.

Match the Right Support

We can help identify an appropriate starting level and explain which additional services may be relevant rather than asking you to purchase services you do not need.

Move Forward With Clarity

Once the appropriate route is clear, you can proceed with the relevant formation, corporate or ongoing support services with a better understanding of what they cover.

New CLG or Existing CLG — Both Can Start Here

Your starting point determines the most appropriate support. There is no need to treat an existing company as if it were a brand-new incorporation, and there is no need to build a complex support arrangement for a simple formation requirement.

What Information Is Helpful?

You do not need to prepare a complete legal or compliance file before making an enquiry. However, a few basic details can help us understand your situation more efficiently.

A Conversation Before a Commitment

An initial discussion gives you an opportunity to explain what you are trying to achieve, ask questions and understand which services may be relevant before deciding how you wish to proceed.

Choose the Way That Works Best for You

If your situation is straightforward, you can proceed online. If your requirements are more complex, you can contact us first and discuss the appropriate route.