{"id":1454,"date":"2022-01-10T02:44:52","date_gmt":"2022-01-10T02:44:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uk.legalvision.com.au\/?p=1454"},"modified":"2025-09-25T07:08:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T06:08:00","slug":"structure-a-startup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/structure-a-startup\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Structure a Startup in the UK"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When choosing a company structure for your startup, you should consider the advantages and disadvantages of each structure. Several factors are critical in determining your startup structure. For example, you should consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>costs;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the complexity of processes;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>protection of assets;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>tax; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>liability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In this article, we&nbsp;will help you decide the right business structure by explaining:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the distinction between incorporated and unincorporated business structures;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the four main types of business structures; and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the advantages and disadvantages of each.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Unincorporated vs Incorporated Structures&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The most basic distinction between different business structures is\u00a0the difference between\u00a0incorporated and unincorporated\u00a0businesses. The two unincorporated business structures we will look at are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>sole traders; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>partnerships.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;The two incorporated business structures we will look at are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>private companies limited by shares; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>limited liability partnerships.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Unincorporated Businesses Structures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A critical legal distinction you should note regarding an unincorporated business is that it does not have a separate legal existence from its owners. The law considers your business assets and liabilities the same as your personal assets and liabilities. If your business incurs a liability that it cannot repay, your creditors can come after your personal assets, like your house and other possessions. Even with insurance, your policy may not extend to this situation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sole Traders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This is the most common kind of unincorporated business in the UK, with more than 3.1 million active sole traders. You could be selling luxury watches, cutting hair, or babysitting. Unless you have taken other steps, you are automatically carrying on as a sole trader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"box box--icon box--star\">\n    <p>To set up as a sole trader, you need to register for Self Assessment with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/organisations\/hm-revenue-customs\">Her Majesty\u2019s Revenue &amp; Customs<\/a>\u00a0(<strong>HMRC<\/strong>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Partnerships<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A partnership will automatically arise when two or more people operate some enterprise with a common view of profit. These are sometimes called \u2018ordinary partnerships\u2019, \u2018general partnerships\u2019 or \u2018unincorporated partnerships\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<em>Partnership Act 1890<\/em>&nbsp;governs partnerships. Unless there is an express agreement (written or oral) that contains&nbsp;the&nbsp;partnership terms, the&nbsp;<em>Partnership Act&nbsp;<\/em>governs the partnership&nbsp;terms<em>.&nbsp;<\/em>Therefore, you may want to come to an express agreement over the duties one partner owes the rest and vice versa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div  class=\"box box--icon box--info\">\n    <p>Given that the legislation is over 130 years old, many implied terms are outdated and unusual. For example, if you want to remove a partner, you will need the consent of every partner in the partnership, including the one you want to remove.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, unincorporated partnerships cannot own assets in the partnership\u2019s name. Practically, any sort of asset like an office or piece of machinery you want to use to make a profit will be purchased in your partners\u2019 name and be held \u2018on trust\u2019 for the other partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<a href=\"#content-next\"\n   class=\"block p-4 mt-10 text-xl font-bold text-center text-white no-underline bg-gray-800 rounded-t-xl\">\n    Continue reading this article below the form\n    <i class=\"text-xl fa-regular fa-arrow-down\"><\/i>\n<\/a>\n<div class=\"px-6 pt-10 pb-12 mb-10 text-center bg-gray-100 rounded-b-xl sm:px-12 test\">\n    <div class=\"mb-8 text-2xl font-bold text-orange\">\n        Need legal advice?\n        <br>\n        <span class=\"text-lg not-prose\">\n                            Call <a href=\"tel:+448081968584\" class=\"not-prose\">0808 196 8584<\/a> for urgent assistance.\n                <br>\n                Otherwise, complete this form, and we will contact you within one business day.\n                    <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n    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For example, this means that if you&nbsp;have an incorporated company, it can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>enter into its own agreements;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>own assets;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>assume its own liabilities; and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>sue and be sued.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In most cases, those who own the company and those acting on behalf of the company will not assume liability for its debts, though they will share in its profits. This means that you are not generally&nbsp;<em>personally&nbsp;<\/em>liable for your business debts, unlike an unincorporated business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The two incorporated businesses we will look at are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>private limited companies; and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>limited liability partnerships.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Private Limited Companies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The ownership of a private limited company is split between its shareholders in the proportion of shares each shareholder owns. If you are currently a sole trader and incorporated a limited company, you will be the only shareholder unless you bring on other investors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a shareholder, liability in your company is limited to the value of your shares in the company. These shares are also known as equity. Hence, if the private company can no longer pay its debts, the shareholders are only ever liable for their equity in the company.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The disadvantage is that limited companies are highly regulated and require a good amount of paperwork to create and a lot of responsibility to maintain.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Limited Liability Partnerships<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Like unincorporated partnerships, you must be in business with at least one other person to structure a business through&nbsp;a <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/corporations\/limited-partnership\/\">limited liability partnership<\/a>&nbsp;(<strong>LLP<\/strong>). These are flexible legal structures because you and your partners are free to decide the terms of the agreement, such as profit sharing and the duties you owe one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An LLP owns the assets of the business and is liable for its own debts. Likewise,&nbsp; members of the LLP act as its agents and only have liability up to the amount they have contributed or as otherwise agreed between the partners of the LLP.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"my-7 lg:my-10 border-y-2 border-gray-100 py-7 lg:py-10 flex flex-col sm:flex-row items-start gap-10\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-52 mx-auto my-0! rounded\" src=\"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2022\/09\/06164254\/uk-startup-manual-290x410-1.jpg\" alt=\"Front page of publication\"\n                 loading=\"lazy\" width=\"208\" height=\"298\">\n                <section>\n            <div class=\"text-2xl font-bold\">UK Startup Manual<\/div>\n            <div class=\"body-text\">\n                <p>LegalVision&#8217;s Startup Manual is essential reading material for any startup founder looking to launch and grow a successful startup.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n            \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/go.legalvision.co.uk\/uk-startup-manual.html\" class=\" block px-5 py-3.5 max-w-fit bg-orange button__hover transition rounded text-white font-bold text-lg no-underline uppercase leading-tight text-center\" target=\"\" rel=\"\">Download Now<\/a>        <\/section>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The benefit of unincorporated structures is that they are flexible and do not entail many administrative obligations. The downside is that&nbsp;there is no limiting your&nbsp;personal liability, and you may be&nbsp;liable for your business\u2019 debts. You can contrast unincorporated business structures with incorporated ones, like limited companies and limited liability partnerships. The liability of shareholders in a limited company is limited to the value of their shares, whilst the limit of a partner\u2019s liability in an LLP can be agreed between the partners. The downside with incorporated business structures is the administrative responsibilities and, in particular, the responsibilities that come with being a director of a limited liability company. What is best for you depends on the size of your business and your long-term plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need help with business law, such as incorporating a company, our&nbsp;experienced <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/corporate-lawyers-lp\/\">corporate lawyers<\/a>&nbsp;can assist as part of our LegalVision membership. For a low monthly fee, you will have unlimited access to lawyers to answer your questions and draft and review your documents. Call us today on <a href=\"tel:+448081968584\" class=\"AVANSERnumber dynamic-number\">0808 196 8584<\/a> or visit our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/membership\">membership page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1641782350486\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is an incorporated business?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">An incorporated business is where your business has a separate legal existence from you. That means it can own property, owe money, sue others, and other companies can sue it. The effect is that your liability for your company\u2019s debt is limited.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1641782362659\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Which of the different business structures should I adopt?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Most people either trade as a sole trader, in a partnership, through a limited company, or through a limited liability partnership. Pick the one that suits your business and its goals best.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n<div class=\"not-prose m-feedback-prompt\">\n    <!-- Thumbs up\/down bar -->\n    <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__main\">\n        <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__title\">Was this article helpful?<\/div>\n        <div>\n            <!--span class=\"m-feedback-prompt__button--text\">Thanks!<\/span-->\n            <button type=\"button\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__button m-feedback-prompt__button--yes\"\n                    data-analytics-link=\"feedback-prompt:yes\" aria-label=\"Agree\">\n                <i class=\"fa-regular fa-thumbs-up fa-3x\"><\/i>\n            <\/button>\n            <button type=\"button\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__button m-feedback-prompt__button--no\"\n                    data-analytics-link=\"feedback-prompt:no\" aria-label=\"Disagree\">\n                <i class=\"fa-regular fa-thumbs-down fa-3x\"><\/i>\n            <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- Feedback form -->\n    <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form\">\n        <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--thanks \">\n            <div>Thanks!<\/div>\n            <p>\n                We appreciate your feedback \u2013 your submission has been successfully received.            <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <form id=\"contact-form\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--form\" action=\"\" method=\"post\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" id=\"authenticity_token\" name=\"authenticity_token\" value=\"9eb4f72322\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wp_http_referer\" value=\"\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1454\" \/>            <input value=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/structure-a-startup\/\" type=\"hidden\" name=\"currenturl\"\n                   id=\"currenturl\">\n            <input value=\"How to Structure a Startup in the UK\" type=\"hidden\" name=\"currenttitle\"\n                   id=\"currenttitle\">\n            <label>\n                <!-- display on thumbs-up -->\n                <span class=\"m-feedback-prompt__feedback m-feedback-prompt__feedback--yes\">\n                    Can you tell us <span class=\"font-semibold\">why<\/span> you found it helpful?\n                <\/span>\n\n                <!-- display on thumbs-down -->\n                <span class=\"m-feedback-prompt__feedback m-feedback-prompt__feedback--no text-lg\">\n                    How can we better improve this article?\n                <\/span>\n                <textarea name=\"feedbackmessage\" id=\"feedbackmessage\" required><\/textarea>\n            <\/label>\n\n            <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--error\" id=\"form-submit-error\"><\/div>\n            <button id=\"submit-contact-form-button\" type=\"submit\" name=\"commit\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--submit\"\n                    data-analytics-link=\"feedback-prompt:submit\">\n                Submit            <\/button>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When choosing a company structure for your startup, you should consider the advantages and disadvantages of each structure. Several factors are critical in determining your startup structure. For example, you should consider: In this article, we&nbsp;will help you decide the right business structure by explaining: Unincorporated vs Incorporated Structures&nbsp; The most basic distinction between different<a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/structure-a-startup\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"sr-only\">&#8220;How to Structure a Startup in the UK&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13364,"featured_media":535,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"2151,1077,1783,2299,2346,2138","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[20,117,148,149,150,151,152],"class_list":["post-1454","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-startups","tag-small-business","tag-startup","tag-business-structure","tag-unincorporated-business","tag-incorporated-business","tag-sole-trader","tag-partnership"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- 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Michaela specialises in Corporate law and has experience providing legal advice and assisting clients with business, share sale and financial transactions. She also provides advice on business structuring, restructuring, constitutional, membership and governance matters.","url":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/author\/michaelaoconnor\/"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/structure-a-startup\/#faq-question-1641782350486","name":"What is an incorporated business?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"An incorporated business is where your business has a separate legal existence from you. That means it can own property, owe money, sue others, and other companies can sue it. The effect is that your liability for your company\u2019s debt is limited.","inLanguage":"en-GB"},"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/startups\/structure-a-startup\/#faq-question-1641782362659","name":"Which of the different business structures should I adopt?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Most people either trade as a sole trader, in a partnership, through a limited company, or through a limited liability partnership. Pick the one that suits your business and its goals best.","inLanguage":"en-GB"},"inLanguage":"en-GB"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1454","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/13364"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1454"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1454\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":192881,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1454\/revisions\/192881"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/535"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1454"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1454"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.uk\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}