A statement of capital is a document that shows the share capital structure of a UK company at a particular point in time. It tells Companies House how many shares a company has, what those shares are worth in nominal terms, what classes of shares exist, what rights are attached

Losing a company share certificate can be worrying, particularly when you are preparing to sell shares, transfer them to someone else, raise investment or complete a business acquisition. The good news is that losing a UK company share certificate does not normally mean losing the shares themselves. A share certificate

A share certificate is a document issued by a company to a shareholder as evidence of the shares registered in that person's name. It normally identifies the shareholder, the number and class of shares held, and other details about those shares. For UK company owners, however, one important

Alphabet shares are a flexible way for a UK company to create different classes of shares with different rights. Instead of giving every shareholder identical ordinary shares, a company might issue A Ordinary Shares, B Ordinary Shares, C Ordinary Shares and so on. The letters themselves do not create special

When setting up or funding a UK limited company, choosing the right share structure can have a major impact on who receives dividends, who controls important decisions, and who gets paid first if the company is wound up. For most new companies, ordinary shares are the straightforward starting point. They

If you are setting up a UK limited company, one of the first decisions you will make is how the company's shares are structured. For most new private companies limited by shares, the simplest starting point is ordinary shares. In fact, GOV.UK says most companies limited by

When two shareholders each own 50% of a UK company, neither shareholder has a majority. That can create a balanced ownership structure, but it can also create a serious governance problem if the two owners disagree. In a straightforward company with equal ordinary shares, each shareholder will normally have 50%

A minority shareholder in a UK company may own less than 50% of the shares, but that does not mean they have no influence or legal protection. A minority shareholder can have important rights to vote, receive dividends, participate in shareholder decisions, receive certain company information, challenge unfair treatment, and

Owning 50% of a UK limited company gives a shareholder significant influence, but it does not automatically give them complete control over the business. A 50% shareholder normally owns half of the company's equity and, where the shares are ordinary shares with one vote per share, usually has

A shareholder and a Person with Significant Control (PSC) are not the same thing, although one person can be both. A shareholder owns shares in a company. A PSC is an individual who meets specific legal conditions showing that they have significant ownership or control over the company. The distinction

Shareholders and directors have different roles in a UK company, even though the same person can be both. A shareholder owns shares in the company, while a director is responsible for managing the company and making decisions on its behalf. This distinction is easy to overlook in a small business.

Yes. A shareholder can also be a director of a UK limited company. In fact, this is one of the most common structures for small businesses, startups and owner-managed companies. A person can own shares in a company and simultaneously sit on its board, manage its day-to-day operations and make

When a shareholder in a UK limited company dies, their shares do not simply disappear. In most cases, the shares become part of the deceased shareholder’s estate and are dealt with by their personal representatives, such as executors or administrators. What happens next depends on the company’s articles

Yes. You can generally transfer shares in a UK limited company to someone who lives overseas. The recipient does not normally need to be a UK resident simply to own shares in a UK company. However, transferring shares internationally is more than changing a name on the Companies House register.

Yes, you can generally give shares in a UK limited company to a family member. A shareholder can transfer existing shares to a spouse, child, parent, sibling or another relative, either as a gift or, depending on the arrangement, for payment. However, giving away company shares is not simply a

Transferring shares in a UK limited company is a common process when a founder sells part of their ownership, brings in a family member, changes the ownership structure, or exits a business. The basic process is straightforward: the existing shareholder transfers some or all of their shares to another person,

Adding a new shareholder to a UK limited company is a common step as a business grows. A founder may want to bring in an investor, give shares to a co-founder, transfer part of their ownership to a spouse, or offer equity to someone who is joining the business. The

Yes. A husband and wife can both be shareholders in the same UK limited company. They can own the shares equally, divide them in another proportion, or hold different classes of shares where the company's structure allows it. UK company law does not require shareholders to be unrelated,

Yes. A non-UK resident can generally own 100% of a UK limited company. You do not normally need to be a UK citizen or UK resident to become the sole shareholder of a UK private limited company. In fact, a non-UK resident can potentially be the company’s sole shareholder,

Yes. Another UK company can be a shareholder in your UK limited company. This is a perfectly legitimate and widely used company structure. One UK company can own some or all of the shares in another UK company, creating what is commonly known as a parent company and subsidiary relationship.

Yes. A foreign company can generally own shares in a UK limited company. There is no general requirement for the shareholders of a UK private limited company to be UK residents or UK-incorporated companies. This makes the UK company structure particularly useful for international groups, overseas entrepreneurs, holding companies, investment

Yes. A UK private limited company can have just one shareholder, and that shareholder can own 100% of the company. The same person can also be the company's sole director. This structure is common among freelancers, consultants, online businesses, contractors, property businesses, startups and overseas entrepreneurs establishing a

When setting up a company, founders often come across terms such as issued shares, allotted shares, share capital, nominal value, and authorised share capital. These terms can look interchangeable, but they describe different concepts and understanding the distinction matters when deciding ownership, bringing in investors, or changing a company’s

Issued share capital is the total nominal value of the shares a company has actually issued to its shareholders. For example, if a UK limited company issues 1,000 ordinary shares with a nominal value of £1 each, its issued share capital is £1,000. If the same company issues

When you register a UK limited company, you will be asked to provide information about its shares. One of the terms you are likely to encounter is nominal share value. For a new business owner, it can sound more complicated than it really is. What does “nominal value” actually mean?