Company Structures
Understand the different UK company types and how they compare.
Not every UK company is the same. The structure a business chooses - private limited, public limited, or limited by guarantee - shapes its obligations, its ownership, and how it can raise money.
These guides explain the main UK company types and how they differ, so you can understand what a company's structure tells you about how it operates and what it can and cannot do.
Company types
Public vs private limited companies and their trade-offs.
Advantages and Disadvantages of a Public Limited Company (PLC)
The advantages and disadvantages of a PLC, and whether a public limited company has limited liability.
5 minPLC vs Ltd: What Is the Difference Between a Public and Private Limited Company?
The difference between a public limited company (PLC) and a private limited company (Ltd), and which one new UK companies use.
8 minMore guides
What Is a Shell Company? UK Definition, Uses, and Red Flags
A shell company is a registered entity with no significant active operations. Learn what shell companies are, their legitimate uses, how they are misused, and how to identify one from Companies House data.
7 minLLP vs Ltd: Differences Between a Limited Liability Partnership and a Private Limited Company
What is the difference between an LLP and a Ltd company? This guide explains the key distinctions in structure, taxation, reporting, and when each is the right choice for UK professionals.
8 minWhat Is a Dormant Company? UK Definition, Rules, and How to Reactivate
A dormant company is one that has had no significant accounting transactions during its financial year. It exists on the register but is not actively trading. This guide explains the UK rules, how to file dormant accounts, and what reactivating a dormant company involves.
7 min