Companies Made Simple Review

Are you looking to establish your own business but need the help of professional services to simplify the process? One of the main advantages of engaging formation agents like Companies Made Simple is the value they bring to the table. They understand that your time is precious and strive to save you both time and effort while ensuring that your business is set up in accordance with local laws and regulations.

With over 1 million companies formed and 20 years of experience, Companies Made Simple are a trusted and reliable formation agent based in London. Prioritising customer service, their team of over 50 professionals aim to help you every step of the way and can form companies within a mere 3 hours, allowing you to hit the ground running.

We took a look across various review platforms, including Trustpilot, Google, and FreeIndex, to see what people think about Companies Made Simple. Here are some of the review rating we found:

Taken together, Companies Made Simple has an average rating of 4.3 / 5 across these three review platforms from a total of 2,188 reviews. These ratings highlight a positive customer opinion, reflecting the company's commitment to providing reliable and quality services to its customers.

With a deep understanding of the business landscape, Companies Made Simple has curated a range of services to empower your company throughout its entire lifecycle. From the initial steps of company formation to ongoing compliance support and registered office address provision, Companies Made Simple has carefully selected the most suitable solutions tailored to your unique requirements, enabling your business to be up and running within a matter of hours. Services include:

• UK Limited Company Formation: Companies Made Simple offers three different types of limited company formations: Limited by Shares (the most popular), Limited by Guarantee (commonly used for non-profit organisations), and Limited Liability Partnership. Service’s include quick and simple formation, a business bank account, and more.

• Limited Liability Partnership (LLP): Set up your LLP quickly with an online formation. This package includes a free LLP Agreement and a printed certificate of incorporation.

• Other company services: Companies Made Simple offers UK company formation for overseas residents, reserving a company name, shelf companies, company formation for contractors, and renewal fees.

Additional services:

• Office and Address Services: Get professional mail forwarding, a registered office address service in central London, and virtual office solutions, including mail forwarding, telephone answering, and fax forwarding.

• Documents: Companies Made Simple assists with apostilled documents, provides a certificate of good standing, and offers supplementary company documents to replace lost or damaged incorporation documents.

• Business Banking: The agent recommends business banking options from Barclays, Tide, and ANNA, each with their unique features and benefits.

• Accountancy and Legal Services: Companies Made Simple offers accountancy consultations with chartered accountants specialising in startups, small businesses, contractors, and freelancers. They also provide services such as confirmation statements, PSC services (People with Significant Control), company name change assistance, company dissolution, dormant company accounts, and share services.

• Official Company Products: Customers can purchase a company pack that includes a company register, seal, and stamp for organising and styling their company documents.

• Partners and Affiliates: Companies Made Simple offers an affiliate program wholesale option, allowing partners to form companies quickly and easily for their clients at a discounted price.

What Sets the Company Apart:

• Company Secretarial Service: Companies Made Simple's Company Secretarial Service helps customers keep their company records up to date throughout the year with multiple filings or changes at a discounted price. This includes preparation and filing of documents such as confirmation statements, share transfers, officer appointments, company name changes, and more.

• VAT and PAYE Registration Assistance: Get additional assistance to ensure that VAT and PAYE registration applications meet the required standards, saving you time while providing peace of mind.

• Competitive Pricing: Companies Made Simple offers affordable packages for services, including low fixed-price monthly packages for accounting needs and competitive rates for various services.

Companies Made Simple stands out as a trusted ally for businesses in search of reliable and comprehensive services. Through their expertise, they navigate the intricate landscape of running a prosperous enterprise.

Thanks to their streamlined and user-friendly process, setting up a company with Companies Made Simple is a breeze. They’ve simplified the journey for aspiring entrepreneurs, ensuring a hassle-free experience from start to finish. Here's a step-by-step breakdown of how their process works:

Step 1: Search

Instantly check the availability of your desired company name using their name search facility, which syncs directly with Companies House.

Step 2: Select

Choose from a range of company formation packages tailored to your specific needs, such as Basic, Privacy, Comprehensive, or Ultimate. They also offer international packages for non-UK residents looking to form a UK company and obtain a UK business bank account.

Step 3: Buy

Once you've selected your desired package, simply click "Buy Now" to review your basket and proceed to the secure online checkout. You can make your purchase using a credit/debit card or PayPal. A payment confirmation invoice will be automatically generated and emailed for your records.

Step 4: Complete

Continue to provide your company registration details, appoint directors, secretaries and shareholders, and review all the information to ensure accuracy. Once everything is in order, submit your company registration to Companies House.

After the company has been incorporated, you can expect to receive your company registration documents via email, typically within three working hours.

Notable aspects:

• User-friendly online platform: Companies Made Simple's online platform is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate, making the process relatively stress-free.

• Fast turnaround time: With their efficient process, you can expect to receive your company registration documents within a short timeframe, allowing you to kickstart your business and hit the ground running.

Dedicated customer support: Throughout the process, Companies Made Simple offers dedicated 24/7 customer support to address any queries or concerns you may have. Their knowledgeable team is there to guide you every step of the way.

Companies Made Simple offers a range of competitively priced packages, catering to different business needs and providing excellent value for money. Their transparent pricing structure ensures that there are no hidden costs, giving you peace of mind. Here's a breakdown of their packages and what they include:

Basic: £12.99 + VAT

• Perfect for forming a dormant company or reserving a company name.

• Includes a Companies House filing fee, free online admin portal, and unlimited 24/7 support.

Privacy: £19.99 + VAT

• Protects your home address from the public domain and leaves a professional impression on your contacts.

• Offers all the features of the Basic package, plus a digital certificate of incorporation and M&As, digital share certificate(s), and digital statutory forms.

Comprehensive: £39.99 + VAT (Special offer - usually £49.99 + VAT)

• Enables immediate trading with confidence, ensuring all your statutory requirements are covered.

• Includes everything in the Privacy package, as well as first board meeting minutes, maintenance of statutory books, a business start-up toolkit, free business bank account, and up to £100 cashback when opening a business bank account.

Ultimate: £99.99 + VAT

• Gives your business the best chance of success by ensuring full compliance and attractiveness to customers.

• Offers all the features of the Comprehensive package, along with additional benefits like a printed certificate of incorporation, printed share certificate(s), PSC online register, free company credit reports, bound M&A, mail forwarding for one year, co-working access to Workhub in N1 London, and VAT registration with HMRC.

Notable Aspects:

• No hidden costs: The pricing of all packages includes the Companies House filing fee, ensuring transparency and eliminating any surprises.

• Online admin portal: Manage your companies easily through their user-friendly online dashboard, reducing the need for paperwork.

• Unlimited 24/7 support: Companies Made Simple’s team is available round the clock to assist you via phone, email, or chat.

Optional extras included for free in their limited company formation packages:

• Business Start-Up Toolkit: A comprehensive resource to help you start, run, and grow your new company.

• Accounting & Tax consultation: Expert advice from leading UK accountants, ensuring you understand your tax liabilities and optimise your financial management.

• Website domain name: Build your online presence with a free .com or .co.uk domain name for one year, along with a personalised email address and a one-page website.

• Small business startup guide: An easy-to-read ebook filled with valuable information on starting, running, and growing your new business.

Refund Policy: Companies Made Simple offers refunds to all customers who are dissatisfied or change their minds within 14 days and before submission to Companies house, minus card processing fees where applicable. For more information, please look at their terms and conditions or contact their customer service team.

When registering a company with Companies Made Simple, you'll need to provide specific information to ensure a smooth and accurate formation process. Here's an overview of the information required:

Business Information

• Valid email address: A working email address that will be used for communication throughout the formation process.

• Unique company name: Choose a company name that is distinct and not already in use. Companies House and the company formation agents will conduct a free company name check for you.

• Registered office address: This is the company's official address, which will be listed on the public register.

• SIC code: A 5-digit code representing the industry in which your company will operate.

• Memorandum and articles: These are company documents that outline how your company will be run. Companies House or the company formation agent will provide these documents for you.

Personal Information

For Each Director and Company Secretary:

• Full name: The complete legal name of each director and secretary.

• Date of birth: The birth date of each individual involved, with a minimum age requirement of 16 years.

• Nationality: The nationality of each director and secretary.

• Occupation: The occupation or profession of each individual.

• Residential address: The residential address of each director and secretary (not displayed on the public register).

• Service address: The service address which will be displayed on the public register.

For Each Person with Significant Control:

• Full name: The full name of each person with significant control over the company.

• Date of birth: The birth date of each individual, with a minimum age requirement of 16 years.

• Nationality: The nationality of each person with significant control.

• Occupation: The occupation or profession of each individual.

• Residential address: The residential address of each person with significant control (not displayed on the public register).

• Service address: The service address which will be displayed on the public register.

• Nature of control: The nature or extent of control the individual has over the company.

For Each Shareholder:

• Full name: The full name of each shareholder.

• Residential address: The residential address of each shareholder.

• Number of shares held: The quantity of shares held by each shareholder.

• Value of shares held: The value of the shares held by each shareholder.

• Currency of shares held: The currency in which the shares are valued.

• Share class: The class of shares held (e.g., ordinary, preference, redeemable).

• First three letters of town of birth

• Last three digits of a telephone number

• First three letters of mother's maiden name

Additional Information:

Depending on the specific services you require, additional information or documentation may be needed. Companies Made Simple will guide you through any other requirements based on the services you select.

ID Verification and Security Checks:

To comply with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations and "Know Your Customer" (KYC) requirements, Companies Made Simple has a legal obligation to verify proof of ID and address. They have a complete list of acceptable documents outlined online, ensuring compliance while safeguarding the integrity of the company formation process.

There's no doubt that when it comes to the wide range of services and features on offer, Companies Made Simple are hard to beat. Their services cater to practically every business need, no matter what stage they're in on their journey. It also makes them the perfect choice for those who want to take care of all their admin needs in one place, making them a one-stop shop for business owners and entrepreneurs. Plus, the company's quick formation process and excellent customer service are a testament to their industry experience and expertise.

Just note that while Companies Made Simple offer competitive and transparent prices, once VAT is taken into account, prices are not as low as they first appear, and their website can be time-consuming to navigate.

Overall, it's easy to see why so many people recommend their services, offering a reliable and comprehensive solution for businesses seeking assistance with company formation, compliance support, and more.

Check out our other formation agent reviews

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