Starting a Limited Company in the UK: The Documents You Need

Forming a company at Companies House is the easy part. The documents that govern how it runs — and protect the people in it — are what really matter. Here's your checklist.

1. Articles of association

Your company's constitution. Many founders adopt the standard model articles, but bespoke articles let you tailor share rights, director powers and decision-making to your situation. The articles are filed at Companies House and are public.

2. Shareholders' agreement

If your company has more than one shareholder, this is the single most valuable document you can put in place. It governs how decisions are made, what happens when someone wants to leave, and how disputes are resolved — privately, unlike the articles.

3. Director service agreements

For executive directors, a service agreement sets out their role, pay, duties and the restrictions that protect the company if they leave. Non-executive directors usually have a shorter letter of appointment.

4. Employment and contractor documents

As soon as you take on people, you'll need compliant employment contracts or contractor agreements, plus core policies. Remember that day-one rights under the Employment Rights Act 2025 apply from the start.

5. Commercial contracts

• Terms and conditions for your customers
• An NDA for protecting confidential information
• Supplier agreements for your key suppliers
• A privacy policy if you collect personal data