What Information Do I Need to Form a Limited by Guarantee Company?

You'll need a registered office address, at least one director, and at least one member, the Limited by Guarantee equivalent of a shareholder. One person can hold all these roles at once, so it's entirely possible to form the company solo.

Key Takeaways

• You need a UK registered office address, at least one director, and at least one member, though one person can cover all these roles.
• Statutory information Companies House requires for a director includes their full name, date of birth, nationality, occupation, and both a service and residential address.
• Members need broadly similar details, minus the same level of personal information required for directors specifically.
• A company secretary is optional, and isn't a legal requirement for a Limited by Guarantee company.
• Since November 2025, directors and PSCs also need identity verification with Companies House, which is included as standard when you form your company with us.

Step 1: Provide a Registered Office Address

This is your company's official address, where all statutory correspondence gets sent. It must be UK-based, though the company doesn't need to actually operate from there, you just need permission from the property owner to use the address.

Your registered office is shown on the public Companies House register, which is why many people choose not to use a residential address for this. A registered office address service can provide a compliant alternative if privacy matters to you.

Step 2: Add a Director

Every Limited by Guarantee company needs at least one director, the person or people who run the company. For each director, Companies House requires:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Occupation
• Nationality
• Service address (public, similar to the registered office)
• Residential address (kept off the public register)

Step 3: Appoint a Member

This is the Limited by Guarantee equivalent of a shareholder, though the term "shareholder" doesn't apply here since there are no shares involved. You need at least one member, and this can be the same person as the director, meaning the whole company can be formed by one individual.

Members need broadly similar details to directors: full name and service address.

Step 4: Appoint a Secretary (Optional)

Limited companies haven't been required to appoint a secretary for some years now. If you choose to appoint one anyway, they'll need to provide the same kind of personal details as a director.

Step 5: Provide Your Memorandum and Articles, or Use a Standard Template

The memorandum and articles of association set out how your company will be run. Most formation services, ours included, provide a standard set of documents suited to the vast majority of Limited by Guarantee companies by default, though you can upload your own if you'd rather.

Step 6: Check Everything Before Submitting

Review your details on the summary page before submitting, since this is your chance to catch any mistakes before the application goes to Companies House. Once submitted, formation is typically processed within a few working hours, and you'll be notified once the company's formed.

Ready to Form Your Limited by Guarantee Company?

Everything covered above, your registered office, director and member details, memorandum and articles, and identity verification, is included as part of our Company Limited by Guarantee formation package, so there's nothing extra to arrange separately once you get started.

FAQs

How many people do I need to form a Limited by Guarantee company?

Just one. A single person can be both the director and the member, meaning the whole company can be formed solo.

What information does Companies House require for a director?

Full name, date of birth, occupation, nationality, and both a service address and a residential address.

Is a residential address made public?

No, only a director's service address is shown on the public register. Their residential address is kept private.

Do I need a company secretary?

No, it's optional. Limited companies, including those Limited by Guarantee, haven't required one for some years.

Can I write my own memorandum and articles of association?

Yes, though most companies use a standard template suited to their needs. You can upload your own during formation if you'd rather.

Do I need to do anything else after forming the company?

No, if you form with us. Identity verification for directors and PSCs, a requirement since November 2025, is included as part of our formation package rather than something you need to arrange separately.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Companies House requirements can change, so it's worth checking current guidance on GOV.UK or Companies House before relying on the details above.