Set up a limited company
Appoint directors and a company secretary
Your company must have at least one director. Directors are legally responsible for running the company and making sure company accounts and reports are properly prepared.
A director must be 16 or over and not be disqualified from being a director.
Directors do not have to live in the UK, but the company must have a UK registered office address.
Directors' names and addresses are publicly available from Companies House and their identity must be verified. You can stop your home address from appearing on the register if you or your family are at risk of abuse or harm because of your company's work.
Read further guidance on directors' responsibilities.
Appointing company secretaries
A private limited company does not need a company secretary. You may appoint one to support the directors with administrative duties.
The company secretary can be a director but can't be:
- the company's auditor
- an 'undischarged bankrupt' - unless they have permission from the court
The restrictions placed on a person when they're made bankrupt usually end when they're free from their debts (known as 'discharged'). You can check if someone has been discharged using the Insolvency Register.
Directors remain legally responsible for the company even if it has a company secretary.