Public Limited Company – the UK form for larger projects and investors.
A PLC is the only UK company whose shares can be offered to the public, and “PLC” in the name carries weight with banks, investors and partners. It also comes with stricter rules than a private Ltd.
Legal requirements
- Allotted share capital of at least £50,000 (or the euro equivalent), at least 25% paid up.
- At least two directors.
- A suitably qualified company secretary.
- A trading certificate from Companies House before the PLC trades or borrows.
- Accounts due within 6 months of the year end and subject to audit.
When a PLC makes sense
- You plan to raise investment or list on an exchange.
- You need a strong corporate form for large contracts and tenders.
- You are moving an established larger business into a UK structure.
For smaller projects a Ltd is usually better and can be re-registered as a PLC later. See all UK business structures.