1.2.2

Limited Companies

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Types of Business Ownership - Limited Companies

Limited companies are businesses that are owned by shareholders. There are 2 types of limited company: private and public. Both share key differences from partnerships and sole traders:

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Limited company is incorporated

  • A limited company has a separate legal identity from the owners.
  • This means that cash, property and debt is in the company’s name and is property (and therefore responsibility) of the company and not the individual shareholders.
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Limited liability

  • Being incorporated means that the shareholders are protected by limited liability. Limited liability means that the shareholders are only legally responsible up to the amount that they have invested.
    • E.g. if a shareholder invests £10,000 in the purchase of shares, they won't be liable for any debt if the company fails (£10,000 is the maximum they can lose).
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Owned by shareholders

  • Limited liability companies are owned by shareholders. The shareholders of limited companies can have nothing to do with the day-to-day running of the business.
  • The more shares a person owns, the more control they are likely to have relative to other shareholders.

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