Company Formation Solicitors Manchester

Setting up a company involves more decisions than most people expect, and getting the structure right from the start matters. Our company formation solicitors help SMEs and startups register correctly, choose the right structure, and put proper governance in place from day one.

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What Happens After You Register

Company formation is often treated as a single event, a form submitted, and a certificate issued. In practice, the decisions made at this stage shape how the business runs for years afterward. Share structure, director responsibilities, and the articles of association all need to reflect what the founders agreed, not a generic template. Our company formation solicitors work with businesses across Manchester and the UK to get this right from the outset, so the paperwork matches the real commercial agreement between the people involved, rather than causing disagreements later when it matters most. Once you’re trading, you’ll also need proper contracts in place with customers and suppliers, which is where our Business Contract Drafting and Commercial Advice service comes in.

How Our Company Formation Solicitors Help New Businesses

Whether you’re forming your first company or restructuring an existing one, our solicitors handle the detail, so the foundations are right.

Choosing the Right Structure

We advise on whether a private limited company, LLP, or another structure suits your business, weighing liability, tax treatment, and future investment plans. As startup lawyers, we see this decision rushed more than any other, and it’s usually the one that causes the most expensive problems later.

Company Registration Support

We support and guide you through registering your company with Companies House, making sure the application is accurate and complete. Where filings are required, we help you prepare and submit the right documents, keeping the process moving without unnecessary delay.

Articles of Association

Your articles of association set the internal rules for how the company is run, covering decision making, share transfers, and director powers. We draft articles that reflect how you intend to run the business, not a generic template that creates problems later.

Director and Shareholder Appointments

We advise on appointing directors and allocating shares between founders, making sure everyone’s rights and obligations are clear from the start. This includes advice on director duties and what shareholders are entitled to expect from the business and each other.

Ongoing Compliance Support

Once your company is formed, there are ongoing obligations, from confirmation statements to keeping statutory registers up to date. We help you stay compliant as your business grows, so governance doesn’t become an afterthought once things get busy. For broader support as your business grows, see our Outsourced General Counsel service.

Trademark Registration

Registering your company is a good moment to protect your name and brand too, since a company name alone doesn't stop someone else trademarking it later. We advise on trademark registration alongside formation, covering what can be protected, the right trademark classes, and how to avoid conflicts with existing marks.

What This Means for You

A company structure that fits how you plan to operate.
Registration handled accurately, without unnecessary delay or resubmission.
Articles of association that reflect your real agreement, not a template.
Clarity on director duties and shareholder rights from day one.
Ongoing support as your compliance obligations change and grow.

When To Seek Advice

Before registering, if your company will have more than one shareholder.
When you're unsure which structure, Ltd or LLP, suits your plans.
If you want articles of association that reflect your actual agreement.
When bringing in investors or additional directors after formation.
If you'd value a solicitor checking the paperwork before you submit it.

Meet the Founder

Marium brings 22 years of experience advising businesses on company formation, corporate structuring, and commercial matters across the UK and internationally. A Solicitor regulated by the SRA (ID: 277854) and MCIArb, she founded MAR Legal to give new and growing businesses direct access to senior legal advice without the overhead of a traditional firm.

Marium Razzaq
Solicitor & Director Mar Legal
MCIArb

Visit our Manchester Company Formation Lawyers

MAR Legal is based at Regus, 3 Hardman St, Manchester M3 3HF, in the heart of the city's business district.

The office is a short walk from Deansgate and Manchester Oxford Road stations, with St Peter's Square and Deansgate-Castlefield tram stops both within 10 minutes on foot. The nearest car park is on Quay Street, a couple of minutes away.

We help businesses across Manchester and the wider North West, including Salford, Trafford, Stockport, Bolton and the wider UK get the terms of their company right from the beginning.

Why choose our Company Formation Solicitors

Solicitor Led Support

Every matter is handled by a qualified solicitor.

Ongoing Commercial Support

We're available as your business grows, not just for the initial registration.

Fixed Fee Pricing

Know the cost of formation before we start, with no surprises later.

Structure Built to Last

We focus on getting the structure right from the get-go.

Trusted by individuals and families across Manchester and the UK for clear, solicitor led advice on Wills and estate planning.

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How Our Company Formation Process Works

Initial Consultation

We discuss your business, your plans, and which structure is likely to suit you best.

Registration Support

We confirm the company structure and prepare the articles of association and supporting paperwork.

Registration Support

We help you prepare and submit your application to Companies House accurately and on time.

Ongoing Governance

Our company formation solicitors remain on hand for compliance, share changes, and any further legal support you need.

What Our Clients Say

    
 
 
         
   George Alexo 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I can’t recommend Mar Legal highly enough. From the first consultation they were clear, knowledgeable, and straightforward with their advice — no jargon, no runaround. They were responsive whenever I had questions and clearly had my best interests at heart throughout. If you’re looking for legal support you can actually trust, this is the team.
  
 
        
   Mark West 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Perfect experience! We required our IDs verified for a house purchase in another town. The team were very friendly, helpful and quick to sort everything out for us. I highly reccomend!
  
 
        
   Yoana Mitova 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Fast and easy way to verify your ID online. Great customer service.
  
 
        
   Conor Morrison 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I instructed MAR legal to assist with company formation and trademark applications for my business. The whole process was straightforward and handled professionally from start to finish. They were responsive, knowledgeable and made sure everything was completed properly. I would definitely use MAR legal again for future business matters.
  
 
        
   Anah Akbar 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I used MAR legal to prepare my UK will and found the service very professional and easy to deal with. Everything was explained clearly and the process was handled efficiently from start to finish. It gave me real peace of mind knowing everything had been done properly. I would happily recommend MAR legal to anyone looking to put a will in place.
  
 
        
   Safiy U 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We have used MAR legal for a range of corporate and commercial matters and have always found them reliable, responsive and easy to work with. Their advice is practical and commercially focused, which is exactly what you want as a business owner. They have supported us with contracts, business agreements and general commercial advice, and everything has been handled professionally and efficiently. Communication has always been clear and turnaround times have been very good. It is refreshing to work with a firm that takes the time to understand the commercial side of a business rather than just giving generic legal advice. We would happily recommend MAR legal to other businesses looking for ongoing legal support.
  
 
        
   Sarah Ibrar 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Tanawish was super helpful and very responsive
  
 
        
   Pooja Cheema 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I needed independent legal advice on a bridging loan for a refinance and MAR legal handled it well. They were quick to respond, easy to deal with and turned everything around within 24 hours. The fees were reasonable and there were no delays. I would be happy to use them again.
  
 
        
   Ibby Tv 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I used MAR Legal for independent legal advice on a mortgage and was very pleased with the service. I was able to get a same day appointment, which was really helpful, and everything was turned around within 24 hours. They talked me through everything in a way that actually made sense and were easy to deal with throughout. I would use MAR legal again without hesitation.
  
 
        
   Sajaad Nawaz 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. MAR legal assisted with drafting an employment contract for my business and the service was very good. They took the time to understand our requirements and produced a clear and well structured contract that suited our needs. The advice was practical and the process was handled efficiently. I would be happy to use MAR legal again for future legal support.
  
 
  
  
 
 
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Company Formation FAQs

Not always. Straightforward single-shareholder companies can often be registered without legal input, using Companies House's own online service. It becomes worth involving company formation solicitors once there's more than one shareholder, non-standard share arrangements, or specific governance terms you want built into the articles of association from the outset. A short consultation before registering is often enough to confirm whether your situation needs that extra input.

A limited company is owned by shareholders and run by directors, with profits typically distributed as dividends and taxed through corporation tax. An LLP is owned and run by its members directly, with profits usually taxed as personal income for each member rather than at the company level. The right choice depends on how you want to share control, profit, and liability between the people involved, not just on tax treatment alone.

Registration itself is usually quick, often completed within 24 hours once the application is submitted correctly. The time that varies is everything around it, agreeing the structure, drafting articles of association that reflect what's been agreed, and making sure directors and shareholders understand their responsibilities before anything is filed. Rushing this preparation to hit a fast registration time is usually a false economy.

The articles of association set out how the company is run day to day, covering decision making procedures, how shares can be transferred or sold, what happens if a director wants to leave, and how disputes between shareholders are meant to be resolved. Many companies use a standard template without adjusting it, which works fine until a disagreement arises and the template doesn't reflect what anyone intended.

Registration is the start, not the finish. You'll need to maintain statutory registers, file confirmation statements and annual accounts, and keep Companies House updated whenever directors, shareholders, or the registered office change. If there's more than one shareholder, it's also worth putting a shareholder’s agreement in place separately, since the articles of association alone don't usually cover everything that matters if the founders later disagree.

Yes. Businesses regularly convert from a sole trader to a limited company, or restructure an existing company as circumstances change, such as bringing in new shareholders or preparing for investment. Each change carries its own legal and tax implications, so it's worth taking advice from company formation lawyers before making the change rather than after, particularly if the restructuring affects existing shareholder or director arrangements that are already in place.

The cost depends on how much support you need. Straightforward registration support costs less than drafting articles of association built around your specific agreement, structuring shares between multiple founders, or advising on more complex arrangements. We agree the fee before any work begins, so there are no surprises partway through. For most new businesses, proper legal input at formation costs far less than untangling a poorly structured company later.

MAR Legal provides advisory and documentation support for company formation, including help and support with your Companies House filings. Where a matter involves reserved legal activities, we work alongside appropriately regulated professionals to make sure your position is fully protected.

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SRA Compliance

MAR Legal have regulated solicitors working at the firm who must comply with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Guidelines – you can read more about these standards directly on the SRA website here.

Company Formation Lawyers Manchester

What Happens After You Register