Who can be a shareholder?

You can issue shares in a limited company to anyone that you want to be a shareholder. You can issue shares to a person or to another company (a corporate shareholder). Most companies have people as shareholders in a company, but issuing shares to another company is common in group structures where a parent company owns a subsidiary.

It is typical for new companies that the director(s) will also be the owners, and therefore shareholders, of the company. However, directors are not always shareholders. Our system gives you the option to issue shares to the directors and secretary if required or to add new shareholders. A shareholder can be based anywhere in the world, they do not need to live in the UK. However, you should check with your bank to see if having a non UK resident as a shareholder will affect your ability to obtain a business bank account.

A shareholder can be any age. You can issue shares to a child, adult or senior citizen if you want to. However, before issuing shares to anyone under 18 we suggest you seek advice from your preferred bank to see if having a child as a shareholder will affect your ability to obtain a business bank account. Under 18s cannot legally enter into contracts which creates problems.

You can have as many shareholders in your company as you want. Once you have entered the first shareholder you will be given the option to include additional shareholders.