Social enterprise formation · Northern Ireland
Form your community-focused company with CIC filing and community interest statement guidance from our Belfast team.
Is a CIC right for you?
A CIC is a limited company with extra rules designed to protect its community purpose. It can trade commercially, employ staff and make a profit, but its assets are subject to an asset lock.
How it works
Check your CIC name, then tell us about the directors, ownership and community benefit.
We review the company and community-interest details, complete the required checks and submit the CIC formation.
After incorporation, you receive your company documents and confirmation of registration.
What we’ll need
If your organisation is non-profit or membership-led rather than a trading social enterprise, a company limited by guarantee may be more suitable.
Compare with a guarantee company →CIC assets are protected for community benefit, with restrictions on how assets can be transferred or distributed.
Yes. A CIC can trade and make a profit, but the asset lock and CIC rules restrict how certain assets and distributions can be used.
It explains who the CIC is intended to benefit and how its activities will create that community benefit. Our order process collects the information needed to prepare it.
Yes. A CIC can be limited by shares or limited by guarantee. The choice affects how the organisation is owned and governed, so it should be decided carefully when the CIC is formed.
No. A Community Interest Company cannot itself have charitable status. If charitable status is required, a charity structure should be considered instead.
A private CIC's registered name must end with either 'community interest company' or 'CIC' (with or without full stops).
Yes. Alongside the normal company requirements, a CIC must continue to comply with its community purpose and asset lock and submit its annual CIC34 report explaining its activities and community benefit.
Check your proposed name, then continue straight into the online order.