Social enterprise formation · Northern Ireland
Set up a company that trades for community benefit, with the asset lock and additional CIC requirements handled as part of the formation.
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
Search the Companies House register directly on this page.
Provide the directors, ownership details and the community the CIC will benefit.
We check the company information, ownership and community-interest details and contact you if anything needs clarified or added.
Once everything is confirmed, we prepare and submit the formation through the appropriate CIC process.
After incorporation, we send you the company documents and confirmation of registration.
Start here
Check the name, then continue straight into your CIC order. We’ll carry the details through for you.
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 →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.
CICs can use different underlying company structures. We can help make sure the formation route fits what you are setting up.
Check your proposed name, then continue straight into the online order.
