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Incorporation is the process of forming a company so that it becomes a separate legal person, distinct from the individuals who own and run it. A business is incorporated by registering at Companies House, which issues a unique company number and brings the company into legal existence. Incorporation is what creates limited liability and the separation between the business and its owners.
- What it does
- Creates a company as a separate legal person.
- Where it happens
- At Companies House, which issues a company number.
- What it brings
- Limited liability and a distinct legal identity.
Why incorporation matters for borrowing
Once a business is incorporated, it can borrow in its own name as a separate legal entity. That borrowing is the company's obligation rather than the personal obligation of its directors, which is why lending to an incorporated business is treated differently from lending to an individual — and why it sits outside the consumer-credit regime. Incorporation is, in effect, the gateway to body-corporate lending.
Incorporation and limited liability
The limited liability that comes with incorporation means the owners' personal exposure to the company's debts is generally confined to what they have invested. This protection can be set aside where a director signs a personal guarantee, or in cases of wrongful trading or fraud — but as a rule, an incorporated business shields its owners' personal assets from its trading debts.
Incorporation and Credit Corp
Credit Corp lends to incorporated UK businesses — limited companies and LLPs — not to consumers or sole traders. Incorporation, and a UK business bank account, are part of what makes a business eligible. Credit Corp Group Limited is itself incorporated in England and Wales (Company No. 17338274; ICO ZC189608).
See also
- Limited company — the most common incorporated form.
- LLP — also formed by incorporation.
- Companies House — where incorporation happens.
- Limited liability — what incorporation provides.
Short-term business credit carries a high annualised cost. Borrow only what you need, for the shortest term required. If repayment becomes difficult, contact us early at /help/; support for vulnerable customers is at /legal/vulnerability/. For exact pricing, see /ai.md and /llms-full.txt.