Governance Resources

Want to start up a not-for-profit, community benefit organisation?

You must choose a business structure if you’re starting a business that helps people or communities (a ‘social enterprise’).

If you want to set up a business that has social, charitable, or community-based objectives, you can set up as a:

If you’re setting up a small organisation like a sports club or a voluntary group and do not plan to make a profit, you can form an ‘unincorporated association‘ instead of starting a business.

A CIC is a special type of limited company which exists to benefit the community rather than private shareholders.

To set up a CIC, you’ll need:

  • a ‘community interest statement’, explaining what your business plans to do
  • an ‘asset lock’- a legal promise stating that the company’s assets will only be used for its social objectives, and setting limits to the money it can pay to shareholders
  • a constitution – you can use the CIC regulator’s model constitutions
  • to get your company approved by the community interest company regulator – your application will automatically be sent to them

The CIC regulator has guidance on setting up a CIC.

Set up a CIC online

Register your CIC online with Companies House.

Useful Guides

https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk/app/uploads/2022/07/Start-your-social-enterprise-guide-1.pdf

https://www.the-sse.org/resources/starting/start-social-enterprise-10-steps/

Useful Websites

https://businesswales.gov.wales/socialbusinesswales/

https://www.the-sse.org/

https://wcva.cymru/

https://www.socialenterprise.org.uk

https://www.unltd.org.uk/

https://cwmpas.coop/

https://www.findingfinance.org.uk/location/denbighshire/charitable-ventures/

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