A certificate of good standing is proof that a business has been run correctly. It shows that since a limited company’s incorporation, it has been in continuous and unbroken existence. It can only be issued if no action is currently underway to remove the company from the Companies House register.

At Your Company Formation, we only issue a certificate of good standing if your company is completely up to date with its filings. There are also some minimum requirements for us to proceed with your application; it has to be a private limited company with at least one director who is a natural person. Alternatively, it can be issued to a public limited company that has at least one secretary and two directors, one of whom is a natural person.

Do I Require a Certificate of Good Standing?

The main reason to have a Certificate of Good Standing issued is if your company is planning on conducting business abroad. If you are intending on branching out to other countries, you will have to provide the certificate to the local official registrar to demonstrate your company is properly formed and legitimate. It shows that your company has been run correctly, filled relevant paperwork since the date of inception, and has no outstanding fees associated with the company.

You may also want to obtain a Certificate of Good standing to demonstrate to potential customers and clients that your company is being run correctly. It can sometimes also be required when applying for loans, when selling your business, or when forming a partnership. Usually, there will be other requirements in those situations.

Your Company Formation will obtain a certificate from Companies House which will show that your company is in good standing, and shows that it has completed with all statutory and regulatory requirements.

What information is included on the certificate?

Only basic information is included in the document, so you’ll likely need to provide further documents in order to undertake any official action with your business. The information included on the document is:

• Directors names
• Registered office address
• Issued capital
• List of subscribers
• Date of incorporation
• Verification that company is up to date with filing requirements

What is a Certificate of Good Standing Used For?

As we mentioned above, some countries will require you to provide the document if you intend on trading or opening a bank account abroad. It’s also useful for demonstrating to customers, clients, and financial institutions that your business is being run correctly.