All company letterheads and invoices require the following information:
- Full company name including ‘Limited’ if appropriate
- Address of the registered office
- Company registration number as issued by Companies House
- Company VAT number, if applicable
- Whether the company was incorporated in England and Wales, or Scotland
- For members of a regulated profession, all relevant membership details
Names of directors
If one director’s name is listed, all directors must be included, but it is also acceptable to not list any of them.
Displaying the company name outside premises
The Companies Act dictates that company names should be displayed prominently on premises, whether that is a specific workplace or a home office. The problem is that displaying the name on your home could attract unwanted attention from the Council.
It should be noted however, that generally Companies House do not physically check whether these specific regulations are being adhered to.
Cheques and order details
The full company name including ‘limited’ should be present, if applicable. Otherwise there is a risk of confusion in terms of becoming personally liable for items that were assumed to be in the company name.
Website
Legal requirements for inclusion on company websites are as follows:
- Full name and registration number of the company
- Place of registration
- Address of the registered office
All businesses are obliged to display the following information on their websites, regardless of status:
- Business name/trading name
- Business email address – this must be displayed even if there is a generic contact form on the website
- Business trading address
- Name and registration number of any relevant professional bodies
- VAT number, if registered
These details are often displayed on a single page, such as ‘About Us’ or ‘Legal’ rather than on each page of the website.
Distance Selling Regulations
This legislation was established in 2000, brought in to protect consumers who purchase goods on the internet.
The regulations set out the requirements in terms of displaying clear and unambiguous pricing, returns and refunds policies, and descriptions of goods.
Order forms and emails
Company order forms and emails must contain the following details:
- Company name and registration number
- Address of the registered office
- Place of registration
This information is usually included in document footers and email signatures.
Ensure you are compliant
We can help you become compliant by checking all business correspondence templates, and advising as necessary.
If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact Southside Accountants Wimbledon.
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