Idiots guide to company law?
Discussion
Its a bit of a long shot, but would anyone be know of a laymans guide to company law?
Specifically the requirements for setting up a limited company, legal obligations of the directors, best practise finance (ie dividends, payroll etc), instances where a director could be held liable, what NOT to do etc?
Surely such a thing must exist, the information I can find over the web is either summarised to the point of uselessness, or detailed to the point where comprehension is rather difficult as it appears to be written in legalese.
For example, I'm aware of a whole host of issues surrounding possible insolvent trading etc where a director could be held liable, the liability of a company secretary for company vehicles where drivers cannot reasonably be traced etc, but Im sure there must be one hell of a lot more posssible booby-traps out there.
Specifically the requirements for setting up a limited company, legal obligations of the directors, best practise finance (ie dividends, payroll etc), instances where a director could be held liable, what NOT to do etc?
Surely such a thing must exist, the information I can find over the web is either summarised to the point of uselessness, or detailed to the point where comprehension is rather difficult as it appears to be written in legalese.
For example, I'm aware of a whole host of issues surrounding possible insolvent trading etc where a director could be held liable, the liability of a company secretary for company vehicles where drivers cannot reasonably be traced etc, but Im sure there must be one hell of a lot more posssible booby-traps out there.
Aha, I can help here. Have a look on Hammicks Legal bookstore. You will find what you are after: www.hammickslegal.co.uk/hammicks/results.asp?bic=LCFH*&ob=sort_date/d&ds=company+law&TAG=BSEXQX699X593X756P87XA&CID=GLBLAW&PGE=&CUR=GBP
For setting up a company, this was a good 'comforter':
"Setting Up And Running A Limited Company"
Robert Browning
ISBN 1-85703-866-5
HowToBooks (www.howtobooks.co.uk) £12.99
People who've done it will tell you it's easy, but not actually fill in the details. This is a quick read (170 pages), which gives a decent overview of the bits you want to know (ie how to get the piece of paper with the company name on, and what you've let yourself in for, not the crap about "how to market your product"). I felt it could go into a bit more detail in a few areas, but for 13 quid ot gives you a decent starting map - a basic 'lay of the land'.
I have, but haven't read fully:
"Good Small Business Guide - How to start and grow your own business"
ISBN 0-7475-6690-9
Bloomsbury (www.ultimatebusinesresource.com) £19.99
This has a decent bibliography (books and websites) for employment law, accounting, taxation, small business support. But oddly nothing specific about corporate law & directors' responsibility.
As both are part of a series, it would be worth checking other titles in the range.
So hopefully that's Saturday morning sorted for you.
"Setting Up And Running A Limited Company"
Robert Browning
ISBN 1-85703-866-5
HowToBooks (www.howtobooks.co.uk) £12.99
People who've done it will tell you it's easy, but not actually fill in the details. This is a quick read (170 pages), which gives a decent overview of the bits you want to know (ie how to get the piece of paper with the company name on, and what you've let yourself in for, not the crap about "how to market your product"). I felt it could go into a bit more detail in a few areas, but for 13 quid ot gives you a decent starting map - a basic 'lay of the land'.
I have, but haven't read fully:
"Good Small Business Guide - How to start and grow your own business"
ISBN 0-7475-6690-9
Bloomsbury (www.ultimatebusinesresource.com) £19.99
This has a decent bibliography (books and websites) for employment law, accounting, taxation, small business support. But oddly nothing specific about corporate law & directors' responsibility.
As both are part of a series, it would be worth checking other titles in the range.
So hopefully that's Saturday morning sorted for you.
I've got a very old book called Charlesworth's Company Law (Ninth Edition) by T.E.Cain published by Stevens. Price on the front is 18s.6d.
Even though it was published in 1968 most of it is still relevent. Try doing a net search for for the latest edition. I think it will answer all your questions.
Even though it was published in 1968 most of it is still relevent. Try doing a net search for for the latest edition. I think it will answer all your questions.
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