A company is a legal form of business organisation. It is a separate legal entity and, therefore, is separate and distinct from those who run it. The company (and not the individual shareholders) is the appropriate person to be sued in the event that debts are incurred by the company which remain unpaid, despite demand. Once incorporated, the company will be required to file an annual return.
A Form A1 is completed and submitted together with a constitution (Only a one document constitution if the company is a LTD company, a memorandum and articles of association for all other company types). Company incorporation (for an LTD company) can be completed online at core.cro.ie.
Please also see Info Leaflet No.1 - Company Incorporation for more information. There are Required Steps and Incidental Obligations prior to incorporation of a company which can be incorporated using different Registration Methods.
Department website
For information on a range of supports, both financial and non-financial, that are available to assist companies to grow, improve competitiveness, create employment and improve productivity go to Business Regulation website. The DBEI website also includes its support for SMEs.
There are a number of company types:
Limited company The shares in a company are owned by its shareholders. If the company is a limited liability company, the shareholders' liability, should the company fail, is limited to the amount, if any, remaining unpaid on the shares held by them. A company is a separate legal entity and, therefore, is separate and distinct from those who run it. Only the company can be sued for its obligations and can sue to enforce its rights.
There are several types of limited company:
Single Member Company A single member company is a company which is incorporated with one member, or whose membership is reduced to one person. However, the company must have at least two directors and a secretary. (unless it is a LTD company, which can also be a single director company).
The sole member, if he/she so decides, can dispense with the holding of General Meetings, including Annual General Meetings (AGMs). The financial statements and reports that would normally be laid before the AGM of a company still need to be prepared and forwarded to the member. All company types can be single member companies.
Unlimited company In an unlimited company, there is no limit placed on the liability of the members. Recourse may be had by creditors to the shareholders in respect of any liabilities owed by the company which the company has failed to discharge. An unlimited company can be either public or private.
Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) UCITS are public limited companies formed under EU Regulation (European Communities (Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) Regulations 2011 & 2016) and the Companies Act 2014. The sole object of a UCIT is the collective investment in transferable securities of capital raised from the public that operates on the principle of risk-spreading. The competent authority, which must approve all registrations of UCITS that wish to carry on activities within the State, is the Central Bank of Ireland.
European Economic Interest Groupings (EEIG) EEIG's are provided for under SI No. 191 of 1989 - European Communities (European Economic Interest Groupings) Regulations 1989, and SI No. 447 of 2010 European Communities (European Economic Interest Groupings) (Amendment) Regulations 2010. It is a mechanism through which business within the EU can engage in cross-border commerce. The purpose of an EEIG is to facilitate or develop the economic activities of its members. An EEIG must have a minimum of two members, who may be companies or natural persons, from different Member States. The manager of a Grouping may be a natural person or a body corporate.
Societas Europaea (SE) A Societas Europaea or SE is a European public limited liability company formed under EU Regulation (Council Regulation 2157/2001) and the European Communities (European Public Limited Liability Company) Regulations 2007. S.I.21/2007. An SE can be formed by merger or as a holding or subsidiary SE or by conversion of a plc to SE. An SE must have members from different Member States unless an SE itself is setting up a subsidiary SE.
Cross Border Merger A cross border merger is where a company merges with another company (which must be from another EEA State) under EU Regulation Statutory Instrument 157 of 2008 and this can involve the formation of a new company. A cross border merger can be achieved in several different ways, each with different requirements:
Common draft terms are completed and submitted together with form CBM1 to the CRO. Notice must also be given in two newspapers regarding the terms. An office copy of the court order approving the merger must be submitted to the CRO. If the company is due to be deleted from the register, it cannot be done until notice has been received from the relevant authorities.