Set up and run a limited liability partnership (LLP)

Explains your responsibilities, including choosing a name, having a registered address, appointing designated members and registering with Companies House.

You can set up (‘incorporate’) a limited liability partnership (LLP) to run a business with 2 or more members. A member can be a person or a company, known as a ‘corporate member’.

Each member pays tax on their share of the profits, as in an ‘ordinary’ business partnership, but they are not personally liable for any debts the business cannot pay.

Your name cannot be the same as, or too similar to, another registered company’s name.

Your name must end in ‘Limited Liability Partnership’ or ‘LLP’. You can use the Welsh equivalents if your LLP is registered in Wales.

You cannot choose a name that might be considered the ‘same as’ or ‘too like’ an existing name if it’s too similar.

‘Same as’ names include those where the only difference to an existing name is:

‘Hands UK Ltd’ and ‘Hand’s Ltd’ are the same as ‘Hands Ltd’.

You can only register a ‘same as’ name if:

You may have to change your name if someone complains and Companies House agrees it’s ‘too like’ a name registered before yours.

‘Easy Electrics For You Ltd’ is the same as ‘EZ Electrix 4U Ltd’.

If Companies House think your name is too like another, they will contact you and tell you what to do.

Your name also cannot contain a ‘sensitive’ word or expression, or suggest a connection with government or local authorities, unless you get permission.