A Community Interest Company (CIC) is a limited company designed for people who want to carry out activities that are intended to benefit the community. CICs are registered as companies under the Companies Act after the CIC Regulator has approved the application to form a CIC. The regulator also has a continuing monitoring and enforcement role.
Further information including details of the relevant legislation, forms to download and sample articles of association can be found on the Community Interest Companies website.
4.1 Apply to incorporate as a CIC
To incorporate a CIC you’ll need to file:
application to register a company (Form IN01) making sure you do not complete section A3 and you do complete option 3 of A8)
memorandum of association
articles of association
application to form a community Interest company (form CIC 36 and continuation sheets if needed) inclusive of declarations
a cheque for £35, made payable to Companies House
additional information if your application includes a sensitive word or expression
As stated in The Companies (Audit, Investigations and Community Enterprise) Act 2004, if your community interest company is a private company its name must end with ‘community interest company’, or ‘c.i.c.’ Alternatively, if your company’s registered office is stated as being situated in Wales («Welsh» company) its name may instead end with ‘cwmni buddiant cymunedol’ or ‘c.b.c.’.
If your community interest company is a public company its name must end with ‘community interest public limited company’, or ‘community interest p.l.c.’. Alternatively, if your company’s registered office is stated as being situated in Wales («Welsh» company) its name may instead end with ‘cwmni buddiant cymunedol cyhoeddus cyfyngedig’, or ‘cwmni buddiant cymunedol c.c.c.’
Currently, you can only file your application documents in paper format and there isn’t a same day service available.
4.2 CIC fees
Companies House collects fees on behalf of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies. The fees shown are combined Community Interest Company Regulator and Companies House fees:
Incorporate a CIC: £35
Convert a company to a CIC: £25
Convert and re-register a company to a CIC public company (PLC) (and vice versa): £35
Convert an existing CIC to a CIC PLC: £20
Convert an Industrial and Provident Society to a CIC: £35
Change the name of a CIC: £10