Company Limited by Guarantee

A company limited by guarantee is an incorporated organisation.  This means that it has gone through the registration process that converts a new or existing business into a corporate body, making it a legal entity in its own right.  

With a company that is limited by guarantee, the financial liability of members, including the Management Committee is usually limited to a nominal amount, should the company face financial difficulties (although it does not protect against fraud, negligence, etc).

A limited company may also be a charity, if its purposes and activities are approved by Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.  More on charitable status.  

Type of organisation: Company limited by guarantee

Legal status: incorporated

Governing document: memorandum and articles of association

Common examples: large voluntary organisation; community group that owns premises; organisation that employs staff.

Key features

A company limited by guarantee has:

• a legal identity;
• the ability to own property in the company's name;
• the ability to enter into contracts (e.g. service delivery agreements, terms and conditions of a grant) in the company's name;
• additional legal requirements (e.g. company law); and
• limited liability* (i.e. members only commit to pay a normal amount such as £1 if the company has outstanding debts to meet).

* Remember!  Limited liability does not protect the Management Committee or its members against:  negligence; acting improperly or dishonestly; failing to comply with statutory requirements (such as employment law); failing to meet obligations under company law or trading without sufficient assets to cover debts; failing to meet terms of a contractual agreement (such as spending grant money on an activity outside that agreed with your funder), etc.

More on liability and legal structures.

When is it appropriate?

A company limited by guarantee is usually appropriate where some or all apply:

• the organisation is to be quite large;
• it will have employees;
• it will deliver charitable services under contractual agreements;
• it will regularly enter into commercial contracts; and
• it will own property or leasehold land.

More on the advantages & disadvantages of different legal structures

For more information please see the Company Law Help Sheet