How to register a Community Interest Company in 2026

You’re setting up a Community Interest Company because you want a business that puts community benefit first. We’re going to turn the official guidance into a friendly, classroom‑ready walk‑through, with a glossary and a final check so you can submit with confidence.

A CIC is a limited company with a legal “asset lock”, which means profits and property must be used for your stated community benefit. You’ll choose either limited by guarantee (no shareholders) or limited by shares (there can be shareholders). If you pick shares, your model articles will set how dividends work, which we explain below.

Let’s get the practicalities straight. From 1 February 2026 the CIC Regulator confirms the incorporation fee is £115 if you file online and £139 if you apply by post. Companies House has also updated its wider fee schedule from the same date. There is no same‑day service for CICs, and the online route is usually processed faster than paper applications. (gov.uk)

If you use the online service, you only upload two files: your Articles of Association and your CIC36 community interest statement. Everything else-company type, registered office, director details and the memorandum of association-is captured from what you type during the online journey, which also applies basic checks to help first‑time filings pass. (gov.uk)

Your CIC36 is the plain‑English story of who you serve and how you do it. Complete sections A to D in full, describe the community to be benefited, set out your activities, and finish the surplus statement explaining what happens to profits. Read the declarations and make sure directors sign section D; e‑signatures such as DocuSign are acceptable, but the number of signatories must match the number of first directors you are appointing. Do not apply if the company’s main purpose is to campaign for or against a political party or government decision. If you are limited by guarantee-or using the limited‑by‑shares Schedule 2 model-do not promise dividends to shareholders. (gov.uk)

Your Articles are the rulebook. Use the correct model for your structure: limited by guarantee, or limited by shares using Schedule 2 (dividends can go to asset‑locked bodies) or Schedule 3 (dividends can go to shareholders within the CIC rules). Name a valid asset‑locked body in clause 3.5-such as a registered charity, another CIC or a Registered Society-and do not nominate your own CIC or any director. Keep the statutory clauses shown in red in the model articles and avoid adding wording that undermines them. It’s good practice to complete the objects clause to help funders understand your purpose, even though it isn’t compulsory. (gov.uk)

Names and people details matter more than most first‑time founders expect. Check that your chosen name is available and use the ending Community Interest Company or CIC consistently across every document. If your CIC is a private company, the name must end with ‘community interest company’ or ‘cic’ (with or without full stops). On paper filings, do not complete section A3 of form IN01 and do complete option 3 of A8; include People with Significant Control information, the consent statement, and a continuation sheet if you have more than two directors. (gov.uk)

If you choose the paper route, you will file IN01, a memorandum of association, your articles, and the CIC36, then pay the current paper fee-which from 1 February 2026 is £139. Paper applications take longer to process than online submissions, so build that into your timeline. (gov.uk)

Before you upload or post anything, run a self‑check. Is the company name identical on all documents? Does your articles model match your structure and dividend plan? Have you named a valid asset‑locked body and numbered the asset‑lock clauses correctly? Have the same people you’re appointing as first directors signed section D of the CIC36? Have you completed the surplus statement? These are the stumbling blocks officials see most often and they will delay approval if missed. (gov.uk)

A quick glossary helps as you draft. Articles of Association are the rules of your CIC. The memorandum of association is a short statement that the subscribers agree to form the company. A CIC36 is your community interest statement at incorporation. An asset lock is the legal safeguard that keeps assets for community benefit. A People with Significant Control (PSC) is someone who owns or controls the company. ‘Schedule 2’ and ‘Schedule 3’ are the two share‑based models that handle dividends differently.

Your last‑mile checklist is simple and calm: use the most recent forms, keep names and numbers consistent everywhere, choose the right articles model, name a valid asset‑locked body, complete sections A–D of the CIC36 including the surplus statement, ensure the same number of directors sign as you are appointing, and pay the correct fee for your chosen route. If anything feels unclear, pause and re‑read the official guidance you’re drawing from rather than guessing.

If you need a human to talk to, the CIC Regulator can answer questions about the CIC36 and the articles, while Companies House deals with form IN01 and any issues with the online portal. The government guidance lists the CIC office email as cicregulator@companieshouse.gov.uk, and reminds first‑time filers that no question is too small. (gov.uk)