Company Types in Jersey

When choosing between the company types in Jersey, investors take into account the business form (company, partnership, etc.) along with its main features and advantages. The decision to settle on a certain business form can be assisted by our team of experts in company formation in Jersey.

Business types in Jersey

There are several business structures in Jersey that can be incorporated by local and foreign investors. For the purpose of this article, our team discusses the main business form, which is the corporation (please see further down in this article).

Below, you can see a list of the main business structures available in Jersey:

• Sole trader: the simplest business structure and, at the same time, the one with the highest degree of liability for its founder;
• Partnership: formed by two or more investors with the same business goals. At least one of the founders bears full liability;
• Company: the most commonly used legal structure as it is separate from its founders. You can read more about the types of companies in Jersey below;
• Branch: an extension of a foreign company. It will engage in the same business activities as the parent company and the latter will be liable for its branch in Jersey.

Our team can help you open a company in Jersey under one of the forms presented below. The choice can depend on the business plan, future expansion, number of founders, and more.

If you would like to know more about the sole trader and the partnership, our team that can help you with company formation can answer specific questions such as those related to Jersey company formation costs.

The main types of companies in Jersey

Investors who choose one of the company types in Jersey will start by making a choice between opening a private or a public company.

Private companies in Jersey have a maximum of 30 shareholders. Companies with more members are considered public ones and are subject to more complex requirements.

Our team lists the main company types in Jersey below:

• Protected cell company: can have cells (which have their own assets and liabilities). For the PPC, these are ringfenced from each other;
• Incorporated cell company: in this case, the cells are incorporated companies with their own legal identity, assets, and liabilities. Each incorporated cell acts independently.
• Limited company: the shareholders are liable for the debts of the company to the extent of their contributions (the nominal value of their owned shares);
• Unlimited company: in this case, the members have unlimited liability to contribute to the assets of the company upon its dissolution;
• Limited life companies: these are setup so that they can be dissolved when one or more events take place (for example, in the event of a company’s member retirement or resignation, among other reasons).

Jersey company incorporation

Choosing one of the company types in Jersey is the first step towards company creation. Once the members have selected a business form that suits their needs (most commonly, a limited company), they will start the incorporation process.

We list some of the key steps required to open a company in Jersey once the business form is chosen:

• Decide on the company’s particulars: these include its name, its office, and the shareholding structure;
• Open a bank account: a corporate bank account is usually opened after incorporation; there is no minimum share capital to deposit;
• Prepare the registration documents: the Memorandum and the Articles of Association are two of the most important documents for company creation;
• Register the business: the company is entered into the Jersey Registry for companies. Public information on legal entities, business names, and others is stored there.

Some of the fees that apply for company incorporation in Jersey include the following:

• £205 for a 5-business-day registration;
• £543 for a 1-business-day registration;
• £856 for a 2-hour business registration.

Please keep in mind that the list above does not include legal fees or fees for other types of services.

Companies may also require special licenses for some of their activities, such as those issued by the Jersey Financial Services Commission.

Contact us for more information about the company types in Jersey and the incorporation requirements that apply to each one.