Built by a CIC founder – for UK community foundersCIC company formation documents - done in 15 minutes
Check your CIC name, answer guided questions, and download Companies House-ready registration documents. CIC formation for a one-off £50 - no solicitor needed.
No account needed to start. Try the wizard free – pay only when you download.
Is your CIC name available?
🕐 ~15 minutes · 📄 Companies House-ready · ✓ Built by a CIC founder
What's included in your CIC formation pack - £50
Written Companies House documents for your CIC submission
CIC36 Community Interest Statement, Articles of Association - all generated from your answers, ready to submit
6+ funder-ready policies - Safeguarding, GDPR, Equality & Diversity, Health & Safety, Conflict of Interest
Step-by-step guidance - Know exactly what to do next
One-off £50. No subscription. Your documents are yours to keep - platform access included for 12 months.
How CIC registration works
From name check to registered Community Interest Company, in four steps.
Check your CIC name is available
Type your name into the checker and we look it up against the Companies House register instantly. No account needed.
Answer guided questions in plain English
The wizard asks about your community, your mission and your directors - then writes your CIC36 community interest statement and customises your Articles of Association for you. No legal jargon, no blank page. About 15 minutes.
Submit to Companies House online
Upload your two documents to Companies House's online CIC registration service. Their £115 incorporation fee is paid directly to them at this point - it's separate from your £50 pack.
You're registered
Companies House typically processes CIC applications within 24-48 hours. Then your what-comes-next guide walks you through the first weeks: bank account, HMRC registration, policies and your first funding applications.
Prefer to do every step yourself? Read the full walkthrough: our complete guide to setting up a CIC.
Why founders pick CIC Tools
| Feature | DIY | Solicitor | CIC Tools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | £300–£800 | £50 |
| Time to create documents | 2–4 weeks | 1–3 weeks | 15 minutes |
| CIC formation documents | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Funder-ready policy generator | ✕ | +£500 | ✓ |
| CIC grants browser | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Grant application checklist | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| What-comes-next guide | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Free CIC directory listing | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Subscription required | No | No | No |
Try free, pay only when you download. Companies House fee (£115) paid separately to them.
Built by a CIC founder
I'm Ben. I run Homeless Aid UK – 300+ volunteers reaching 4,000+ people a month across the North West. Registering it as a CIC nearly broke me: the forms, the jargon, the unnecessary complexity.
So I built this. For myself first. Then for you. I ran our CIC36 and Articles through this exact wizard. Within days, we were registered. Within weeks, we were grant-eligible.
- Ben Ahern, Founder, CIC Tools · Co-founder, Homeless Aid UK CIC
★★★★★
“I used the formation pack after months of trying to understand everything. 100% recommend – everything submitted and incorporated within days.”
- Bonnie Things CIC
★★★★★
“Thanks so much to CIC Tools. My CIC was registered within 24 hours.”
- El Anchor Outreach CIC
★★★★★
“So easy and straightforward to use.”
- S2S Community Development CIC
You'll meet the document requirements expected by National Lottery Community Fund, UnLtd, Lloyds Bank Foundation, Esmée Fairbairn, local council grants and more – subject to each funder's criteria.
Subject to each funder's criteria – you'll meet the policy requirements, but your project still needs to match their focus.
CIC formation questions, answered
How much does CIC formation cost?
£50, one-off. That includes your Companies House-ready formation documents (CIC36 and Articles of Association), all six funder-ready policies, a what-comes-next guide, the grant application checklist and grant browser, and a free directory listing - with platform access included for 12 months. Companies House charges a separate £115 incorporation fee when you submit. A solicitor typically charges £300-£800 for the same documents.
How long does CIC registration take?
The wizard takes about 15 minutes. Companies House typically processes CIC applications within 24–48 hours. You could be registered by tomorrow.
What documents do I need to register a CIC?
Two documents for online registration: a CIC36 community interest statement and your Articles of Association. The wizard generates both from your answers, ready to upload. Companies House's online form covers the rest of your application details.
Can I set up a CIC myself for free?
Yes - you can write the CIC36 and Articles yourself and pay only the £115 Companies House fee. Most founders take 2-4 weeks to get the wording right. The wizard exists for people who would rather have it done in 15 minutes, with funder-ready policies included.
Do I need a solicitor for CIC company formation?
No. CIC formation doesn't require a solicitor - it requires correctly drafted documents. Solicitors typically charge £300-£800 to prepare them; the wizard generates the same Companies House-ready documents for £50.
Can I try it before I pay?
Yes. The wizard is completely free to use. You only pay £50 when you're ready to download your documents and unlock 12 months of access.
Do I still need to pay Companies House?
Yes. The £115 Companies House incorporation fee is paid directly to them when you submit your documents online. The £50 covers 12 months of access - the part that normally costs £300-£800 through a solicitor.
You've been thinking about this long enough.
The community you want to help isn't waiting for the paperwork to be perfect. They're waiting for you to show up.
Start my CIC - £50 →Try the wizard free - pay only when you download. No subscription - your documents are yours to keep, with platform access included for 12 months.