CIC guides and resources
Free, plain-English guides to setting up and running a Community Interest Company in the UK, written by a CIC founder and checked against Companies House and the CIC Regulator. Pick the stage you are at.
Deciding whether a CIC is right for you
What a CIC is, how it compares to a charity or an ordinary company, and what the profit, tax and asset-lock rules mean in practice.
CIC vs Charity: Which Structure is Right for You?
Compare tax benefits, setup time, flexibility and regulation side by side, with a decision checklist and real-world scenarios.
CIC vs Ltd: Which Company Type Is Right for Your Social Enterprise?
Asset locks, profit rules, tax and reporting compared, so you can choose the right structure.
Can a CIC Make Profit? CIC Profit Rules Explained
Yes, a CIC can make a profit. How Community Interest Companies make money, whether they can pay dividends, and how the profit rules work.
What Is the CIC Asset Lock?
The asset lock stops assets being taken out for private gain. What it means, what is covered, and how it differs from charity restrictions.
Do CICs Pay Tax? CIC Tax Explained in the UK
Most CICs pay Corporation Tax, may need to register for VAT, and cannot usually claim charity reliefs such as Gift Aid.
Setting up your CIC
Registration step by step: names, the CIC36, the online application, costs, timelines, directors and people with significant control.
How to Set Up a CIC: Complete UK Guide 2026
Step-by-step guide to setting up a Community Interest Company: registration, costs, requirements and what to do after you are registered.
How to Register a CIC Online: Step-by-Step
The £115 online service explained: the two documents you upload, the auto-generated memorandum, director identity verification, and what happens after you submit.
CIC36 Form: What to Write, Section by Section
Section-by-section walkthrough of the CIC36 with worked examples, common mistakes, and what the Regulator is looking for.
Community Interest Statement Examples
What the Regulator accepts: the community interest test, the official example, rejection triggers, and worked wording you can adapt.
CIC Name Rules: What Your CIC Can Be Called
The required "CIC" ending, why you never use Ltd, sensitive words, name availability, and how to change your name later.
How Much Does It Cost to Set Up a CIC?
CIC registration costs £115 online or £139 by post. A full breakdown of setup costs, annual fees and optional expenses.
How Long Does It Take to Register a CIC?
Online is usually a few working days and there is no same-day service for CICs. Realistic timelines stage by stage, and what causes delays.
CIC Directors: Requirements, Pay & Duties
How many directors a CIC needs, whether they can be paid, their legal duties, and how to appoint or remove them.
How to Choose Your CIC Director Structure
How many directors your CIC needs, board structure advice, and how to add and remove directors at Companies House.
Persons with Significant Control (PSC) for CICs
Who is a PSC in your CIC, the PSC register, filing requirements, and how to design your CIC for shared control.
Running your CIC
Annual filings, the CIC34 report, bank accounts, paying yourself and finding funding.
CIC Annual Requirements: Filing Deadlines & Compliance
CIC34 reports, accounts, confirmation statements and Corporation Tax: deadlines, penalties, and how to stay compliant.
CIC34 Form: What to Write in Your Annual CIC Report
The four parts of the annual community interest report, with worked wording, the £15 fee, the deadline, and what gets a report queried.
CIC Bank Accounts: Which UK Banks Accept CICs?
Not every bank takes CICs. Which banks welcome them, which do not, and what you need to open the account.
How to Pay Yourself as a CIC Director
How director pay works in a CIC: what is allowed, what funders expect, and how PAYE, invoicing and transparency keep you on the right side of it.
CIC Grants & Funding: Complete Guide to Funding Your CIC
Funding sources for CICs, including the National Lottery, trusts and corporate funders, plus how to put together a strong application.
Ready to start your CIC?
Answer plain questions and CIC Tools writes your CIC36 and Articles of Association for you to submit to Companies House. Free to start, £29 when you download. Companies House charges its £115 fee separately.
Free checklist
Still planning your CIC?
Get the free CIC Starter Checklist. Find out what to prepare, which documents you need and what happens after registration.