Sole trader
Simple to begin, but you carry the business liabilities personally.
Business lifecycle advice
Build, grow, and transition your business with confidence.
Rosie's Legis helps start-ups, family-owned companies and established SMEs make sound decisions about company formation Croydon businesses can rely on, governance, succession and exit planning.
Good structures prevent expensive uncertainty.
Practical owner-focused advice
London and Croydon support
01 / Formation
Company formation and start-up advice
The structure you choose affects tax, control, funding and personal exposure. Rosie's Legis sets out the practical difference before you register, sign or trade.
Start with the right frame
A clear founders' agreement gives early decisions somewhere to live.
Partnership
A written agreement can define authority, profit shares and departures.
Limited company
Separate legal personality with decisions recorded through shares and directors.
LLP
A flexible option for members who want partnership-style management.
We cover registration, founders' documents and the first governance decisions.
See commercial law support
02 / Governance
Shareholders' agreements and governance
A shareholders' agreement gives owners a shared rulebook before pressure arrives. It matters especially when two or more people hold different levels of control.
Clear terms save time when plans change.
Shareholders agreement London businesses can use with confidence.
Decision-making
Set voting thresholds, reserved matters and board authority.
Share transfers
Agree what happens when an owner leaves, dies or receives an offer.
Dividends
Record how profits are considered alongside reinvestment and cash flow.
Disputes
Use staged discussions, mediation or other agreed routes before positions harden.
A small clause can prevent a large argument.
For example, a pre-agreed transfer process can stop one shareholder being forced into an unwanted sale while the others keep trading.
03 / Succession
Succession and family business transitions
Family businesses need decisions that respect relationships and protect the company. We help owners discuss successors, value, tax advice and control while there is still time to plan.
Name the next decision-makers
Identify possible successors, their roles and the skills the business will need.
Understand the value
Use a clear valuation and separate family expectations from the company's trading position.
Check tax and ownership routes
Coordinate legal documents with specialist tax advice before shares or assets move.
Put the plan in writing
Record control, funding, employment, voting and dispute arrangements so everyone knows the next step.
04 / Change and exit
Restructuring, acquisitions and exits
Growth can expose an old structure. A sale can expose every unclear contract, ownership record and director decision.
Rosie's Legis supports SME restructuring, mergers, acquisitions and founder exits with a focused legal plan.
Group and ownership changes
Due diligence preparation
Warranties and deal terms
Founder exit planning
A sale works better when preparation starts early.
A growing SME can spend months answering buyer questions about contracts, employees, shares and historic decisions. We help organise that material before negotiations begin, so gaps are found while they can still be fixed.
Plan the evidence before the buyer asks.
05 / Directors
Director duties and personal liability
Directors make decisions under pressure. The Companies Act 2006 still expects proper purpose, reasonable care, conflict management and regard for the company's position.
Good records matter.
Review compliance supportConflicts of interest
Declare personal interests, record the decision and follow the company's approval process.
Board records
Minutes should show the information considered, the decision made and the reason for it.
Financial pressure
When insolvency may be approaching, directors need prompt advice on creditors and continuing trade.
Risk controls
Clear delegations, insurance review and governance policies help directors act on known risks.
Plan your next step with us
Tell Rosie's Legis where your business is now and what needs to change. We can discuss formation, governance, succession or an exit plan in an initial discussion with no obligation to proceed.
Questions
Business lifecycle FAQs
Good advice starts with the detail that matters to your business.
4
common topics1
clear next stepWhat is a founders' agreement?
It records how founders will own, manage and fund a new business. It can cover roles, decision-making, intellectual property, departures and deadlock before disagreements arise.
When should I start succession planning?
Start before a retirement date or urgent family change is in view. Early planning gives time to value the company, prepare successors and coordinate legal and tax advice.
How do I sell my business?
Begin with ownership records, contracts, accounts and key risks. Legal advice then covers due diligence, heads of terms, warranties, disclosure and completion.
What are my duties as a director?
You must act within your powers, promote the company's success, exercise reasonable care and manage conflicts. Financial difficulty calls for prompt, careful advice.