In short: For £80 we prepare share certificates for a UK company limited by shares — after a new share issue, a share transfer, or to replace a lost certificate. We check the details against your register of members and Companies House, and send certificates ready to sign. Most are ready within 1–2 working days.
What's included
- Check of shareholder details against your register of members
- Check against the latest Companies House filings
- Certificate showing company name and number
- Shareholder's name and address
- Number, class and nominal value of shares, and amount paid
- Certificate number and date of issue
- Signing instructions under your articles
- Your certificate, articles and share certificates printed on quality paper — useful when a bank or authority abroad wants originals.
- Reminder to update your register of members
What a share certificate is
A share certificate is a document a company gives each shareholder to show how many shares they hold. It is evidence of ownership. The legal record of who owns the shares is the company's register of members, so the certificate and the register must always match.
Share certificates only exist for companies limited by shares. Companies limited by guarantee and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) do not have shares, so they do not issue share certificates.
When you need a new certificate
The Companies Act requires a company to issue share certificates within two months of:
- allotting (issuing) new shares; or
- registering a share transfer.
You may also need a certificate:
- to replace one that has been lost or damaged;
- when shares are split, consolidated or reclassified;
- because a bank, investor or buyer asks to see it.
Certificates for the first shareholders are already included in all our formation packages, such as the Digital Package.
What the certificate shows
- Company name and number
- Shareholder's name and address
- Number and class of shares (for example, ordinary shares)
- Nominal value of each share and the amount paid up
- Certificate number and date
- Signatures in the way your articles require
How it works
- Tell us your company number and what has changed.
- We check your register of members and Companies House record.
- We prepare the certificates and email them to you.
- The directors sign them as your articles require, and you give them to the shareholders.
- Update your register of members, and cancel any old certificate that has been replaced.
What you need to provide
- Company name and number
- Shareholder names and addresses
- Number and class of shares for each certificate
- For a transfer: the signed stock transfer form
- For a replacement: confirmation that the original is lost, and any indemnity your articles require
Common mistakes
- Issuing certificates without filing the share allotment at Companies House. New shares need a return of allotment (SH01). Our Share Issue and Transfer service handles this.
- Forgetting to update the register of members.
- Issuing "share certificates" for an LLP or guarantee company. They do not have shares.
Frequently asked questions
Can an LLP issue share certificates?
No. An LLP has members, not shareholders, and has no shares. Members' rights are set out in an LLP Members' Agreement.
How soon must a company issue share certificates?
Within two months of allotting new shares or registering a share transfer, unless the terms of issue say otherwise.
What if a share certificate is lost?
The company can issue a replacement. Your articles may require the shareholder to give an indemnity first. We prepare the replacement and mark it as a duplicate.
Who signs a share certificate?
It depends on your articles. Under the model articles, a certificate can be signed by one director with a witness, or by two authorised signatories, or sealed with the company seal.
Do I file share certificates at Companies House?
No. Certificates are kept by the shareholders. But a new share issue must be reported to Companies House on form SH01.
Related services
Share Issue and Share Transfer
Issue new shares or transfer existing ones, with resolutions, Companies House filing and registers handled.
Resolutions and Minutes of Meetings
Board and shareholder resolutions or meeting minutes, drafted correctly for your company's records.
Certificate of Incumbency
A signed certificate listing your company's directors, secretary and shareholders, for banks and partners abroad.
Apostilled Company Documents
Get UK company documents apostilled by the FCDO so they are accepted by banks and authorities abroad.