A clear plan, the right documents, then a company that works.

There are five. You get in touch and we respond the same working day. We have a free first call to understand your family, your assets and your goals. We send a written recommendation and a quote on request. If you go ahead, we set up the company and its documents, with our in-house legal team or your own solicitor. Then we provide ongoing support as the company runs and your circumstances change.

We listen first: who you are, how much you could invest, where it comes from, who you want to benefit and how much control and access to the money you need. Then we ask about existing wills, trusts, property and any dates that matter. By the end we will outline whether a family investment company looks sensible, the main tax points and what the next step would be. The call is free and carries no commitment.

A plain-English document setting out what we recommend and why. It covers the proposed share classes, how the company would be funded, how money would come out, the inheritance tax and income tax consequences, the main risks and the alternatives we considered, including leaving things as they are. It gives you something to share with your family, accountant, solicitor and financial adviser, and a record of why each decision was made.

Every package is quoted on request once we understand your family and what you want to achieve. After the first call we set out what we recommend and what the work would cover, and quote for it, so you know the cost before you commit. There are three packages, and you can add extras such as a trust deed or a share valuation. Nothing starts until you have agreed the scope and the quote, and if the scope changes we agree it with you first.

Forming a private limited company and registering it at Companies House; drafting articles of association with the share classes; preparing the loan agreement if the parents are lending; issuing the shares; agreeing a shareholders' agreement where appropriate; and setting up the company's bank or investment account. We design the tax side, and our in-house legal team drafts the documents, or we work with your own solicitor if you prefer.

Usually a few weeks from the point you decide to go ahead. Forming the company is quick, but the planning, drafting the articles and agreements and agreeing them with all the family members is what takes the time. If there is a deadline, such as the completion of a business sale or a tax year end, tell us at the start and we will plan around it.

Our in-house legal team drafts the trust deed, articles of association, shareholders' agreement and loan agreement, working from the plan we design, so the documents match the tax plan exactly. Or we work with your own solicitor, whichever you prefer. If your solicitor drafts them, we agree the terms with them first and review the drafts before anything is signed, so the family's documents and tax plan stay in step.

Usually details of who will be shareholders and directors, how much you plan to invest and where it comes from, any existing trusts or lifetime gifts, your wills, and any property or business interests you want to take into account. If a business sale or holding company is involved, we ask about those too. After the first call we send a specific list so you only gather what is relevant.

There are ongoing costs, though we do not state amounts here because they depend on the company. The company needs annual accounts, a corporation tax return and a confirmation statement filed at Companies House, plus the tax returns of shareholders who receive dividends. If it holds investments with a platform or manager, there are investment charges as well. Running costs should be set against the expected benefit.

After set-up we can help with the follow-through: how and when dividends and loan repayments are best paid, whether the share classes still suit the family, what changes when a child turns 18 or a new grandchild arrives, and how law changes affect the structure. Your accountant usually handles the annual accounts and returns, and we work with them on the planning decisions.

Do not transfer property, shares or significant cash into a new structure, or sign any documents, before you have had advice. Moving existing property into a company can trigger capital gains tax and stamp duty land tax, and gifts can have inheritance tax consequences that are hard to reverse. Talking to us first costs nothing and lets us design the steps in the right order.

Yes. Many families start with a review of their position: what a family investment company could do for them, what the alternatives are and what each would involve. You can then decide whether to go further. Sometimes the review is all that is needed, because the answer is to wait until the numbers justify it or to use a different structure.

It can, and some families choose this for privacy, because an unlimited company may not need to file its accounts at Companies House if certain conditions are met. The trade-off is that the members' liability is unlimited, so they could be personally liable for the company's debts. Whether it suits a family depends on the assets, the lending and their wishes, so it is worth discussing.

Every package is quoted on request once we understand your family and what you want to achieve. There are three: design and advisory; design, advisory and set-up; and set-up with ongoing support. You can add extras such as a trust deed or a share valuation. We do not publish amounts on this website, because the right scope depends on your circumstances. The first call is free, and you do not commit to anything by having it.

We agree at the start who does what. Typically we design the tax plan, our in-house legal team or your solicitor prepares the legal documents, your accountant handles the annual accounts and returns, and your financial adviser looks after the investments. We keep everyone working to the same plan, and your own advisers stay in place. If you do not have an adviser for one of these roles, we can help you think about what to look for.