Shadow director or alternative?

Shadow director or alternative?

Didn't find your answer?

Hello everyone

at the moment I`m self-employed turning over 100k per year. 

I`ve been wanting to switch to my own company for quite a while now, but I`ve been put off by having to reveal my name as a director. For reasons beyond the scope of this question I wish to remain anonymous in my business, and in particular I do not want anyone to link my name to the company I`m running. 

My accountant has not been able to offer me a solution or advise, he said that sometimes is possible to have a shadow director, but this practice could be deemed illegal quite soon (as he said). 

How can I set-up and run my company without having to appear in the public records? 

A couple of solutions I thought about were (if any of these makes any sense): 

a) setting a company with a friend as a director, then have that company run and own my company. 

b) setting up a company in another country, and then have that company own and run my own company. 

Does anyone have any idea?

Thanks 

Replies (5)

Please login or register to join the discussion.

By johngroganjga
14th Sep 2014 19:49

How do you preserve your anonymity currently? Who do your customers and suppliers think they are dealing with?

Thanks (0)
Stepurhan
By stepurhan
15th Sep 2014 09:12

Personal reasons?

I am assuming your reasons for not wishing to be associated with the company are simply personal. There are any number of ethically dubious reasons for not wishing to have your name connected, so be prepared for having your motivation questioned as you are unwilling to go into detail.

You can get your address excluded from the public register. I assume this is not enough for you (since you say it is your name you don't want linked), but if it is, the details of criteria for this are here.

Otherwise, I think you are out of luck. Part of getting the benefit of limited liability is having to put certain information on public record. If you cannot accept that, then you really can't have a company. One thing you don't even appear to have considered is that shareholders are reported to Companies House, and hence publicly associated, as well. If you are neither a director not shareholder, how would you extract any profits anyway?

Thanks (0)
By mrme89
15th Sep 2014 09:37

Without questioning your motives, perhaps an unlimited company could be an option?

Thanks (1)
avatar
By zepland
17th Sep 2014 20:01

thank you all for your answers. 

mrme89 sugggested a unlimited company. that sounds like a good idea and thanks for that.   

I asked my accountant about forming an unlimited company to prevent my name from being on the public records. He says that although Unlimited Companies are exempt from submitting Annual Accounts, they need however to submit Annual Returns, which I guess will show the director`s name to the public?

Is there a way around this? 

Thanks (0)
Replying to johnhemming:
Stepurhan
By stepurhan
18th Sep 2014 08:34

Don't set up a company

zepland wrote:
Is there a way around this?
This is really a have your cake and eat it scenario. You want the full benefits of operating through a company, but you aren't willing to accept one of the requirements of receiving those benefits. It's time to make your mind up over which is more important to you. 
Thanks (0)