Company formations debate

Companies House Direct and its £18 formations service have had a profound effect on the market, capturing roughly 17% of formations business. The move has provoked a price war among agents and completely changed the industry dynamics, leaving many accountants wondering whether to stick with their preferred suppliers, or to consider alternatives. In response to this shift, we've convince Jordans and Formations Direct to take part in an online debate during March to highlight the repercussions, and assess how deeply accountants should get involved with formations.

Once they've have had their say, we’re looking for AccountingWEB members to illuminate the conversation with their comments and questions. To get things rolling, we'd like to know:

• What are the aspects of forming a company that give you the most trouble?
• What has been the impact of the low-cost Companies House Direct service on your working life?
• How much time and energy should accountants devote to formations?
• What kind of agent do you prefer to work with, and what do you want from them?
• To what extent can company formation act as a vehicle for adding value to the client relationship?

With your help, we plan to come up with some concrete conclusions and a more comprehensive guide to the mechanics of company formation. Feel free to continue the discussion below and do join in once the ball gets rolling next week. I'll make sure that the points raised here get a wider airing. Thanks for your help!