Shareholders’ agreement

Articles and guides on Shareholders’ Agreements for UK SMEs. A properly structured agreement is essential for privately held companies to clarify expectations and prevent conflicts among stakeholders. They should provide a framework for addressing ownership changes, protecting minority shareholders, and ensuring the smooth operation and strategic direction of the business.

Business management

How to organise the structure of shareholders and directors

A clear and organised structure ensures each party understands their responsibilities and level of involvement when it comes to making decisions, says Stephen Newman of Ramsdens Solicitors.

Accounting

Paying dividends to directors

Paying yourself in dividends is a good way to reduce your tax bill, says Toby Cotton of Kreston Reeves. But there is a procedure you need to follow

Legal advice

Shareholders’ agreement: Why is it necessary for your small business?

Asif Robbani discusses why getting a shareholders' agreement in place at the start of a business is so important.

Legal advice

Why you need a shareholders’ agreement when starting your business

When starting up a business, setting up a shareholders' agreement is an important step to make. In this piece from law firm Davis Blank Furniss, we look at the benefits of doing so and find out exactly how they work.

Legal advice

Dealing with a difficult shareholder

Clive Lewis, of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, explains the legal ramifications of shareholder disputes.

Employing & managing staff

The beginner’s guide to share schemes

As your business grows, you may toy with the idea of offering a small number of shares to key employees to keep them attached to the business. This can motivate staff and offers them a stake in the business that they are working so hard to build. SmallBusiness.co.uk teamed up with Gemma Taaffe of Sherrards Solicitors to give you this beginner's guide to share schemes.

Legal advice

Business Partnership with friends? You’ll need a shareholders agreement

If you are looking to set up a business in partnership with friends, then it's imperative to get professional advice and draw up a shareholders agreement, says Nigel Lander, specialist finance adviser at Business Link for London.

Future-proof your business communications set-up

Landlines as we know them will be scrapped in 2027 – along with a raft of upcoming business changes. Here's how to ensure your communications set-up is fit for whatever the future brings