The New Year is a time for self-reflection for businesses of all sizes. It offers a chance to plan ahead and achieve peace of mind knowing all regulatory obligations are being met.

January is a good time to map out your business strategy for the year, as it sets the tone and offers employees direction. With Brexit on the horizon, now is the time to start getting your house in order and making sure that you are complying with current legislation around tax, employment, advertising, insurance, data and environmental regulations.

Start preparing for the new tax year

Although it’s only January, the new tax year is just three months away. Use the next few months to prepare by getting organised, make sure you have an up-to-date accounting system in place to file receipts, transactions, bills, wages and insurance.

Depending on the size of your business, 2020 could be the right time to take on an accountant or book-keeper to navigate the complex tax system and help you save you money in the long run.

Could this be the year to give back more to your staff? If you own a limited company research shareholdings and Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs), which provide employees the opportunity to collectively take a stake in your company through a trust arrangement. This will help to incentivise staff and offers significant tax advantages.

Shareholders’ agreement

I would advise developing an agreement between all company shareholders as a priority if there is not one already. This will protect individuals’ investments in a company, create a fair relationship between shareholders and govern how the company is run.

Agreements will also include rules around share sales and transfers, which sets out on what terms and at what price shares can be transferred.

Statutory books

Make sure you own and update a statutory book which documents all your company’s charges, directors and secretaries and a register of members showing all past and present shareholders together with the history of their shareholdings.

This is a legal requirement under the Companies Act of 2006 and is routinely investigated and essential when you are selling a company.

It also contains information regarding share transfers and can store corporate documentation, such as certificates of incorporation, board minutes and articles of association.

Your company must own one and failure to do so, or if it is found to be outdated, can result in a fine of up to £1,000. Also, if a dispute over shareholdings occurs, the statutory book is the first place that will be examined.

Company secretarial services

Consider appointing a company secretary to take the burden off directors.

Company secretaries will undertake statutory duties and responsibilities such as registering a business at Companies House, maintaining statutory books, overseeing share allotments and transfers, approving people with significant control (PSC), charging and debenture registration and removal, issuing new share certificates and preparing stock transfer forms ready for submission to HMRC.

This is a service that professionals such as solicitors and accountants can also provide.

The due diligence process

If you are considering selling your business this year, make sure all your financial and administrative records are updated fully ahead of due diligence. This is the process of collecting, understanding and assessing all the legal risks during the merger and acquisition process, in order to understand the value of a company.

Business life

Running your own business is an exciting venture but without the right legal advice it can lead to disagreements, financial problems and even illegal activity. Good governance is important as it builds a sustainable structure and enables firms to generate long-term value.

A specialist corporate solicitor can help you identify future legal problems and advise you on steps to protect your business from risk and make it a success. Now is the time to set a company’s objectives, which ensures stakeholders have confidence in its smooth running and financial achievements.

Louise Hebborn is Commercial Partner at Stephensons Solicitors LLP.