Legal structures: the basics

Social enterprises

A social enterprise is a business with primarily social objectives. Any profits are largely reinvested in the business or in the community, rather than given to shareholders and owners.

There are many different types of social enterprises, including community development trusts, housing associations, worker-owned co-operatives and leisure centres.

Social enterprises may take a number of different business structures - the most common are companies limited by guarantee, companies limited by shares, and industrial and provident societies.

See our guide on how to set up a social enterprise.

Subjects covered in this guide

• Introduction
• Self-employment
• Sole trader
• Partnership
• Limited liability partnership (LLP)
• Limited liability companies
• Franchises
• Social enterprises
• Overview of legal structures
• Here's how I chose the right legal structure for my business

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