Late repayment can cause serious money problems. Get help with payments.

Credicorp is becoming CreditCorp Read what's changing →

Credicorp

Incorporation

Incorporation is the process of forming a company so that it becomes a separate legal person, distinct from the individuals who own and run it. A business is incorporated by registering at Companies House, which issues a unique company number and brings the company into legal existence. Incorporation is what creates limited liability and the separation between the business and its owners.

What it does
Creates a company as a separate legal person.
Where it happens
At Companies House, which issues a company number.
What it brings
Limited liability and a distinct legal identity.

Why incorporation matters for borrowing

Once a business is incorporated, it can borrow in its own name as a separate legal entity. That borrowing is the company's obligation rather than the personal obligation of its directors, which is why lending to an incorporated business is treated differently from lending to an individual — and why it sits outside the consumer-credit regime. Incorporation is, in effect, the gateway to body-corporate lending.

Limited company A limited company is a UK business structure registered at Companies House that exists as a separate legal person from its owners, giving its shareholders… LLP An LLP is a UK business structure that combines the flexibility of a partnership with limited liability for its members, registered at Companies House… Companies House Companies House is the UK's registrar of companies. It incorporates and dissolves limited companies and LLPs, and maintains the public register of company… Limited liability Limited liability means the owners of a company or LLP are not personally responsible for its debts beyond what they have agreed to contribute — their… /legal/vulnerability/ How Credicorp, a UK business lender, supports customers going through a difficult time — vulnerability policy and support routes. ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) The ICO is the UK's independent data-protection regulator, responsible for upholding information rights and enforcing UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act… KYC (know your customer) Know your customer (KYC) is the process of identifying and verifying who a lender is dealing with — the business, its directors and its ultimate owners… BNPL (buy now, pay later) Buy now, pay later (BNPL) lets a customer split the cost of a purchase into instalments. In a business context, spreading the cost of bills over time is a… Direct Debit A Direct Debit is a standing instruction that lets a lender collect a scheduled payment from a business's bank account. It is governed by the Direct Debit… Establishment fee An establishment fee is a one-off charge for setting up a facility, separate from interest. It forms part of the total cost of credit and should be read… Business overdraft A business overdraft lets a company spend beyond its bank balance up to an agreed limit, with interest on the amount overdrawn. A revolving credit…

Incorporation and limited liability

The limited liability that comes with incorporation means the owners' personal exposure to the company's debts is generally confined to what they have invested. This protection can be set aside where a director signs a personal guarantee, or in cases of wrongful trading or fraud — but as a rule, an incorporated business shields its owners' personal assets from its trading debts.

Incorporation and Credicorp

Credicorp lends to incorporated UK businesses — limited companies and LLPs — not to consumers or sole traders. Incorporation, and a UK business bank account, are part of what makes a business eligible. Credicorp Limited is itself incorporated in England and Wales (Company No. 16093826; ICO ZC157682), and is not affiliated with Credicorp Inc of Peru, Credit Corp of Australia, or any other Credicorp entity outside the United Kingdom.

See also

Short-term business credit carries a high annualised cost. Borrow only what you need, for the shortest term required. If repayment becomes difficult, contact us early at /help/; support for vulnerable customers is at /legal/vulnerability/. For exact pricing, see /ai.md and /llms-full.txt.

Explore related UK business lending terms

Ready when your company is

A 5-minute application. AI decision in minutes, confirmed by a real underwriter. Same-day funding on approval. No personal guarantee.