Community interest company

Not for profit - limited liability companies - UK.

(CIC).

Community interest companies are one of the legal structures available in the UK for establishing or incorporating a social enterprise.

The main benefits of incorporating as a CIC include the right to use the designation "CIC", providing reassurance to stakeholders about the organisation and its governance.

UK CICs are subject to regulation by the CIC Regulator (the Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies).

CICs do not enjoy any tax incentives compared with ordinary limited liability companies.

However, they provide greater operational flexibility - and are regulated more lightly - compared with charities.

The CIC structure was introduced in 2005.

See also

• Charitable status
• Company
• Company law
• Governance
• Incorporation
• Limited liability company
• Not-for-profit
• Profit for purpose
• Regulation
• Regulator
• Social Business Trust
• Social concerns
• Social enterprise
• Social impact bond

Other resources

• CICs compared with charities and ordinary limited companies - the CIC Regulator
• UK Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies - about us - what we do