Run your company
Your first 90 days after incorporation: a practical checklist
Receiving a certificate is a milestone, not the end of the setup project. Use the next stage to organise records, confirm operating permissions and build a calendar that prevents missed obligations. The sequence below is an organisational framework; it does not create legal deadlines or replace the dates issued by your authorities.
First: confirm what was registered
Review the official record against the information you approved. Check names, addresses, ownership and officeholders, and ask how errors should be corrected. Store the certificate, constitutional documents and filing receipts in a company-controlled folder. Record which accounts and authorisations the provider used, without sharing credentials improperly.
Next: prepare to operate
Confirm the permissions and registrations that apply before you begin the intended activity. Coordinate banking, bookkeeping and invoicing with appropriate advisers. Record how company expenses will be paid and supported. Do not assume that the agent has completed a task simply because it appeared in an early proposal; ask for the actual evidence of completion.
Then: establish the recurring routine
Build a calendar from official deadlines and professional advice. Assign responsibility for accounts, returns, renewals and changes to company particulars. Set an earlier internal reminder so there is time to gather documents. Review the budget after the first invoices arrive and resolve any difference from the quotation while the details are still fresh.
Put it into practice
- Confirm the official company record.
- Collect documents and receipts.
- Verify permissions before trading.
- Assign bookkeeping and filing responsibilities.
- Record official deadlines and service renewals.
- Keep contact and recovery details under appropriate control.
Your next step
End the setup project with a handover meeting or written checklist. Each item should say completed, pending or not applicable, with a responsible person and supporting evidence.
Official sources & scope
SBA and GOV.UK setup guidance identify tasks beyond choosing a company name. The 90-day framing is an editorial planning tool, not a statutory timetable.
General planning information. Country-specific rules and individual circumstances need separate verification. Examples are illustrative; no savings or application outcome is guaranteed.