Which legal structure is right for your social enterprise?
CIC or charity? Co-operative or community benefit society? The Seghu structure assessment asks about your mission, your income and the funding you will need, then ranks the 8 main UK social enterprise structures by fit. Fixed scoring rules do the ranking, not AI, so you can see why each structure scored the way it did.
- Ranks the 8 main UK structures
- Fixed scoring rules, not AI
- Free to run the assessment
Your structure decides which funding you can take
Your legal structure shapes which grants you can apply for, whether you can take investment, who owns the organisation and how it is governed. Most founders choose a structure before they understand their funding options, and changing it later costs time and legal fees.
- A CIC limited by guarantee cannot issue shares, so equity investment is not open to it.
- Gift Aid is only open to registered charities and CASCs.
- Community shares need a community benefit society or a co-operative society.
What the assessment does for you
Every main structure compared
CIC limited by shares, CIC limited by guarantee, charity (CIO), charitable company, community benefit society, co-operative society, impact-led company and CASC, all scored on the same answers.
Funding in the picture from the start
Your expected mix of grants, trading income and investment shapes the result, so you do not pick a structure that rules out the money you need.
Reasons you can check
Your recommendation comes with the reasoning behind it and things to keep in mind. The same answers always give the same scores.
Chat or form, your choice
Answer by chatting in plain English or by filling in a form. If you chat, AI only turns your words into answers. It never picks the structure.
Hybrid setups flagged
When one organisation cannot do everything you want, the assessment can suggest a pair, such as a charity with a trading subsidiary, as a second option.
How the structure assessment works
- 01
Tell us about your plans
Answer questions about your social purpose, how you will earn income, who will own and run the organisation, and the funding you expect to need.
- 02
See your ranked results
The scoring engine ranks every structure by fit. Running the assessment is free. Seeing which structure each score belongs to costs £25, and that £25 comes off your document pack if you go on to file.
- 03
Move on to incorporation
Compare your top options side by side, then take your chosen structure into a guided incorporation wizard.
Two ways in, depending on where you are
Seghu has one path for founders forming a new organisation and another for organisations that are already registered. Pick the one that describes you.
Not incorporated yet
For founders forming a new social enterprise who want to choose the right structure before they register.
- Structure assessment across the 8 main structures
- Ranked results with the reasoning behind them
- Leads straight into the incorporation wizards
Already incorporated
For registered organisations that want to know whether their current structure fits the funding they are after.
- A Structure Review of the organisation you already have
- Checks your structure against your funding goals
- A verdict: keep, adjust, restructure or add a second entity
What you get
- A fit score for each of the 8 main UK social enterprise structures
- Your recommended structure, with the reasons behind it
- Things to keep in mind before you commit
- A side-by-side comparison of your top options
- A hybrid suggestion where two organisations would serve you better
- A structure summary you can share with an adviser
Frequently asked questions
Which legal structure is best for a social enterprise?
There is no single best structure. The right one depends on your purpose, how you will earn income, who should own and control the organisation, and whether you want grants, loans or investment. The assessment weighs those answers across the 8 main UK structures and ranks them for your situation.
What is the difference between a CIC and a charity?
A community interest company is a company with an asset lock that keeps its assets and surplus working for the community, and a CIC limited by shares can pay investors dividends within a cap. A charity must have exclusively charitable purposes, pays no dividends and can claim Gift Aid. CICs register with Companies House and the CIC Regulator, while charities in England and Wales are regulated by the Charity Commission.
Does AI choose my structure?
No. The ranking comes from fixed scoring rules: each structure starts on set points and your answers move them up or down by amounts set in advance. If you answer by chat, an AI model turns your words into answers for the scoresheet, and you can redo the assessment using the form instead.
How much does the structure assessment cost?
Running the assessment and seeing your ranked scores is free. Seeing which structure each score belongs to, and why it was recommended, costs £25. If you then buy a document pack, the £25 comes off its price.
Is this legal advice?
No. Seghu is not a law firm and does not give legal, tax or financial advice. The assessment helps you understand your options, and you may still want a solicitor or adviser to check your choice before you register.
We are already registered. Can we check our structure?
That is what the Structure Review is for. It looks at the structure you already have against the funding you want and gives a verdict: keep, adjust, restructure, or add a second organisation alongside the one you have.
Keep exploring
- IncorporationGuided incorporation wizards for CICs, CIOs, charitable companies, community benefit societies, co-ops and CASCs. Build your formation documents step by step.
- FundingSee which grants, loans, social investment and community shares fit your structure, check your funding readiness and get matched to 144 UK funders.
- GovernanceUnderstand who regulates your CIC, charity or society, what you file each year and your key duties. Generate your governance and filing documents with Seghu.
Choose your structure with the funding in mind
Answer questions about your mission and your money, and see how each UK structure fits before you register anything.
Start your journey