A useful company formation service should leave the founder with an organised legal entity, not only an email saying that the CRO accepted the filing. Every StartCompany.ie formation package lists the Certificate of Incorporation, company constitution and share certificates.
Premium and Non-Resident packages add officer records, director and secretary booklets and minutes of the first directors' meeting. This guide explains how those documents differ and what they do not replace.
Core document pack
Every StartCompany.ie formation package includes the Certificate of Incorporation, LTD constitution and share certificates. Broader company-record documents depend on the package selected.
Certificate of Incorporation
The CRO issues the Certificate of Incorporation when the company is registered. It confirms the legal company name, company number and incorporation date. Banks, Revenue, customers and payment providers may ask for it during onboarding.
The certificate proves incorporation. It does not prove VAT registration, tax clearance, ownership at a later date, regulatory licensing or bank approval.
LTD Constitution
The constitution is the company's governing document. For an LTD it records the company name and the rules under which the company operates, subject to the Companies Act 2014.
Founders should keep the executed constitution with the company's records and review it before unusual share, governance or financing decisions. A standard constitution is not tailored legal advice for a complex shareholder arrangement.
Share Certificates
Share certificates evidence the shares issued to members. They should agree with the incorporation information, register of members, beneficial ownership records and later share transactions.
A share certificate is not a substitute for maintaining the statutory register or documenting an allotment or transfer correctly. Tax and stamp-duty questions may arise on later transactions.
Officer Schedules, Booklets and First Minutes
Premium and Non-Resident list a schedule of company officers, directors and secretary booklets and minutes of the first directors' meeting. These documents help organise the company's initial governance and appointments.
The company should adapt its records to what the directors actually decide. A prepared first-meeting document should be reviewed, approved and retained rather than treated as an administrative formality.
Documents Needed Beyond the Formation Pack
Depending on the business, the company may also need an internal beneficial ownership register, RBO confirmation, tax registrations, bank mandates, contracts, employment records, invoices, accounting books, licences and data-protection documentation.
These are not all created by incorporation. The formation pack is the foundation on which the operating and compliance records are built.
How to Store the Company Records
Keep secure digital copies and a controlled record of signed originals. Use consistent legal names, addresses, officer details and share information across the CRO, RBO, Revenue, bank and contracts.
When an officer, address or shareholding changes, update the relevant registers and filings rather than editing an old certificate or relying on an informal spreadsheet alone.
Related StartCompany.ie Guides and Services
Official Sources Used
- CRO company filing fees
- CRO required company formation steps
- CRO registered office requirements
- CRO company officers and EEA-resident director rules
- CRO annual return guidance
- RBO beneficial ownership filing guidance
Package prices and inclusions are current as at 15 August 2026. Review the live StartCompany.ie pricing page before ordering because service scopes can change.