A community interest company (CIC) is a type of company that exists to provide a benefit to a community. It must use its income, assets and profits for that community. It is not, however, a charity.

A CIC will have one of the following at the end of its full name: community interest company, c.i.c, community interest public limited company, or community interest plc. There are also Welsh-language equivalents.

A CIC cannot be a political party, a political campaigning organisation or a subsidiary of either.

CICs are regulated by the Regulator of Community Interest Companies.

In this section, you'll learn about:

• how to start up or convert to a CIC
• legal restrictions and regulation
• filing requirements
• what to do if you want to end a CIC