| A company seal is a device commonly supplied by | | | | impressing directly into paper. |
| Company Formation Agents when registering new | | | | If you wish to obtain a wax effect from a |
| companies for clients. The company seal offers a | | | | company seal you can use self adhesive wafers |
| way of embossing documents with the company | | | | which are designed to look like wax. The wafer is |
| name and number as a way of sealing the | | | | simply placed on the paper before embossing, |
| document. This seal is often used in place of | | | | then emboss in the centre of the wafer and the |
| signatures of the authorised representatives of | | | | raised image is more defined as would occur with |
| the company. | | | | a wax seal. Company seal wafers are typically |
| In the UK, Prior to the Companies Act 1985, a | | | | supplied in red (to look like wax) or gold. |
| company seal was legally binding on a company | | | | Various types of company seal |
| when a document such as a contract or share | | | | Company seals are available in two formats. |
| certificate was embossed by the seal. Since the | | | | The cheapest seal is a plier type seal which has |
| Companies Act 1985 (and subsequent | | | | two dies, one on each side of the plier. As the |
| amendments) was introduced the company seal | | | | plier is squeezed, with paper between the pincers, |
| was no longer a legal requirement of a limited | | | | the two dies come together and emboss the |
| company. Instead a company can effectively seal | | | | paper. This plier type company seal offers an |
| a document with the signature of two company | | | | economical and portable way of sealing |
| officers, typically a director and secretary of the | | | | documents but is limited in its reach from the |
| company. | | | | edge of paperwork and is unable to emboss a |
| Although this change in law in the UK would | | | | satisfactory image into thicker paper. |
| appear to make the company seal a redundant | | | | The more robust option is the lever type |
| item they are still widely used today. The | | | | company seal. This seal has one die on its base |
| company seal still has great importance in other | | | | and a second attached to lever above the base. |
| countries and many UK companies doing business | | | | Paper is inserted over the base and the lever is |
| overseas will often need to seal a document to | | | | compressed thus embossing the paper. As the |
| complete a contract or agreement. | | | | force created by the lever is much greater than |
| How does it work? | | | | the plier type seal the lever company seal can |
| The company seal is actually an embosser as | | | | emboss thick paper and card. Lever company |
| opposed to a stamp that would contain ink of | | | | seals are available in various finishes so can be |
| some form. When the seal is pressed onto paper | | | | kept on a desk adding a professional look to your |
| it creates a raised impression of the information | | | | work environment. |
| contained within the two dies. | | | | Who uses company seals? |
| The company seal has two dies containing the | | | | Company seals are still widely used by limited |
| information to be embossed on to paperwork. | | | | companies in the UK to emboss the company |
| One die will have a raised impression and the | | | | name and number on important documents. |
| other die will have the inverted image of this | | | | Although not legally required they do give a |
| information. You simply insert a piece of paper | | | | professional finish to important contracts and |
| between the two dies and press the lever, or | | | | certificates. |
| squeeze the plier, and the two dies come | | | | Professionals such as Notary Publics and solicitors |
| together creating a raised impression on the | | | | also use them to seal documents they have |
| paper of the information contained on the dies. | | | | signed with their name and often a unique logo. |
| This embossing process is a simpler alternative to | | | | Anyone can use a company seal and it does not |
| more traditional seals which involve using wax and | | | | have to contain information relevant to a |
| a stamp. Wax would be heated and melted onto | | | | company, this is just the most common use. |
| a document which is then impressed with the | | | | Where to obtain a company seal? |
| stamp containing engraved information. The | | | | The most common supplier of company seals in |
| engraved information would create an impression | | | | the UK are company formation agents as it goes |
| in the wax and therefore seal the document. As it | | | | hand in hand with company formation services. A |
| is not practical to heat wax in many situations the | | | | plier type company seal containing just text (no |
| company seal offers a simple alternative by | | | | logo) can be obtained for less than £20. |