StartMy vs High Street Solicitor
"Don't pay for a handshake."
myLO's Verdict
AI Analysis
Efficiency: Digital by default.
The Insider Reality
""Unless you have complex shareholder disputes or IP issues from day one, a solicitor is burning money. Use standardized Model Articles via StartMy.""
The Context
There is a lingering myth that you need a solicitor to "make it official". For a standard private limited company (LTD), this is simply untrue. solicitors use the exact same Model Articles of Association that StartMy uses. The difference is they charge £250+ per hour to print them out for you.
The Why
StartMy democratises access to robust legal formation. Our system uses the government-approved standard frameworks that cover 99% of UK small businesses. Unless you are entering a complex partnership with bespoke "Golden Shares" or wildly different voting rights, the standard legal framework is perfectly adequate and safer than a bespoke contract that might contain errors. We give you professional-grade compliance for the price of a takeaway lunch.
The Verdict
Paying a solicitor to form a standard company is paying for a handshake and coffee. It adds no legal value over a digital formation. Save the legal fees for when you actually have a dispute or a complex contract to negotiate.
Feature Showdown
Head to head