TL;DR: Scrib🐮's M1 Templates provide structured articles of association frameworks for UK Ltd, Australian Pty Ltd, Canadian corporations, and New Zealand companies — covering share classes, director powers, and member meeting procedures.
The articles of association (or equivalent constitutional document — constitution in Australia and New Zealand, articles of incorporation in Canada) govern how a company makes decisions, who has what powers, and what happens when shareholders disagree. Get them wrong and you create governance deadlock, invalid board decisions, or disputes over dividend distributions and share transfers.
The challenge for founders is that articles need to reflect the specific structure of their company — not the generic model articles designed for the simplest possible two-person company. The moment you add a third investor, create a preference share class, or include vesting provisions for co-founders, the default model articles are inadequate.
Customising articles from scratch requires corporate drafting experience. Yet paying a corporate solicitor for bespoke articles costs £1,500–£5,000 in the UK and equivalent amounts in other jurisdictions. For early-stage startups and small businesses, this is prohibitive.
Scrib🐮's M1 Template module for articles of association provides country-specific frameworks that go beyond the basic model articles while remaining structured enough for non-lawyers to complete accurately.
Country selection and base framework:
Choose your jurisdiction (UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand). The template loads the relevant statutory base:
Share class configuration:
The template asks you to define your share classes. For each class you specify:
The template translates your answers into articles language, including the definitions and schedule of rights required for each share class.
Director and board provisions:
Configure the minimum and maximum number of directors, appointment and removal procedures (board resolution vs shareholder resolution), quorum requirements, and whether the chair has a casting vote. The template includes provisions for written resolutions in lieu of board meetings — essential for distributed founder teams.
Member meeting provisions:
Set notice periods for annual and extraordinary general meetings, quorum requirements, and whether ordinary or special resolutions apply to specific decisions (share issuance, director removal, changes to the articles). For UK companies, the template defaults to the Companies Act 2006 thresholds: 75% for special resolutions.
Export and review:
The completed articles are exported as a formatted PDF with a clause index. A summary table shows each customised provision alongside the statutory default it overrides — so you can clearly see where your articles depart from the standard rules.
Scrib🐮 is a document preparation service. Articles of association have significant legal consequences. Review by a qualified corporate lawyer is strongly advisable before adoption.
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Try it free →| Module | What It Does |
|---|---|
| M1 Templates | Smart document templates for all 3 menus |
| M2 Guided Prep | TurboTax-style step-by-step wizard |
| M3 AI Assistant | Instant answers to document questions |
| M4 Submission Guide | Filing instructions for each country |
| M5 Dashboard | Track documents, deadlines, status |
Pricing: From $149/month — all menus, all countries, unlimited documents.
DIY risk: The most dangerous DIY approach is adapting a set of articles written for another company. Terms defined in that company's context (e.g., "A Shares" with specific rights) may conflict with how you have defined share classes in your company. The result is articles with internal inconsistencies that become apparent only when a dispute arises — at which point legal fees dwarf what you saved on drafting.
Corporate solicitor: UK corporate solicitors typically charge £1,500–£5,000 for bespoke articles covering standard investor protections. Australian commercial lawyers charge AU$2,000–AU$6,000 for a custom constitution. These costs are justified for companies raising significant external investment; for early-stage startups with a simple structure, they are often disproportionate.
Scrib🐮: The template framework covers the provisions that matter most for the majority of small companies and startups: share class rights, director powers, transfer restrictions, and meeting procedures. You configure your specific requirements through guided questions. The output is structured, country-specific, and far more complete than generic model articles.
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MmowW Scrib🐮 is a document preparation service, not a law firm.
Q: Can I use the articles template for a company raising venture capital investment?
The Scrib🐮 template covers the structural foundations that most VC-backed companies need: preference share classes with liquidation preferences, anti-dilution provisions, and information rights clauses. However, VC-backed companies typically negotiate bespoke investor protections that go beyond standard template provisions. Review by a corporate lawyer experienced in venture transactions is strongly advisable.
Q: What is the difference between articles of association and a shareholders' agreement?
Articles of association are a public document filed with the relevant registry (Companies House in the UK, ASIC in Australia). They bind all current and future shareholders. A shareholders' agreement is a private contract between current shareholders — not binding on future shareholders who have not signed it. Both are important; Scrib🐮 has separate templates for each.
Q: Can I amend my articles after the company is formed?
Yes. Articles can be amended by special resolution (75% of votes cast in the UK; equivalent thresholds in other jurisdictions). The M1 Template module includes a template resolution for amending articles if you need to make changes post-formation.
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Start 14-Day Free Trial →No credit card required. From $149/month.
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