Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS)
Practical EIS and SEIS advice for founders, finance teams and investors — from advance assurance through to compliance.
EIS and SEIS can materially improve the attractiveness of an equity raise — but the compliance burden is real. We help founders and finance teams navigate eligibility, structure and documentation, so investors can claim relief and the company can keep moving.
Who this is for
- Founders and CFOs planning an EIS/SEIS raise and wanting to reduce execution risk
- Investors who need confidence that relief is properly supported
- Scale-ups planning follow-on funding where EIS interacts with other reliefs, share classes and group structure
What we do (and why it matters)
Eligibility and risk review
We review the company’s activities, group structure, trade status and use of funds, and identify the practical “gotchas” that commonly derail EIS/SEIS (timing, subsidiaries, excluded activities, control/connection points and paperwork). We’ll set out what’s straightforward, what’s borderline, and what needs a decision.
Structuring and documentation
We work with your legal advisers to align the share structure, investor terms and timeline with the relief criteria. Our focus is on being clear and practical — enough evidence and governance to stand up to scrutiny without slowing the round down.
Advance assurance support
Where appropriate, we help prepare and submit advance assurance and ensure your narrative is consistent with the commercial story, the technology/product roadmap and the funding plan.
Post-investment compliance
We support the post-round steps needed for investor certificates/claims, and help you keep compliance on track for future raises. If HMRC queries arise, we help you respond with the right level of technical detail and evidence.
What good looks like
- Clear fundraising plan aligned to EIS/SEIS rules and timelines
- Documented position on the trade, use of funds and key eligibility points
- Investor confidence through consistent evidence and clean, complete filings
Related: R&D Tax Credits and Patent Box often sit alongside growth funding decisions.
How our EIS/SEIS support works
A clear, low-friction process designed to protect eligibility and keep the round moving.
- 1Discovery & eligibility scanWe review the trade, group structure, prior funding and intended use of funds to identify eligibility risks early.
- 2Structure & timeline alignmentWe coordinate with advisers so share terms, sequencing and documentation align with relief requirements.
- 3Advance assurance (where appropriate)We prepare the submission and supporting narrative to reflect the commercial and technical reality.
- 4Post-round complianceWe support the filings and investor documentation, and help manage HMRC follow-up if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always, but it can be helpful where investors want additional comfort or where eligibility has nuance. We’ll advise based on the company’s profile, the round structure and timing.
Timing and sequencing issues, unclear use of funds, group/subsidiary complexity, activities that are treated as excluded, and gaps in documentation. We focus on surfacing these early and documenting the decisions.
Relief is not automatic — investors typically need the relevant certificates and accurate supporting information. We help ensure the company’s side of the process is complete and consistent.
It depends on readiness, advisers and round complexity. The best outcomes come from starting early enough to align structure, narrative and paperwork before terms are final.
Next steps
If you’re planning an EIS/SEIS raise, we’ll help you pressure-test eligibility, align structure and produce investor-ready documentation without slowing execution.