Comparison
How to choose a UK company check: what each option actually gives you
There is no single best company check, because the options answer different questions. The free Companies House register answers whether a company exists and files on time. A credit score answers how a model ranks its risk. A one-off report such as CoreFi's, from £39, answers what the full public record says about one company, with the accounts cross-checked and the wider registers combined.
| If you need to... | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Confirm a company is real and active | Companies House | Free and authoritative |
| Rank many companies by risk | A scoring subscription | Consistent modelled measure |
| Evidence one decision | A one-off report | Traceable to filings, keepable, shareable |
| See what property a company owns | A report using Land Registry | Not held by Companies House |
Decide what you are actually asking
Most disappointment with company checks comes from buying the wrong shape of product. Before choosing, work out whether you need a number to rank companies by, a document to justify a decision, or simply confirmation that a company is real and current.
If you want a number to compare hundreds of companies, buy a score. If you need to evidence one decision, buy a report. If you just need to confirm identity and status, use the free register.
What a good one-off report should contain
Filed accounts with several years of trend, and an explicit statement of which figures reconcile. A report that prints figures without checking them is just a reformatted filing.
The charge register in plain English, directors and persons of significant control, filing punctuality, and insolvency notices. Beyond that, the registers most products leave out: registered property, supplier-payment behaviour and sector licences.
Honesty about gaps. Small and micro companies are not required to file a profit and loss account, so no provider can show you turnover that was never filed. A report that appears to know it anyway is estimating.
Check any UK company now
Enter a company number to see the free snapshot, then get the full report. One-off, from £39.
Start typing a company name and pick the right one, or paste a company number.
Or see how CoreFi Company Reports work.
Frequently asked
Is a paid company check worth it?
It depends on the decision behind it. For confirming identity, the free register is enough. For extending credit, buying a business or taking on a supplier, a report that cross-checks the accounts and combines the wider registers is cheap against the exposure.
Why can't I see turnover for a small company?
Small and micro companies are not required to file a profit and loss account, so turnover is not on the public record. Any provider showing it for such a company is estimating rather than reporting.
What makes a report trustworthy?
That it tells you what it could not verify. Cross-checking filed accounts against the accounting identities, and labelling anything that fails, is the difference between a report and a reformatted filing.
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