Guide
How to check a UK company before doing business with it
To check a UK company before doing business with it, find its company number on the Companies House register, confirm it is active and up to date with its filings, read its most recent filed accounts, check the charge register for secured debt, review the directors and any disqualifications, and look for adverse signals such as insolvency notices. A CoreFi Company Report does all of this in one document, but you can do the basics free.
Check a UK company, step by step
- 1
Find the company number
Search the company name on the Companies House register to get its 8-character company number. The number, not the name, is the reliable identifier, because names change and can be reused.
- 2
Confirm it is active and filing on time
Check the status is active (not dissolved, in liquidation, or proposed for strike-off) and that its accounts and confirmation statement are not overdue. Overdue filings are an early warning sign.
- 3
Read the most recent filed accounts
Look at net assets, cash, and how they have moved over the last few years. Negative net assets or a sharp decline is worth understanding before you extend credit. Cross-check that the figures are internally consistent.
- 4
Check the charge register
See whether lenders hold security over the company's assets, when charges were registered, and whether they are outstanding or satisfied. Heavy secured borrowing affects what would be left for unsecured creditors.
- 5
Review the directors and control
Check who the directors are, how long they have served, their other appointments, and whether any current officer appears on the disqualified-directors register. Confirm any name match at source.
- 6
Look for adverse signals
Check for insolvency notices in The Gazette, county court judgments, and any history of insolvency on the register. Any of these changes the picture.
Why check a company first
Before you extend credit, onboard a supplier, sign a contract, or buy a business, a few minutes on the public record tells you whether the company is real, active, solvent on the face of its filings, and who stands behind it. It is the cheapest risk control you have.
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.
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Frequently asked
Can I check a UK company for free?
Yes. The Companies House register is free and covers status, accounts, charges, directors and control. A CoreFi Company Report compiles and cross-checks all of it into one readable PDF if you would rather not do it manually.
What is the most important thing to check?
That the company is active and current on its filings, and that its most recent accounts are internally consistent and do not show negative net assets you cannot explain. Then check charges and directors.
How do I check if a director is disqualified?
Search the Companies House register of disqualified directors by name, and confirm any match by date of birth at the source, because names alone are not unique. A CoreFi report runs this check and flags a probable match to verify.
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