Check a UK company in seconds

How to check a UK company — step by step

To check a UK company you need its name or its 8-character company number. Step 1: in the search box above select United Kingdom and start typing the name — suggestions come live from Companies House — or enter the company number directly. Step 2: review the free preview of available sections for the selected company. Step 3: unlock the full report for 1 credit — the system then fetches up-to-date data from Companies House, including the latest filings and downloadable accounts. The finished report stays in your account for 30 days, so you can return to it at no extra cost.

Where does the data on UK companies come from?

Information on a UK company comes from Companies House — the United Kingdom's official registrar of companies and an executive agency of the Department for Business and Trade. Companies House holds the public record of every company incorporated in the UK: private limited companies, public limited companies, LLPs and more. Each company has a unique 8-character company number, assigned at incorporation and unchanged for the life of the company. Companies House data is published as open data under Crown copyright.

UK company types — Ltd, PLC, LLP and more

When checking a UK company you will come across different types, and the available data depends on the type. The most common are: Ltd (private company limited by shares) — the standard form for most businesses; PLC (public limited company) — larger and sometimes listed companies, minimum £50,000 share capital; LLP (limited liability partnership); private company limited by guarantee — often used by charities and non-profits; CIC (community interest company); and a UK establishment (branch) of an overseas company. Most companies must file annual accounts and an annual confirmation statement at Companies House.

What does a full UK company report include?

A UKCompany report on a UK company may include: identification data (registered name, company number, type, incorporation date), company status (active, dissolved, in liquidation, in administration), registered office address, nature of business by SIC code, and accounts and confirmation-statement dates. The report also shows people connected with the company — directors and secretaries (officers), and persons with significant control (PSC) with their nature of control — as well as charges (mortgages and secured debt) and the filing history with downloadable documents. Remember the scope depends on the company: a newly incorporated company may have few filings, and a dormant company files dormant accounts.

UK accounts and filings — what you can do with them

UK companies are required to file annual accounts and an annual confirmation statement at Companies House. UKCompany gives you the filing history with links to the actual documents — annual accounts (PDF or iXBRL), confirmation statements, changes of officers and charges — to download or view. For many companies the accounts let you assess turnover, profit, assets and the overall financial standing of a counterparty before you commit. Small and micro-entity companies may file abridged or filleted accounts with reduced detail.

Why verify a UK counterparty

Checking a UK company before signing a contract or issuing an invoice protects you against several real risks. First, against trading with a company in liquidation, administration or already dissolved, where recovering payment may be impossible. Second, against extending trade credit to a financially weak company whose accounts show losses or negative reserves. Third, against contracting with a person not authorised to bind the company — the officers are on the public record. Fourth, against undisclosed ownership — the PSC register shows who really owns and controls the business, which matters for anti-money-laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) checks. One UKCompany report gives you all of this from the official source.

Frequently asked questions about checking UK companies

How do I check a UK company?

Enter the company name or its 8-character company number in the UKCompany search and select United Kingdom. You'll get a free preview of available sections, and you can unlock the full report — identification, status, directors, PSC, charges and filing history with downloadable accounts — for 1 credit. The data comes from Companies House and the report stays in your account for 30 days.

What is a UK company number?

A UK company number is an 8-character identifier assigned by Companies House at incorporation and unchanged for the life of the company. It is usually 8 digits (for example 00445790), but companies registered in Scotland or Northern Ireland use a letter prefix (SC, NI), as do LLPs (OC) and certain other types.

Can I see who owns a UK company?

Yes, where it is on the public register. UK companies must record their persons with significant control (PSC) — individuals or entities that own more than 25% of the shares or voting rights, or otherwise control the company. UKCompany shows the PSC together with directors and secretaries, which is important for AML, risk assessment and understanding who really controls the business you are about to work with.

Can I download a UK company's accounts?

Yes, where they have been filed. UKCompany gives you the filing history with links to the actual documents held at Companies House — annual accounts (PDF or iXBRL), confirmation statements, officer changes and charges — to download or view. Smaller companies may file abridged or filleted accounts with reduced detail.