How to look up a company on Companies House

Before you start

• You have the company's full name, or better, its company number. UK limited companies usually show it at the bottom of their website or in their terms.
• You're on a phone, tablet or computer with an internet connection.

0 of 2 done. Ticking just helps you keep track; nothing is saved or sent.

Steps

1. 1

   Open the service

   Go to find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk (opens in a new tab). It's the official GOV.UK service, and it's free.

2. 2

   Search for the company

   Type the name or the company number into the search box.

3. 3

   Pick the exact match

   Several companies can have similar names. If you have the company number, check it matches.

4. 4

   Read the Overview tab

   Look at:

   • Company status: Active, or dissolved (closed).
   • Registered office address: The official address for letters.
   • Incorporated on: When the company was set up.
   • Warnings: For example, if accounts or a confirmation statement are overdue.
5. 5

   Open the People tab

   This lists the company's directors (called officers) and anyone with significant control.

6. 6

   Open the Filing history tab

   This shows the accounts and other documents the company has sent to Companies House, with dates.

What the details tell you

• Active

  The company is registered and hasn't been closed. On its own, it doesn't tell you whether the company is good to deal with.

• Accounts overdue

  The company hasn't filed its accounts by the deadline. It isn't proof of wrongdoing, but it's reasonable to ask the company about it.

• Recently incorporated

  A newer company has less history to check, so look at other signs too, such as reviews and contact details.

• Registered office

  This is often an accountant's or a mail-forwarding address, not where the company works day to day.

Things to be careful about

• Companies House doesn't check what's filed. Each company page says the register doesn't check the accuracy of the information, so treat it as one check among several.

• Names and numbers can be copied. A scammer can quote a real company's name and number. Make sure the website, email and phone number match the business you think you're dealing with.

• Only some businesses are listed. Sole traders and most partnerships aren't on the register, so a missing entry isn't always a warning sign.