How to check if a company is registered in United Kingdom
Source-cited registry guidance — access and document fees vary by source.
Search Companies House at the official source
Start with Companies House for United Kingdom. LemReveal has not established an available native register search for this page; indexed or secondary records are not complete register coverage.
Official access and fees vary. A human request is an enquiry, not a guaranteed extract or completed purchase.
How do I check if a company is registered in United Kingdom?
To check if a company is registered in United Kingdom, search its exact registration number or legal name on Companies House (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house). Compare the identifier and available identity fields before reading the recorded status. A name-only match is a candidate, not confirmation. Official access requirements and document fees vary.
Step-by-step
- 1
Open the official Companies House
Go to https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house. This is the primary government-operated source.
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house - 2
Search by name or number
Use the legal name or identifier supported by Companies House. Trading-name and partial-name searches are not universal.
- 3
Check status and legal name
Compare the exact identifier and legal name. Preserve the source's status wording: historical and dissolved entities can still have registry records.
- 4
Cross-check the registered address
Compare the available registered address with the counterparty's documents. A registered office can differ legitimately from a trading address; clarify the difference rather than treating it as evidence of misconduct.
- 5
Download the official extract (optional)
Most registers let you download a formal extract or certificate. Use this for KYC, procurement, or contract files.
United Kingdom: choosing and checking the right record
- Choose the correct source
- Start with the exact Companies House company number. If you only have a name, compare the legal name and previous names, then open the company profile rather than treating the search-results list as confirmation.
- Confirm the entity
- Keep leading zeros and jurisdiction prefixes such as SC or NI. Compare the registered office and incorporation date with the counterparty's documents. A sole trader or trading brand may not have a Companies House record.
Check current access and document options on the official Companies House site. For search limitations and missing-result guidance, see the United Kingdom registry guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a company is registered in United Kingdom?
Search the exact registration number on Companies House at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house, then compare the legal name and available identity details. Read the status and its date in the source's own terminology. Name similarity alone does not confirm the entity.
How can I check if a United Kingdom company is still active?
Read the status on the exact entity's Companies House record, preserving its wording and retrieval date. Liquidation is not the same as dissolution: an entity can remain registered while undergoing liquidation. A registry status is not a solvency or trustworthiness assessment.
Is a United Kingdom company with a website automatically registered?
No. A website, email domain or invoice letterhead proves nothing. The only authoritative proof is a current entry in Companies House with a matching legal name and registration number.
What proves a United Kingdom company is legally registered?
An entry in Companies House with an "active" or equivalent status is the definitive proof. The registration number returned by Companies House is the authoritative identifier.
How do I look up a UK company?
You can search by company name or registration number. Companies House provides free public access to all registered company data including directors, filing history, and accounts. Enter a name above to try it.
People also ask about check if a company is registered in United Kingdom
The exact questions searchers type into Google — answered from the primary source.
Is the United Kingdom company register free to search?
Yes. Basic company lookups on the Companies House are free — you can search by company name or registration number, view legal status, registered address and (usually) directors at no cost. Some jurisdictions charge a small fee only for downloading full filed documents.
What is the official United Kingdom business registry?
The Companies House is the official public register of companies incorporated in United Kingdom. It is operated by the government and is the primary source cited on this page — https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/companies-house.
How can I check if a United Kingdom company is legitimate?
Look the company up on the Companies House. If the entity returns an "active" (or equivalent local status) result, matches the registered address on its invoices, and its listed directors match who is signing your contract, it is a real registered entity. Anything reported as "dissolved", "struck off" or "in liquidation" should be treated with caution.
What information can I get about a United Kingdom company for free?
Free public data from the Companies House typically includes: legal name, registration number, incorporation date, registered address, current status, business type, and current directors / officers. Historical filings and certified copies may carry a small fee.
Related guides and tools
More United Kingdom guides
- Search companies by name
Find any registered company from a partial name — free, no signup.
- Search the company register
What the official register holds, and how to search it free.
- Search the business registry
Match a trading name to the registered legal entity behind it.
- Find the right entity
Tell apart several entities registered under near-identical names.
United Kingdom data
- United Kingdom company search
Search every Companies House record.
- Companies House guide
Companies House (UK)