How To Check If A Company Is Legally Registered In The UK

If you're looking to confirm whether a company is legally registered in the UK, the easiest way is to use the Companies House checker tool. This government service provides access to important information about registered companies, including their legal status, directors, and filing history. However, it’s important to note that this tool only applies to certain types of companies. If you're trying to search for a business operating under a different structure—such as a sole trader—you'll need to look elsewhere for information.

Which company types can be checked?

You can only check if a company is legally registered if they belong to one of the following categories:

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Private Limited Companies (Ltd)
Public Limited Companies (PLC)
Limited Liability Partnerships (LLP)
Community Interest Companies (CIC)
Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIO)

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Since these company types are incorporated, they are required to be listed on the Companies House register. This makes it straightforward to confirm their registration and gather more information about them online.

How to use the Companies House search tool

The Companies House search tool allows you to check the registration details of any incorporated company in the UK. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use it:

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Visit the Companies House website: The search tool is available at www.gov.uk/get-information-about-a-company.
Enter the company name or registration number: Type in the name of the company you're looking for or, if available, their company registration number. This number is often found on official documents, correspondence, website footers and email signatures.
Review the search results: Once you've entered your search query, a list of results will appear. You can refine your search by also entering the name of one of the company's directors, which may help narrow down multiple similar results.
Select the correct company: Click on the company name to view their full record. You can check details such as the company's legal status, directors, filing history, registered office address, and incorporation date.

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What information can you find about a company on Companies House?

When you locate a company on Companies House, you'll have access to various details, including:

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Company status: Active, dissolved, or in liquidation.
Company type: Whether it is a private limited, public limited, etc.
Directors: The names and details of the current directors and their appointment history.
Filing history: Financial statements and annual returns.
Registered office address: The official address of the company.
Incorporation date: When the company was incorporated.
Nature of business: The type of operations the company is involved in.

How to find information about unincorporated companies

If the business you're looking for isn't incorporated, such as a sole trader, it won't appear in the Companies House database. However, you can still find useful information by checking other sources:

Google My Business profile

Many unincorporated businesses register a Google My Business profile, especially customer-facing companies. You can search for the company name on Google, and if they have a profile, it will usually appear in the right-hand column of the search results. This profile often includes the company's address, contact information, and customer reviews.

Listings on directories and review platforms

Businesses may also list themselves on various online directories to boost visibility. Some places to search include:

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These directories often provide useful contact details, customer reviews, and further information about a company.

Information on their website

If the business has a website, the about us or contact pages can provide details about the company, and you may find further information on its legal pages (such as privacy and terms of business). Website’s will also commonly include business information in the footer of their website.

Email footers

If you’ve received communication from the business, their email footers may be another place to reference when looking for information about them, such as their address and contact details.

Postal communications

Finally, check any official postal communications you’ve received from the company. Business letters often include important details such as the company’s registration number, VAT number, and official business address.

I’ve found a company, how do I contact them?

If you’re looking for company information so that you can contact them, the above methods should give you at least one option for getting in touch. Every incorporated company legally must be contactable at their registered office address, so you may wish to start there first. Otherwise, try their email, phone numbers or social profiles.

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