Companies House Check: Free UK Company Search 2025
Search 4.8 million UK companies instantly. Check company details, director information, financial filings, and verify business credentials using official Companies House data - completely free.
📋 Quick Navigation
What Company Information Can You Check For Free?
Companies House maintains comprehensive records of all 4.8 million UK companies. Here's exactly what you can access with our free search tool:
Company Overview
- Company name and trading names
- Registration number (8-digit unique ID)
- Registered office address
- Company status (Active, Dormant, Dissolved)
- Incorporation date and company age
People & Leadership
- Current directors and their roles
- Previous directors and appointment history
- Company secretary details
- Significant control (PSC) information
- Director addresses and nationalities
Financial & Legal
- Share capital and ownership structure
- Filing history and compliance record
- Accounts due dates and filing status
- Charges and mortgages
- SIC codes (business activities)
How to Search Companies House: Step-by-Step Guide
🎯 Quick Search Tips
- • Exact matches: Use company registration numbers for precise results
- • Partial names: Enter just part of the company name if unsure
- • Director search: Find all companies a person is involved with
- • Advanced filters: Narrow results by location or company type
⚡ Search Performance
- • Speed: Results appear in under 2 seconds
- • Accuracy: 99.9% match rate with official records
- • Coverage: All 4.8M+ UK companies included
- • Updates: Data refreshed every 24 hours
🔍 Three Ways to Search
1. Search by Company Name
Best for: When you know the business name but need registration details, director information, or want to verify the company exists.
Example searches:
- • "Tesco PLC" → Find the supermarket chain
- • "ABC Limited" → Find companies with ABC in the name
- • "London" → Find companies with London in their name
✅ Steps:
- 1. Enter full or partial company name
- 2. Review the list of matching results
- 3. Click on the correct company to view details
💡 Pro Tips:
- • Try without "Ltd" or "PLC" if no results
- • Check for alternative spellings
- • Use location filters to narrow results
2. Search by Company Number
Best for: When you have the 8-digit company registration number and need instant, precise results. This is the fastest and most accurate search method.
Company number examples:
- • "00445790" → Tesco PLC
- • "04366849" → Facebook UK Limited
- • "01624297" → British Airways PLC
✅ Steps:
- 1. Enter the 8-digit company number
- 2. Get instant access to company profile
- 3. View all available information immediately
📍 Where to find company numbers:
- • Company websites (footer/about pages)
- • Invoices and official documents
- • Email signatures and letterheads
3. Search by Officer Name (Director/Secretary)
Best for: Due diligence, background checks, or finding all companies associated with a specific person. Perfect for compliance and risk assessment.
What you'll discover:
- • All current directorships
- • Previous company appointments
- • Resignation dates and reasons
- • Cross-company connections
✅ Steps:
- 1. Enter the person's full name
- 2. Filter by date of birth if available
- 3. Review all associated companies
- 4. Click individual companies for details
⚠️ Privacy Note:
- • Only official company officers shown
- • Information is publicly available
- • Some details may be protected
Understanding Your Search Results: Complete Guide
Companies House data can seem complex at first. Here's how to interpret the key information you'll see in your search results, with real examples and practical explanations.
Company Status Meanings (Critical for Due Diligence)
✅ Active
Company is currently trading and filing required returns on time.
Safe to do business with - Company is compliant and operational.
⚠️ Dormant
Company exists legally but is not actively trading or conducting business.
Proceed with caution - Verify current activity before partnerships.
❌ Dissolved
Company has been officially closed down and removed from the register.
Cannot trade - Company no longer exists legally.
🏥 In Administration
Company is under external management due to financial difficulties.
High risk - Avoid new business arrangements.
Key Dates to Check (Compliance Indicators)
📅 Incorporation Date
When the company was officially formed and registered.
Company is 5+ years old - established track record
📋 Next Accounts Due
Deadline for submitting annual accounts to Companies House.
Company has 8 months to file - good compliance
💼 Last Accounts Period
The period covered by the most recently filed accounts.
Recent filing - company is up to date
🚨 Red Flags to Watch For:
- • Accounts more than 18 months overdue
- • Multiple director resignations in short period
- • Frequent registered address changes
- • Company status showing as "Proposal to Strike Off"
Documents & Filings: What's Free vs. Paid
Companies House maintains a complete digital archive of company filings.95% of what most people need is completely free to access and download.
100% Free Information
📊 Company Overview
- • Complete filing history (last 10 years)
- • Director appointment/resignation records
- • Registered office address changes
- • Share capital alterations
- • Company name changes
👥 People Information
- • Current and former directors
- • Persons with significant control (PSC)
- • Company secretary appointments
- • Director nationality and address info
⚖️ Legal Status
- • Current company status
- • SIC codes (business activities)
- • Compliance and filing status
- • Charges register (basic info)
💡 Value: This free information covers 95% of business verification, due diligence, and compliance checking needs.
Premium Documents (Paid)
💰 Financial Documents
- • Full annual accounts£1-3
- • Abbreviated accounts£1
- • Micro-entity accounts£1
- • Directors' report£1
📋 Legal Documents
- • Memorandum & Articles£3
- • Certificate of incorporation£15
- • Certificate of good standing£15
- • Certified copies£15-50
🔍 Detailed Records
- • Charge documents£1
- • Resolution copies£1
- • Statement of capital£1
🎯 When needed: Financial analysis, legal proceedings, banking applications, detailed due diligence, or official documentation.
💳 How to Purchase Documents
1. Online Payment
Pay instantly with debit/credit card. Download immediately after payment.
2. Account Setup
Create Companies House account for bulk purchases and faster checkout.
3. Digital Delivery
All documents delivered as PDF files. No waiting for postal delivery.
Why 2M+ Professionals Use Companies House Checks
From small business owners to Fortune 500 companies, millions rely on Companies House checks for critical business decisions. Here are the most common and valuable use cases:
Business Verification & Safety
🤝 Before New Partnerships
Verify potential partners are legitimate, financially stable, and compliant before signing contracts or joint ventures.
- • Check company is active and trading
- • Verify registered address matches claimed location
- • Review director credentials and history
- • Confirm financial filing compliance
💳 Customer Credit Checks
Assess creditworthiness of business customers before extending payment terms or large orders.
- • Review recent financial filings
- • Check for county court judgments
- • Verify company age and stability
- • Assess director track record
🏢 Supplier Due Diligence
Ensure suppliers can deliver on contracts and won't disappear with advance payments.
- • Confirm business is actively trading
- • Check company has been established for reasonable time
- • Verify director experience in relevant industry
- • Review filing history for compliance
Professional & Legal Services
⚖️ Legal Compliance (AML/KYC)
Meet anti-money laundering and know-your-customer requirements for legal, financial, and accounting services.
- • Identify beneficial ownership (PSC records)
- • Verify client company legitimacy
- • Document compliance procedures
- • Check for sanctions or restrictions
🔍 Investigative Research
Journalists, researchers, and investigators use Companies House for transparency and accountability reporting.
- • Track corporate networks and ownership
- • Investigate director connections
- • Research company financial history
- • Verify public claims and statements
📊 Market Research & Analysis
Business analysts and consultants research market sectors, competitors, and industry trends.
- • Identify key players in specific sectors
- • Analyze competitor company structures
- • Research industry director movements
- • Track new business formations
Industry-Specific Applications
🏦 Financial Services
- • Loan application verification
- • Corporate banking onboarding
- • Insurance underwriting
- • Investment due diligence
🏗️ Construction & Trade
- • Contractor verification
- • Subcontractor background checks
- • Payment term assessments
- • Project partner validation
💼 Professional Services
- • Client onboarding procedures
- • Regulatory compliance checks
- • Risk assessment protocols
- • Audit and accounting verification
Frequently Asked Questions
🆓 Is Companies House information really free?
Yes! Basic company information including names, addresses, directors, filing history, and company status is completely free. You only pay (£1-£15) for detailed documents like full accounts or certificates.
95% of searches require no payment whatsoever.
⚡ How quickly is the data updated?
Companies House data is updated within 24-48 hours of companies filing new information. Our search tool reflects the most current official records available.
Real-time updates: Director appointments, address changes, and status updates appear almost immediately.
🔒 Is it legal to search for this information?
Absolutely! All information on Companies House is public record by law. Companies are legally required to file this information, and anyone can access it for legitimate purposes.
Legal basis: Companies Act 2006 makes company information publicly available for transparency.
📱 Can I search on mobile devices?
Yes! Our Companies House search tool is fully optimized for smartphones and tablets. Search anywhere, anytime with the same functionality as desktop.
Mobile features: Touch-friendly interface, fast loading, and download-to-device capability.
🗂️ How far back does the data go?
Our database includes complete records for all companies incorporated since Companies House began digital record-keeping. Most detailed records go back 10-15 years, with basic information available for older companies.
Historical data: Full filing history, director changes, and address updates since incorporation.
⚠️ What if I find incorrect information?
We display official Companies House data exactly as filed. If information appears incorrect, the company must file corrections with Companies House directly - we cannot modify official records.
Official source: All data comes directly from Companies House government database.
Ready to Search Companies House?
Join over 2 million professionals who trust our free Companies House search tool for accurate, up-to-date UK business information.
Companies House Check: Your Essential Business Intelligence Tool
Companies House provides unparalleled transparency into UK business operations, making it the go-to resource for due diligence, compliance, and business verification. Whether you're a small business owner vetting a new supplier or a large corporation conducting complex due diligence, our free search tool gives you instant access to official, government-verified information.
With over 4.8 million companies in our database and24-hour data updates, you can trust that you're making decisions based on the most current and accurate information available.
🎯 Key Benefits
- Reduce business risk through proper verification
- Meet legal compliance requirements (AML/KYC)
- Make informed partnership and investment decisions
- Access professional-grade business intelligence for free
💡 Remember: While basic company information is completely free, detailed financial documents require small fees (£1-£15). Always verify you're accessing the most current information, as company details can change through regular filings and updates to Companies House.