How to check a UK company on Companies House
By the Vanguard Verify desk · Published 2026-10-25 · Updated 2026-11-02
Short answer: search the company name or number on the official Companies House register (find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk). It is free. Check the status, registered office, officers, people with significant control, filing history and accounts. Then remember the register shows what was filed; it does not by itself prove the company trades, holds product or has funds.
UK limited companies appear often in commodity offers, partly because they are fast and cheap to set up. That makes a register check essential, and it also means a clean listing is only the starting point.
Steps to check a UK company
- Search by company number, not just name. The eight-character number (for example 01234567, or SC123456 for Scotland) is unique; names can be very similar.
- Check the status. It should be "Active". Watch for "proposal to strike off", "dissolved", "liquidation" or "administration".
- Check the incorporation date. A company formed weeks ago offering hundreds of thousands of tonnes per year needs a clear explanation.
- Check the registered office. Many legitimate companies use a formation agent's address. That is allowed, but it tells you nothing about where the business really operates.
- Check officers and PSCs. Confirm the person signing the offer is a current director or authorised officer. Look at their other appointments for patterns such as many recently formed or dissolved companies.
- Read the filing history and accounts. Free document images are available. Micro-entity or dormant accounts are hard to reconcile with large trade volumes.
- Check charges and insolvency notices on the company record.
- Cross-check the LEI on GLEIF if one is quoted, and confirm the legal name and address match. See how to check an LEI number.
- Contact the company independently using details from a source other than the offer, and confirm it issued the document.
What the register does and does not tell you
| The register shows | The register does not prove |
|---|---|
| Legal existence, number, status | That the company trades the product offered |
| Officers and PSCs as filed | That the person emailing you is that officer |
| Filed accounts | That the company has funds or stock now |
| Charges and insolvency | That documents it sends you are genuine |
Companies House guidance says it checks filings for completeness and validity but cannot closely review every document, and that register data may occasionally contain inaccuracies. Since 18 November 2025 Companies House has been phasing in mandatory identity verification for directors and people with significant control, so a verification statement on an officer record adds some assurance, but it is not a check on the trade itself.
Red flags
- Offer shows a company number that belongs to a different company name.
- Signer is not listed as an officer, or resigned some time ago.
- Company is dormant or filing micro-entity accounts while offering very large volumes.
- Email domain does not match the company, or uses free mail.
- A "proposal to strike off" notice on the filing history.
For a broader method that works in any country, see is this company real? how to check.
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FAQ
Is Companies House search free?
Yes. Company details, officers, filing history and document images can be viewed free on the official Companies House service.
Does being on Companies House mean a company is legitimate?
It confirms the company is registered. It does not prove the company trades the goods offered, has funds or issued the documents you received.
How do I know the person emailing me is a director?
Check the officers list on the register, then contact the company using independent contact details to confirm the person and the offer.
What does proposal to strike off mean?
It is a notice that the company may be removed from the register, for example for failing to file. Treat it as a reason for extra checks.
How do I do a Companies House search?
Go to the official Find and update company information service on GOV.UK, type the company name or 8-character company number, and open the record to see status, officers, filing history and charges.
Vanguard Verify is run by Vanguard Trade Capital Goods Wholesalers DWC-LLC, Dubai South, Licence 14282. This answer is general information, not legal or financial advice.