Guide · United Kingdom
How to check a UK company before you do business: 9 checks
Every UK limited company is on the public register at Companies House, for free. That makes checking easy, and it is also why fraudsters copy real company details. These nine checks show whether the company exists, and whether you are really dealing with it.
1. Find the company at Companies House
Search the company name or number on the free Companies House service (Find and update company information). Check that the company number on the invoice, quote or email matches exactly. A limited company must show its number and registered office on its website, letters and order forms.
2. Check the status
The status should be Active. Be careful with Active – proposal to strike off, Liquidation, Administration or Dissolved. A company that is about to be struck off often has not filed its accounts or confirmation statement.
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3. Look at the age and history
How old is the company, and has it changed its name or activity recently? A company set up a few weeks ago that places a large order, or an old dormant company that suddenly trades heavily, are both classic patterns. See the dormant company that wakes up.
4. Check the directors and the people with significant control
Under People you see the directors and the persons with significant control (PSC). Ask yourself: is your contact person one of them? Have directors changed recently? Do the same people run dozens of companies? Since 18 November 2025 new directors must verify their identity with Companies House, and existing directors and PSCs must do so during a transition year.
5. Check the filing history and accounts
Are the accounts and confirmation statement filed on time? Overdue accounts are a warning sign. Micro and small companies may file very short accounts, so they do not always tell you much about the finances, but late filing does tell you something about how the company is run.
6. Check the registered office
Many small companies use an accountant's or a formation agent's address, which is normal. It becomes a warning sign when hundreds of companies share the address and the company has no other trading address you can visit or verify.
7. Check the VAT number
A UK VAT number has the format GB followed by 9 digits. Check it with HMRC's Check a UK VAT number service: the name and address must match the company. For Northern Ireland trade with the EU, numbers starting with XI are checked in the EU's VIES system. You can also use our free VAT number check.
8. Check the email domain and phone number
Compare the email domain letter by letter with the company's real website, and check how old the domain is. Call the company on a number you look up yourself, not on the one in the email. Our free phone check shows whether a number is a mobile, a landline or an internet (VoIP) number.
9. Check the bank account before the first payment
UK banks show a Confirmation of Payee result when you add a new payee: it tells you whether the account name matches. Take a no match or close match seriously. A UK company paid into a foreign or private account is a red flag.
Warning signs at a glance
- The company number does not matchthe name on the invoice or the website.
- Very young company, very large orderand pressure to deliver or pay quickly.
- Your contact is not a director or PSCand cannot be reached via the company's own landline.
- Overdue accounts or a strike-off noticeon the Companies House record.
- Bank details changed by emailor Confirmation of Payee says the name does not match.
Let SafetyBizz check it
SafetyBizz puts the Companies House record next to the details you received: email address, domain, phone number, contact person and bank account. If something does not add up, you see it before you pay, load or sign.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a UK company is legitimate?
Look it up at Companies House: check the company number, status, age, directors and filing history. Then check the VAT number with HMRC, compare the email domain with the website and use Confirmation of Payee before the first payment.
Is checking a company at Companies House free?
Yes. Searching the register and viewing a company's officers, filing history and accounts is free on the Companies House website.
Does an active status mean a company is safe?
No. Active only means the company exists on the register. Fraudsters often use the name and number of a real, active company with their own email address, phone number and bank account.
How do I check a UK VAT number?
Use HMRC's Check a UK VAT number service. The business name and address must match the company you are dealing with.
Read also
- Checking a company before you do business
- Spotting a clone company
- Invoice with different bank details
- Checking a UK haulier
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This page is general information and not legal advice. Official services can change; always use the GOV.UK links.