Guide · updated 28 September 2026

How to check a UK company before you trade with it

Before you give a new customer 30 days' credit or rely on a new supplier, ten minutes on the public record can save you a bad debt. Here is what to look at, in order, and what each thing tells you.

1. Confirm you have the right company

Invoices and contracts should carry the company's registered name and its eight-character company number. Search the number rather than the trading name: many businesses trade under a name that isn't the one on the register, and similar names are common. If the details on the paperwork don't match the register, ask why before going further.

2. Check its status

You want to see active. Statuses such as in liquidation, in administration or voluntary arrangement mean the company is already in a formal insolvency process. A status of dissolved means the company no longer exists and cannot enter a contract. An active company with a proposal to strike off in its filing history is also a warning — see the warning signs.

3. Look at how it files

Well-run companies file their accounts and confirmation statement on time. Look at the "next accounts due" date and whether the register shows anything as overdue. Overdue accounts are one of the most reliable early signs that something is wrong, because a struggling company often falls behind on its paperwork first.

4. Read the latest accounts

Many small companies file abridged or micro-entity accounts with little detail, but even these show net assets. Negative net assets (liabilities bigger than assets) don't prove a company is failing, but combined with late filing or new borrowing they are worth a conversation.

5. Check for charges

A charge means a lender has security over the company's assets. Ordinary borrowing and invoice finance both create charges, so one on its own is not a red flag. What matters is a pattern: several new charges in a short period, or a lender taking security over everything. How to read charges.

6. Look at recent changes

Several directors resigning at once, a change of ownership, or a move of registered office to an insolvency practitioner's address can all signal trouble. On their own they are often innocent; alongside other signs they deserve attention.

7. Keep watching

A check is a snapshot. The company that looked fine when you signed can file late or enter administration six months later. If a customer owes you a meaningful amount, or a supplier would be hard to replace, monitor it continuously rather than checking once.

RiskDiver does all of the above automatically: it reads the register, scores each company from 0 to 100 with the evidence behind every point, and re-checks daily. You can check one company free.

Common questions

Is it free to check a company on Companies House?

Yes. Company profiles, filing history, charges, officers and insolvency records are free to view on the Companies House service and through its public data.

What is the single most useful thing to check?

Whether the company files on time. Late accounts or a late confirmation statement are among the earliest public signs that something is wrong, and both are shown on the company's profile.

Does a clean Companies House record mean a company will pay?

No. The register shows what has been filed, not how a company pays its bills. It is a strong early-warning source, but use it alongside your own payment history and judgement.

More guides

General information, not legal or financial advice.