How to Check if a UK Company is Legitimate

Before you hand over money, sign a contract, or accept a job offer, spend five minutes verifying that the company you are dealing with actually exists and is in good standing. Every limited company in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland must be registered with Companies House. That registration is public and free to search.

1. Search Companies House

Go to the Companies House website or use our search tool right here on BizLookup. Enter the company name or company number. Every legitimate UK limited company will have an eight-digit company number starting with a zero (for England and Wales) or SC (for Scotland). If the company does not appear at all, that is an immediate red flag.

Tip: Search by company number rather than name. Names can be similar or deliberately misleading, but the company number is unique.

2. Check the Company Status

The first thing to check is the status. It should say Active. Other statuses to watch for include Dissolved (company no longer exists), In Liquidation (company is being wound up), and Dormant (not currently trading). If someone is asking you to pay an invoice for a dissolved company, something is very wrong.

3. Review Filing History

Legitimate companies file annual accounts and a confirmation statement every year. Click on the Filing History tab and check that filings are up to date. If the last filing was three years ago, or if the company has overdue accounts, that suggests poor governance at best and fraud at worst. Companies House will eventually strike off companies that fail to file.

4. Look at the Directors

Check who the directors are. Every company must have at least one natural person as a director (not just a corporate entity). Look at their appointment date, correspondence address, and other directorships. If a director has dozens of active companies, that could indicate a company formation agent or, less charitably, someone creating shell companies. A single director appointed yesterday running a company that claims ten years of history is suspicious.

5. Check the Registered Address

The registered address is where official correspondence is sent. Many legitimate companies use their accountant's address or a registered office service, so a virtual address is not automatically a red flag. However, if the company claims to be a large operation but is registered at a residential address or a mail forwarding service, it is worth asking questions. Cross-reference the registered address with the address on their website and invoices.

6. Read the Accounts

If the company files full or abbreviated accounts, you can see their balance sheet, profit and loss, and notes. Micro-entities may only file a very basic balance sheet. Look at total assets, creditors, and whether the company has positive net assets. A company with negative net assets (more liabilities than assets) may struggle to pay its debts.

Red Flags to Watch For

!Company was incorporated very recently but claims years of experience.

!Overdue accounts or missing confirmation statements.

!Frequent director changes or directors with many other active companies.

!Registered address does not match the address on their website or communications.

!Company name is very similar to a well-known brand (could be deliberate impersonation).

!No web presence at all despite claiming to be an established business.

!They refuse to provide their company number when asked.

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