Free UK company search on Companies House
Companies House is the UK's official registrar of companies, and its register is completely free and open. Look up any limited company or LLP — directors, registered office, accounts and filing history — before you sign a deal.
Companies House is an independent UK government body. Certyneo is not affiliated with Companies House; we link to the official register so you can verify a company before signing.
How to search the Companies House register
Searching the official register and viewing filed documents is free and requires no account. It covers every company and LLP incorporated in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
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Open the official register
Go to the Companies House 'Find and update company information' service. There is no paywall and no sign-in for basic searches.
- 2
Search by name or number
Type the company name or its 8-character company number — 8 digits for England and Wales, or a letter prefix plus 6 digits for Scotland (SC), Northern Ireland (NI) and LLPs (OC, SO, NC). Autocomplete suggests active and dissolved companies as you type.
- 3
Open the company profile
Review the registered office address, incorporation date, SIC codes, current and resigned officers, and the persons with significant control (PSC).
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Download filings for free
Annual accounts, confirmation statements and charge documents held online can be viewed and downloaded as PDFs at no cost. Only certified copies (from £22) and a small number of older, non-digitised documents carry a fee.
What you can find on the register
Companies House publishes far more than a company name. Use it to confirm who you are contracting with — bearing in mind that Companies House does not verify the accuracy of what companies file.
Directors & PSC
Current and past directors, secretaries, and persons with significant control — so you know who can legally bind the company.
Filing history
A dated timeline of the documents filed: incorporation, changes of registered office, appointments and resignations.
Annual accounts
Filed accounts reveal company size, whether it is dormant, and its financial health before you commit to a contract.
Charges & mortgages
Registered charges show whether the company's assets are secured against a lender — a key due-diligence signal.
Verified director identity
Since 18 November 2025, directors and people with significant control must verify their identity with Companies House, through GOV.UK One Login or an authorised agent. Existing companies have until November 2026 to comply, so a record without verification is not yet a red flag.
From register check to signed contract
Once you have verified a company on Companies House, you can execute the contract electronically. Electronic signatures are legally valid across the UK.
Electronic Communications Act 2000
Section 7 of the ECA 2000 makes an electronic signature admissible in evidence as to the authenticity or integrity of a communication; the weight it carries remains for the court to assess.
UK eIDAS
The eIDAS Regulation was carried over into UK law after Brexit as the UK eIDAS Regulation: simple, advanced and qualified electronic signatures all keep recognised legal status domestically, a qualified signature having the equivalent legal effect of a handwritten one.
Court-ready audit trail
Every Certyneo signature is sealed with a timestamped, tamper-evident audit trail — strong supporting evidence of the signatory's intent and the document's integrity.
Law Commission 2019
The Law Commission confirmed in 2019 that electronic signatures are capable of executing documents under English law, including where a statute requires a signature.
Related
Frequently asked questions
Is Companies House free to search?
Yes. Searching the register and viewing or downloading the documents held online is free through the official 'Find and update company information' service, with no account required. Only certified copies and a small number of non-digitised documents are chargeable.
What is a company number?
It is the unique 8-character reference Companies House assigns at incorporation — 8 digits, or a letter prefix (SC, NI, OC…) plus 6 digits. It does not change when the company is renamed, so it is the most reliable way to identify a company.
Can I see who owns a UK company?
Yes, in most cases. The register lists directors and, since 6 April 2016, persons with significant control (PSC) — typically anyone holding more than 25% of shares or voting rights, or otherwise exercising significant control. Listed companies are exempt.
Does verifying a company make a contract valid?
Verification is due diligence, not execution. Once you have confirmed the counterparty, you still need a signed contract — which you can complete electronically under UK law.
Can I electronically sign a contract with a UK company?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid in the UK under the Electronic Communications Act 2000 and retained eIDAS. Certyneo adds a court-ready audit trail to every signature.