Everything You Need to Know About Company Status
Searching for a company’s status is a crucial step in gathering information on the company’s standing. You may be a curious job seeker, potential investor, or curiosity to find information.
There’s a field dedicated to company status on the Company’s House register. A company’s status is where you know if the company is active or not.
Fortunately, the advancement of technology makes it a straightforward exercise for online accessibility of resources. The process is much easier than ever before. But how do you check a company’s status?
If you’re new, don’t fret; we’ve done the heavy lifting to provide a detailed step-by-step guide on everything you need to know about company status. With this insightful information, you make informed business decisions before engaging a company.
Company Status From The Companies House
When using the Companies House Limited company search tool, check on the overview page for ‘Company status’. Here’s a list of what follows.
- ‘Active’ – The company is incorporated and exists on the Companies House register.
- ‘Active: Proposal to Strike off’ – The company is dissolving.
- ‘Dissolved’ – The company has been shut down.
- ‘Liquidation’ – The company’s assets are currently on sale to creditors, and the business is about to shut down.
Why is My Company Status Active, Yet it isn’t Trading.
It’s unsettling to search your dormant company status only to find it as ‘Active’, especially when recently formed. But you don’t have to worry since the ‘Active’ status may not be about trading but your company life, whether open or closed.
However, you should be concerned when you see the ‘Active: Proposal to Strike off’ status, yet you have no prior knowledge. The status can appear when you have issues like an overdue confirmation statement or annual accounts.
In this scenario, contact Companies House to clarify why this status is showing, then deal with the situation accordingly to avoid inconveniences.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Check Company Status
Follow the steps below to check any company’s status online from anywhere in the world.
1. Find the Jurisdiction
The initial step is to find out the jurisdiction where the company operates. Different countries may have varying regulatory bodies and databases for company information. When unsure about the company’s jurisdiction, check the company’s website, public records or corporate documents.
2. Visit the Government Business Registry
After identifying the jurisdiction, go to the official government’s business registry website. Most countries have a public registry online where anyone can access company information for free or pay a formation agency a nominal fee for the service.
3. Enter the Company Name
Once you launch the business registry website, locate the dialogue search box and enter the company’s name that interests you. The search function may vary from one jurisdiction to another, depending on where the business is located. Some databases may allow you to search by name, while others may need more information, like the Company Registration Number (CRN).
4. Review Company Details
After the search is complete, a list of companies that match the search criteria will be displayed. Locate the company of interest, then click on it for further details. You’ll get information like;
- The company’s registered address
- Company Registration Number (CRN)
- Date of incorporation,
- Company status (active or dissolved),
- Directors’ names and other relevant details
Review the results meticulously to ensure you have the correct company details carefully.
5. Cross-Check Additional Sources
Although the government business registry is resourceful, you can cross-check the information for clarity. Additional sources include;
- Industry-specific publications
- Commercial databases
- Financial reports
- News articles
Taking the extra step to understand a company’s status and performance helps you make informed decisions.
6. Use Professional Services to Verify
You can employ professional services if the scenario requires further verification of a company’s status. Some agencies include business credit reporting agencies or legal firms specialising in corporate matters. They provide detailed reports or due diligence on a company. These services will be free because they provide valuable insights according to your search requirements.
7. Stay Informed
A company’s status isn’t static, meaning it can change over time. You can practise checking a company’s status regularly to be informed about any updates or changes.
Periodic changes are necessary to make significant investments or transactions with the company. Consider subscribing to relevant industry newsletters, following a company’s social media channels, or setting up Google alerts. With the correct information, you’re informed, and it’s easy to do business.
Information You Find on the Public Register
In the UK, all limited company registries are kept by Companies House.
Among the four business structures, limited liabilities are the most popular thanks to the benefits that come with it.
Here are some requirements Companies House expects you to deliver when applying for incorporation.
- Transparency and openness are quality Companies House demands that explain why they filter specific information and make it accessible to the public.
- Companies applying for incorporation must provide information about their activities, annual accounts and those who control it.
- Additionally, applicants must provide director details and those responsible for running the company. Besides providing company details, the company records must be up to date as long as the business exists.
The information submitted to Companies House is reviewed and published on the public register. You can search for any company’s information online from anywhere in the world for free.
All companies keep their company records updated. These records ensure Companies House provides the correct company information to the public, more so people interested in doing business with them.
Information Companies House Makes Public
Not all company information is made public by Companies House. However, details like registered office address are public because they provide the physical location of a business. It’s where business letters, notices, and reminders are delivered.
Companies that use a Single Alternative Inspection Location (SAIL) to hold some of their records for inspection. The SAIL is at a different location from where the business is located.
Using your home address as the registered company address or SAIL will be on the public record. Using a sensitive address as a registered office or SAIL address can’t be removed from the public register.
Here are more details that Companies House makes public.
- Directors’ information: Name, occupation, nationality, month and year of birth, and two addresses; for correspondence, a home address.
- Date of birth for new directors
- Company secretaries (where applicable)
- People with Significant Company Control (PSC)
Addresses You Can’t Remove at Companies House
Companies House has no legal power to remove a sensitive address like your home address when used as:
- A registered office address
- A company’s SAIL
- Business Location
Although you can change an address you previously used during incorporation, it will remain on the public register for:
- The company’s lifetime
- 20 years after the company’s dissolution
There are NEW LAWS to help remove your home address from the public register. Under these new laws, you can request to remove a sensitive address used as a correspondence address on public records like an appointment form. Know which documents have your sensitive address before applying for removal.
How to Secure Your Home Address
Your home address is considered sensitive, and you don’t have to sue it as:
- Correspondence address
- Company’s SAIL
- The company’s registered office
Companies House has a statutory duty to publicise this information, meaning they can’t protect it even when it’s sensitive.
Those who run a business from home should consider using a different address as the registered office address. If you don’t have an alternative address, you can get registered address service providers online at a fee.
Ensure you get the alternative address service before you begin the incorporation process.
The sole reason is that the registered address you provide during the registration of a company can’t be removed from a company’s record after incorporation. Your alternative address must be operational, the company must be reachable, and you must have permission to use it.
All third parties holding company information must comply with data protection laws. If you feel insecure about any data they have for you, contact them directly.
Form Your Company With Incorpuk today
At Incorpuk, we will help you file accurate information when you register your company through us. We will help you with incorporation articles, a registered office address, and all you may need to register your company in the UK. Contact our team if you seek any information; we will gladly assist.
Frequent Asked Questions
Will I pay to check a company’s status?
Government business registry websites offer free basic company information on the public registry. However, in some jurisdictions, accessing detailed information or additional services may cost you.
How do I differentiate government business registries?
You can differentiate relevant government business registries by determining the company’s jurisdiction. Find this information on a company’s website, public records, or corporate documents.
Is it possible to check the status of a foreign company?
You can check the status of a foreign company through the business registry of the country of registration. Utilising commercial databases that offer international company information can also provide this information.
What if the company I’m looking for isn’t in the business registry?
If you can’t find the company you’re looking for in the business registry, double-check if you entered the correct spelling or try other methods. Newly registered companies may not be listed yet, or the company could be operating under a different identity.
Do subsidiary companies have a status?
You can check a company’s subsidiaries by searching their names in the business registry. Alternatively, you can access the respective corporate information and find the subsidiary.
Conclusion
Checking the status of a company is crucial to understanding its reputation, viability, and current financial health. You should make it a tradition to regularly check a company’s status since it can change over time. It’s a good practice that can help you gain valuable insights into a company’s background and ongoing status.
Remember, leveraging reliable sources like the Companies House register will keep you updated about a company. Besides, arming yourself with the latest information on a company you want to invest in or work for will help you make informed decisions. If you have any question about comapany status, kindly contact Incorpuk for answers today.