Search by Company Name
Useful when you know the legal name, part of the registered name or need to compare several possible matches before opening a company record.
Search the UK company register
UK Company Search – Find a Company by Name or Number
Use our UK company search to find a registered company by name or Companies House number. Compare matching records, identify the correct legal entity and open the public company information available for that business.
Find a UK company by name
Search by company number
Companies House public data
Search by name
Find a UK Company Using Its Registered Name
If you know the registered company name, enter it into the search box and review the matching records. Similar or identical names can exist, so the name alone is not always enough to identify the business you need.
Use the company number, company status, incorporation details and company type shown in the results to distinguish between businesses with similar names. When the company number is already known, searching by company number is the most direct way to locate a specific registered entity.
Search by Company Number
A Companies House number identifies a specific registered company and is particularly useful when several businesses have similar names.
Choose the right record
How to Identify the Correct UK Company
A UK company search may return several businesses with similar names. Check multiple identifiers before assuming that a result is the organisation you are looking for.
The registration number is the strongest identifier for distinguishing one registered company from another.
Compare the incorporation date when several company records have similar names.
Check whether the record is shown as active, dissolved or another status returned by Companies House.
The incorporation date and company type can provide additional context when several records look similar.
Registered Company Name vs Trading Name
A business can trade under a brand or trading name that differs from the legal company name recorded at Companies House. If a brand name produces no useful result, look for the registered legal name shown on contracts, invoices, terms and conditions or other company documents.
Once you locate the legal entity, use the company number to confirm that you are reviewing the correct record. If your main goal is to confirm whether a business is formally registered, see our company registration check guide.
UK register coverage
What Companies Can You Find in a UK Company Search?
A UK company search can help you locate registered entities held by Companies House across England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The public register includes different legal entity types, so the exact information available can vary from one record to another.
Depending on the entity, records can include private limited companies, public limited companies, limited liability partnerships and other registered bodies within the Companies House register. For more detail about what this site requests and displays, see our Companies House data sources.
England & Wales
Find registered entities on the Companies House register for England and Wales using a company name or number.
Scotland & Northern Ireland
Search registered entities whose company numbers and records relate to Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Different Entity Types
Search records for limited companies, PLCs, LLPs and other registered bodies where they are present in Companies House data.
Search results
What a UK Company Search Can Help You Confirm
The initial search is designed to help you identify the correct registered company. After selecting a company, the available public record can provide additional information for review.
Registered Name & Number
Confirm the legal company name and its Companies House registration number.
Current Company Status
Review the statutory status returned for the company record.
Company Type
Review the company type recorded by Companies House for the selected legal entity.
Previous Company Names
Where available, review previous registered company names to add context to the entity's public record.
Business Activities
See SIC codes recorded for the company to understand its registered business activities.
Public Company Record
Open the company report to review additional Companies House information available for that entity.
What If You Cannot Find the Company?
- Check the spelling and try the registered legal name rather than a brand or trading name.
- Search using the Companies House number if you have it.
- Try a shorter part of the company name if the full wording is uncertain.
- Remember that not every UK business is a registered limited company; some sole traders and other unincorporated businesses will not have a Companies House company record.
Search intent
UK Company Search vs Company Registration Check
Use this page when you need to find the company first
Search by name or company number, compare matching records and identify the legal entity that corresponds to the business you are researching.
Use the registration guide when registration is the main question
If you already know which business you are checking and want to understand its registration details, status and company number, use the company registration check page.
Common questions
UK Company Search FAQs
How do I find a UK company?
Search using the registered company name or Companies House number. If several results appear, compare the company number, incorporation details and status to identify the correct legal entity.
Can I search for a UK company by company number?
Yes. A company number identifies a specific registered company and is often the quickest way to locate the exact record.
Why can several companies have similar names?
Search results can contain similarly named entities. Use the unique company number and other registered details rather than relying on the name alone.
Why can I not find a business by its trading name?
The trading or brand name may be different from the legal name registered at Companies House. Try to identify the registered name from business documents or other official information.
Does every UK business appear in Companies House?
No. Companies House contains records for registered companies and other entities within its remit. A sole trader, for example, does not have a Companies House company record simply by trading as a business.
Find a UK Company
Search by registered name or company number and open the matching public company record.