How to Check if a UK Company is Legitimate

1. Search Companies House

Every legitimate UK limited company must be registered with Companies House. This is your first and most important check. Search for the company by name or registration number and verify:

• Company status — is it "Active"? If it says "Dissolved" or "In Liquidation", that's a red flag
• Incorporation date — how old is the company? Very new companies (weeks or months old) making big claims should be scrutinised
• Registered address — does it match what they've told you? Be wary of companies using virtual office addresses (though many legitimate businesses do use them)
• Directors — are the people you're dealing with actually listed as directors?
• Filing history — has the company been filing its annual accounts and confirmation statements on time? Late or missing filings suggest poor governance

2. Check the Company's Accounts

UK limited companies must file annual accounts with Companies House. These are publicly available and show:

• Total assets and liabilities — is the company solvent?
• Turnover (if not filing micro-entity accounts) — does their reported size match their claims?
• Net worth — is the company actually worth anything?
• Going concern warnings — auditors flag if they doubt the company can continue trading

Small companies can file abbreviated or micro-entity accounts, which show less detail. This isn't necessarily suspicious — it's legal — but it does mean you have less information to work with.

3. Verify with the FCA (Financial Services)

If the company offers financial services — loans, investments, insurance, payment processing — it should be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). An unregulated company offering financial products is a major warning sign.

4. Check VAT Registration

If a company claims to be VAT registered, you can verify their VAT number using the HMRC VAT number checker. Companies with turnover above £90,000 (2024/25 threshold) must be VAT registered.

5. Look for Red Flags

Warning signs that a company may not be legitimate:

• No Companies House registration — if they claim to be a limited company but aren't registered, walk away
• Very recent incorporation — especially if they claim years of experience
• Frequent director changes — high turnover of directors can indicate instability or fraud
• Overdue filings — missing annual accounts or confirmation statements show poor compliance
• Dormant status with active trading — a company filing dormant accounts while actively trading may be misreporting
• No web presence — while not definitive, a company with no website, LinkedIn, or reviews is worth questioning
• Pressure to act quickly — legitimate companies don't pressure you into immediate decisions

6. Check Reviews and Reputation

Beyond official records, check:

• Google reviews and Trustpilot — look for patterns in negative reviews
• Companies on social media — do they have an established presence?
• Industry associations — legitimate tradespeople are often members of trade bodies (NICEIC, Gas Safe, FCA, SRA, etc.)

7. Verify the People

Check the directors listed on Companies House. You can see:

• Their full name and date of birth (month/year only)
• Their nationality and country of residence
• Other companies they direct — are any dissolved or in liquidation?
• Whether they've been disqualified as a director

You can check for disqualified directors on the Companies House disqualified directors register.

Summary Checklist