Check a company before you sign
Search the British company behind the contract, review the public-record evidence, then monitor it after the relationship begins.
Search the company before signing
Use the company name or Companies House number. Start with the legal entity, then decide whether you need a Quick Check, deeper report or ongoing monitoring.
The decision sequence
The contract is not the first point of risk.
The first commitment is often your time, capacity, deposit or reputation. A focused company check gives you context before the signature turns a concern into an exposure.
- 1
Confirm the counterparty
Make sure the company named in the contract is the entity you have actually researched.
- 2
Test the public record
Read filings, directors, charges and notices before you decide what the proposed relationship requires.
- 3
Keep watching
If you sign, monitor the company so later public-record changes reach you while the relationship is still active.
Public-record evidence
Evidence for a contract decision
RecoupIQ cross-checks 12 UK public-data sources and can run up to 72 structured evidence checks in paid report products. The result is a starting point for your decision, not a promise about what a company will do.
- Legal identity, active status and filing freshness
- Directors, appointments and connected-company history
- Charges and secured creditors that affect priority
- Gazette notices and other public insolvency signals
- Clear explanation of the signals found and their source
- A deeper forensic path for material contracts or partnerships
After the first check
Choose the depth, then keep watching.
Quick Check
£29
A focused report for a spot decision before you commit.
See the Quick CheckForensic Report
£167
Deeper director-network and risk context for a material relationship.
See the Forensic ReportMonitor the company
The signature is not the end of the check.
Plans start at £19.99/mo.
See monitoring plansThe signature is not the end of the check.
Companies change after contracts are signed. Monitoring gives the relationship a second layer: an initial scan when you add the company and daily re-scans for live public-record changes.
Compare monitoring plansFrequently asked questions
Questions before you proceed
What should I verify before signing a commercial contract with a UK company?
Verify the precise registered legal entity, active status on Companies House, balance sheet net worth, active debentures, and director track records before you commit work, supplier credit, or upfront deposits.
How do you calculate a safe trade credit limit for a customer?
Safe credit limits assess net current assets, working capital, and trading history. Standard calculations recommend 10% to 15% of net current assets, reduced when negative charges or judgments exist.
Can you sue a dissolved UK company for unpaid invoices?
No. A dissolved company ceases to exist as a legal entity, and its assets transfer to the Crown. You must apply to court to restore the company to the register before pursuing legal recovery.
What happens to advance deposits if a supplier enters administration?
Advance payments classify you as an unsecured creditor. If the supplier collapses, trade creditors recover an average of only 4p to 8p per pound after secured lenders and insolvency practitioner fees.