How to find free company information

Want to find out whether a limited company is registered in the United Kingdom? Need to check whether a person has been banned from being a company director? More than 2 million limited companies are registered in the country, and more than 300,000 new companies are incorporated each year. For free information on UK companies, the government agency Companies House is the place to go. All limited companies in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland must register here. Information is updated regularly, and there is no charge to access basic details.

• 1

  Visit www.companieshouse.gov.uk. Click on the icon "search company information," which is displayed on the right-hand side of the page.

• 2

  Enter the name of the company you wish to search for. You can search under current or recently dissolved names, dissolved names, previous names or proposed company names.

• 3

  Click on the company number, which will appear in the left-hand column next to the company name on the results page. This will then open another page providing free basic information, including the company's address; its status, ie, whether it is active, in liquidation or dissolved; the type of company it is; the nature of the business it is involved in, and the date the last accounts were filed and when they are next due to be filed. It will also list any previous names the company traded under and when the name was changed.

• 4

  Search the Disqualified Directors Register. To find this free tool, click on "Services" on the left-hand side of the Companies House homepage. Click on the "Disqualified Directors Register" icon. Enter a person's name or part of a name in the search bar. An alphabetical list of all people currently disqualified from holding directorships of companies will appear. You can then click on a person's name to find out his address and how long he has been disqualified for.

• 5

  Call Companies House on +44 (0) 303 1234 500, or email enquiries@companies-house.gov.uk with any further questions or queries. Staff will be able to advise you whether there is any further information you are permitted to access for free.