Skip to main content
NEW CUSTOMERS: YOUR FIRST COMPANY REPORT IS FREE WITH CHECKFIRST

BEFORE YOU OFFER PAYMENT TERMS

10 reasons to check a company before you give it credit.

Make your next credit decision with the facts in front of you.

Credit limits. Financials. Payment behaviour. The people behind the business. Get the available evidence together in one FindCompany report before you commit your cash, stock or time.

Get your first report free

No purchase required. New customers only. Use CHECKFIRST at sign-up.

findcompany.infoCOMPANY REPORT

ILLUSTRATIVE REPORT · FICTIONAL FIGURES

EXAMPLE COMPANY

Demonstration only · not a real business

0100
72out of 100
Example credit ratingB · Low riskIllustrative score only
Example recommended credit limit£25,000Example previous limit: £20,000
Example cash£84,000
Example total assets£420,000
FinancialsDirectorsOwnershipCharges
Public register + credit-reference data
Illustrative report layout. The company, score, rating and all figures shown are fictional and do not describe any real business. Actual report information and coverage vary by company.
Companies House informationCredit-reference dataOnline, print & downloadNo subscription required

A GOOD ORDER DESERVES A GOOD CHECK

Before “yes”, get a clearer picture.

Your customer wants time to pay. Your supplier wants a commitment. You want to understand the business on the other side. Here are ten reasons to make a company report part of that decision.

  1. The credit decision

    Put a credit limit behind your handshake.

    A promising order is only the start. Before you agree to wait for payment, see the recommended credit limit and risk rating for the company you are dealing with. Use them to help decide how much money you are comfortable leaving outstanding.

    Includes the recommended credit limit, credit score and risk band where available.

    IN YOUR REPORT · WHERE AVAILABLE

    Credit & risk

    • Recommended credit limit
    • Credit score & risk band
    • Previous credit limit
    The detail behind your decision.

  2. The bigger commitment

    Look beyond the value of the first invoice.

    A long contract can tie up stock, staff and cash well before the last payment arrives. The report includes a separate contract limit where available, giving you another reference point when you consider the size of the commitment.

    A contract limit and a credit limit measure different things. Both are recommendations, not guarantees.

    IN YOUR REPORT · WHERE AVAILABLE

    Two different questions

    • Credit limit: outstanding exposure
    • Contract limit: contract capacity
    • Your terms: your decision
    The detail behind your decision.

  3. The financial picture

    See the figures behind the sales pitch.

    Turnover alone does not tell the whole story. Explore the financial information available for the company, including assets, liabilities, cash, working capital and equity. Year-on-year figures and ratios help you put the latest accounts in context.

    Balance sheets, profit and loss, and ratios are shown where disclosed or supplied. Smaller companies may publish limited accounts.

    Get your first report free
    IN YOUR REPORT · WHERE AVAILABLE

    Financials & ratios

    • Assets, liabilities & cash
    • Working capital & equity
    • Year-on-year movement
    The detail behind your decision.

  4. The payment record

    Ask how they pay, as well as what they earn.

    A healthy-looking business can still be a slow payer. Where payment data is available, see average days beyond terms, invoices paid within terms and overdue balances. Bring that evidence into your conversation about deposits and payment schedules.

    Payment information reflects records supplied to the data provider. It is not a complete record of every invoice.

    IN YOUR REPORT · WHERE AVAILABLE

    Payment behaviour

    • Average days beyond terms
    • Invoices paid within terms
    • Owing & overdue balances
    The detail behind your decision.

  5. The warning signs

    Check for judgments before extending trust.

    Look for recorded County Court Judgments and other adverse information before you commit. Where records exist, the report can show judgment amounts, dates, courts and satisfaction status, helping you identify questions worth asking.

    Possible CCJ matches are separated from registered judgments. A possible match needs investigation before you rely on it.

    IN YOUR REPORT · WHERE AVAILABLE

    Adverse information

    • Registered CCJ details
    • Possible matches shown separately
    • Insolvency information where available
    The detail behind your decision.

  6. The people behind it

    Know which company—and whose business—you are dealing with.

    Trading names can be similar. Check the registered name, company number and status, then explore current and previous directors, shareholders and persons with significant control where recorded. Make sure your paperwork identifies the right legal entity.

    Company identification, directors and ownership appear alongside the financial information.

    IN YOUR REPORT · WHERE AVAILABLE

    Identity & ownership

    • Company number & registered name
    • Current & previous directors
    • Shareholders & significant control
    The detail behind your decision.

  7. The assets and obligations

    Put property and secured borrowing in context.

    An asset figure is more useful when you understand the obligations around it. The report brings together mortgages and charges, with Land Registry information where available, including property and land-title counts.

    A registered charge is not automatically a warning sign. Read the type, status and available detail in context.

    Get your first report free
    IN YOUR REPORT · WHERE AVAILABLE

    Property & charges

    • Property & land-title counts
    • Mortgage & charge summary
    • Registered charge details
    The detail behind your decision.

  8. The direction of travel

    See what changed, not just where things stand.

    A single score is a snapshot. Available rating and credit-limit histories let you see changes over time, while event history brings together filings, board changes and other recorded updates. Use the dates to focus your next question.

    Historical information and the number of available years vary by company.

    IN YOUR REPORT · WHERE AVAILABLE

    History & events

    • Credit-rating history
    • Credit-limit history
    • Filings & board changes
    The detail behind your decision.

  9. The complete working view

    Bring the register and credit data into one report.

    FindCompany combines Companies House information with credit-reference data, so you can move from identity to financials, ownership and risk in one place. Read the report online, then use the print or download option to keep a copy for your records.

    Sections depend on the company and available source data. A report is accurate only at the time it is compiled.

    IN YOUR REPORT · WHERE AVAILABLE

    One company. One report.

    • Companies House record
    • Credit & financial information
    • Read, download or print
    The detail behind your decision.

  10. The buying decision

    Get the report you need, without an ongoing commitment.

    You may need one check today and another next month. Buy report credits as you need them, with no subscription required. Search for a UK limited company by name or number, then choose when to run a report.

    Each report costs 6 credits. Pack prices and any eligible offer are shown below.

    IN YOUR REPORT · WHERE AVAILABLE

    Pay as you go

    • Free company search
    • No subscription required
    • Choose when to use your credits
    The detail behind your decision.

BUILT AROUND THE DECISION

The company record.
The credit picture.
One place to look.

A name and an active registration are a starting point. A FindCompany report adds the available credit and financial detail to help you decide what to do next.

See your sign-up offer
What the report helps you investigate
Your questionRelevant report information
Who am I dealing with?Registered details, directors and ownership
How much exposure?Credit limit, contract limit and rating
What supports the business?Available accounts, ratios, assets and charges
What should I question?Adverse records, payment data and changes

Available information varies. Reports support a decision; they do not guarantee payment.

YOUR NEW-CUSTOMER OFFER

Your first report.
On us.

Try a company report before buying credits. Check a prospective client, customer or supplier and see the available information for yourself.

  • A report on a UK limited company of your choice
  • Available credit, financial and company information
  • Read online, download or print
  • No purchase or subscription required

NEW CUSTOMERS · CODE AT SIGN-UP

One company report

£0No purchase required

Use this code at sign-upCHECKFIRST

6 credits when you sign up = one company report.

Get your first report free

Create your account with CHECKFIRST, verify it, then choose a company to report on.

New customers only. Enter CHECKFIRST at sign-up and complete verification. One redemption per customer account. Cannot be combined with another promo code. Subject to code availability when registering. Further reports require credits.

BEFORE YOU GET STARTED

Your questions, answered.

How do I get my first report free?

Enter CHECKFIRST in the promo-code field when creating a new account, then complete account verification. The code gives you 6 credits, enough for one report on a UK limited company of your choice. No purchase is required. New customers only, entered at sign-up; one redemption per customer account. Cannot be combined with another promo code. Further reports require credits.

What is included in a report?

A company report combining Companies House information with available credit-reference data. It covers credit and contract limits, financials, directors and ownership, judgments, charges, payment behaviour and histories where available. Each report uses 6 credits. Any eligible introductory offer is explained above.

Will every report contain every field?

No. Coverage varies by company, its filed accounts and the information supplied by the data sources. Some fields or sections may have no information available. A small company may not disclose turnover or a full profit and loss account.

Does a good rating guarantee I will be paid?

No. Ratings and limits support your decision; they do not guarantee payment or future performance. Consider the report date, your own experience, the proposed terms and the size of your exposure.

How do I get my report?

Create a new account with CHECKFIRST and complete verification. The sign-up offer supplies the credits for one report. Find a UK limited company by name or number, then confirm the report. It opens online with print and download options. Further reports require credits; availability depends on the source services.

Do I need a subscription?

No. No purchase or subscription is required for the CHECKFIRST sign-up offer. Further reports require credits. The one-off Starter pack costs £12 excluding VAT (£14.40 including VAT) and contains credits for one report. Other packs and optional monthly plans are shown in your account.

MAKE THE CHECK BEFORE THE COMMITMENT

Know more.
Then decide.

Put the available company and credit information in front of you before you agree to payment terms.

Get your first report free