Find the Company
Enter the registered company name or, preferably, the company number when you already know it.
Check Companies House company status
Check UK Company Status
Search a UK company and review the status recorded in Companies House data. See whether the company is active, dissolved, in liquidation, administration, receivership or another status returned for the company record.
Active or dissolved
Liquidation or administration
Public Companies House data
Status lookup
How to Check if a UK Company Is Active or Dissolved
Search by the registered company name or Companies House number and open the matching record. The company profile contains the status held for that entity, allowing you to distinguish an active company from a dissolved company or one recorded under another formal status.
If several companies have similar names, confirm the company number before relying on the status. You can use our UK company search to identify the correct legal entity first.
Confirm the Record
Match the company number, registered office and other identifying details to avoid checking a similarly named company.
Review the Status
Check the current company status returned in the Companies House record and review related public information where relevant.
Status meanings
Common Companies House Company Statuses
The Companies House API supports several company-status values. The meaning of a status should be considered together with the rest of the company record rather than interpreted in isolation.
Active
The company remains on the register with an active status. This does not by itself prove that the business is currently trading or financially sound.
Dissolved
The company has been removed from the register. Dissolution marks the end of the company's legal existence unless it is later restored.
Liquidation
The company is recorded as being in liquidation. Review the wider insolvency information and relevant official notices for additional context.
Administration
The company is recorded as being in administration, a formal insolvency process in which an administrator is appointed.
Receivership
The company record may show receivership where a receiver has been appointed in circumstances reflected in the register.
Other Recorded Statuses
Companies House data can also return statuses such as voluntary arrangement, insolvency proceedings, registered, removed, open, closed or converted-closed for relevant entity types.
Does “Active” Mean the Company Is Trading?
Not necessarily. An active Companies House status means the company is recorded as active on the register, but that status should not be read as a guarantee that it is actively trading, profitable, creditworthy or suitable to do business with.
Companies House official statistics distinguish registration status from whether a company is actively trading or dormant. If you are carrying out due diligence, review more than the status alone.
Important distinction
Company Status vs Dormant Company
The formal status recorded on the company profile
Companies House company-status values include active, dissolved, liquidation, receivership, administration and other formal values returned through the public data API.
Not the same as the Companies House status field
A company can be on the register with an active status while being dormant for accounting or trading purposes. Do not treat “dormant” as a synonym for “dissolved” or as the opposite of “active”.
A Company Status Is Only One Part of a Company Check
Status can tell you something important about a company's position on the register, but it does not give a complete picture of the business.
Consider registration details, filing history, officers, charges, insolvency information and other relevant public records when those checks matter to your decision.
Companies House states that it does not check the accuracy of information filed on the register, so public company data should be interpreted with appropriate care.Related checks
Go Beyond the Company Status
To confirm the legal registration details, use our company registration check. To search broader public company information, use our Companies House search. If the company shows signs of financial distress, our dedicated company insolvency check page will cover that intent separately.
Common questions
UK Company Status Check FAQs
How do I check if a company is active in the UK?
Search the registered company name or Companies House number and open the matching company record. Review the company status shown for that legal entity.
What does dissolved mean on Companies House?
A dissolved company has been removed from the register. Dissolution marks the end of the company's legal existence unless the company is subsequently restored.
Does active status mean a company is trustworthy?
No. Active is a register status, not a guarantee of financial strength, trading conduct, creditworthiness or trustworthiness.
Is a dormant company the same as a dissolved company?
No. A dormant company can still exist on the register, while a dissolved company has been removed from it.
Can Companies House show liquidation or administration?
Yes. The Companies House public data API includes formal company-status values such as liquidation and administration, along with other possible statuses.
Check a UK Company Status
Search by company name or Companies House number and review the status recorded for the company.