Ten Years of Free Companies House Data – and How It Can Help Your Business

Last week marked ten years since Companies House made all digital company data freely available through its online service on GOV.UK. Since launching on 22 June 2015, the Find and Update company information tool has become one of the UK’s most heavily used public data services, with over 16.5 billion searches carried out in 2023-24 alone.

The data includes details on every UK-registered company – such as directors, financial filings, registered addresses, filing history, and company status. It’s used every day by lenders, investors, regulators, law enforcement, and businesses of all sizes to make informed decisions.

How This Data Can Help You Run and Grow Your Business

As your accountant, we regularly use Companies House data behind the scenes – but it’s also a powerful tool that you can use to support growth, reduce risk, and manage your operations more effectively.

Here are some practical ways it can benefit your business:

• Check who you’re dealing with: Before working with a new supplier, customer, or partner, use Companies House to confirm their legal status, directors, and trading history. It’s a simple step that can help protect your business from fraud or unreliable firms.

• Monitor competitors or industry trends: You can view company filings, changes in directorship, or new company formations in your sector – useful for keeping an eye on competitors or spotting new opportunities.

• Improve credit control and chase debts: Knowing who legally controls a business (and where they’re registered) can help if you need to follow up on unpaid invoices. It’s also useful in preparing for legal action or insolvency procedures.

• Support funding and investment conversations: When applying for finance or pitching to investors, it helps to know how your business compares to others in your industry. Accessing competitor filings can provide useful benchmarks on growth, structure, or cash flow trends.

• Stay compliant: Seeing how other businesses meet their statutory filing requirements can help you understand what’s expected – and avoid late fees or damaging your reputation.

• Spot opportunities to expand: Looking at newly registered businesses in your area or sector can help you identify potential customers, partners, or gaps in the market.

What’s Next?

The data is about to become even more reliable. New reforms under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act will introduce mandatory identity verification for directors and other checks to improve accuracy.

If you’re unsure how to make the most of this information or would like help integrating it into your processes – from onboarding checks to competitor tracking – let’s talk. We’re here to help you use every tool available to support the health and growth of your business.

See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/companies-house-celebrates-10-years-of-open-data