Research a company
Check a company is real, who owns and runs it, and whether it has red flags.
- Starts with
- Company
- Useful for
- Due diligence on a supplier or employer, checking a business before paying it, investigating fronts.
- Time
- 30–90 minutes
- Progress
- 0 of 5 steps ·
Type a value into any step and every step of the same type fills in, with direct search links. Values stay in this tab and are not saved; only which steps you ticked is remembered, in your browser.
1. Confirm it is registered
Why: A legitimate business is in an official register. A missing or recently created registration is a red flag.
Do: Search the official register for its country, or a multi-country register. Note the registration number, date, status and registered address.
Look for:- Incorporation date, and whether it is active or dissolved
- A registered address that is a mass-registration agent
2. Find who runs and owns it
Why: Directors and owners link the company to other businesses, and sometimes to people with a history.
Do: List current and past directors and shareholders, then search their names for other appointments.
Look for:- Directors with dozens of other companies (nominee directors)
- Owners in secrecy jurisdictions
3. Check sanctions and watchlists
Why: Dealing with a sanctioned company or person can be illegal.
Do: Screen the company and each director against sanctions and politically-exposed-person lists.
Look for:- Exact or close matches, checked against dates of birth and addresses
4. Look for legal trouble
Why: Lawsuits, bankruptcies and enforcement actions show how a company behaves.
Do: Search court records and complaint sites for the company and its directors.
Look for:- Fraud or unpaid-debt cases
- Patterns of consumer complaints
5. Check its web presence
Why: A real business usually has a website older than a few weeks, with consistent contact details.
Do: Check the domain's age, its archived history and the email pattern staff use.
Look for:- A website created long after the claimed founding date
- An archive history that shows a different business at the same domain