How to check a company
Registers, owners, litigation, debts and signs of genuine activity
Updated 2 August 2026 · 10 minutes to read
A company on paper and a company in reality are often different organisations. Corporate details, a website and a confident manager say nothing about whether a counterparty has assets, debts, pending litigation or genuine operating activity. A company check answers a simple question: who you are actually about to work with, and what happens if something goes wrong.
The guide sets out the full verification route: from reading the corporate register and financial statements to litigation history, pledges, sanctions intersections and signs of a shell company. It covers how foreign companies are checked, why a “new” company is not always a bad sign, and which combinations of indicators should stop a deal.
The guide does not replace legal and tax due diligence. Data availability varies by country: information open in one register may be closed in another - this is taken into account when scoping the task.
Who this material is for
- for companies before a major contract or advance payment
- for investors before purchasing a stake or a business
- for lawyers and compliance specialists
- for exporters working with new foreign counterparties
Questions covered in this guide
- what the corporate register shows and how to read it
- how owners and related companies are checked
- which litigation and debt traces are material
- how to identify a shell company
- how a foreign company check differs
Contents
- Three levels of verification: register, activity, environment
- Owners and beneficial owners: what is open and what is closed
- Litigation, debts, pledges and enforcement proceedings
- Signs of genuine activity and signs of a shell
- Foreign companies: jurisdictional specifics
- Report and decision: how to use the result
Financial data for closed companies is available only to the extent allowed by lawful sources in the relevant country. Conclusions do not replace an audit.
Related practice areas
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