Guides

Plain-English guides to checking who you're about to trade with, using the free official public record. No jargon, no sales pitch.

• How to check if a UK company is legit before you trade with it A 5-minute check on any company: registration, accounts, directors and the red flags to look for. Read the guide →
• Is this company going bust? 7 warning signs on the public record The early signals a customer or supplier is in trouble, months before they stop paying. Read the guide →
• Phoenix companies explained: how to spot a serial director When a director keeps closing companies and leaving debts behind, and how to catch it. Read the guide →
• How to vet a new supplier: a 10-minute due-diligence checklist Before you pay a deposit or place a big order, run this quick checklist. Read the guide →
• Overdue accounts at Companies House: how worried should you be? What late accounts and confirmation statements really mean, and when they're a red flag. Read the guide →
• What a winding-up petition means (and what to do if a customer has one) The most serious insolvency signal on the public record, explained in plain English. Read the guide →
• How to check a company before you pay a deposit About to pay a deposit to a company you don't know? The 5-minute check that could save it. Read the guide →
• Should I pay a deposit upfront to a new supplier? When an upfront deposit is normal, when it's risky, and how to protect the money. Read the guide →
• Safe payment terms for a first order with a new company How to set terms on a first order so you don't get burned, matched to the risk. Read the guide →
• A new customer wants credit terms, should you say yes? How to decide whether to invoice a new customer on terms, using the public record. Read the guide →