How do you check an overseas company before doing business?
Business Credit Reports
Answer
Start with the company’s country of registration, exact legal name and local registration number. Verify the entity against the relevant official registry, then assess available financials, ownership and credit information for the proposed transaction. Check local disclosure gaps, currency and reporting dates. Treat payment, sanctions and legal checks as distinct parts of the wider review.
Country comes before the interpretation of a name
Similar trading names can exist in different countries, and a translated name may differ from the registered one. Match local-script names and identifiers where available. Verify that the entity on the contract is the one the report describes.
- Confirm country, legal form and registration number.
- Distinguish headquarters from place of incorporation.
- Identify the relevant registry and financial filing authority.
Compare the evidence on a like-for-like basis
Retain original currency and units, identify accounting periods and separate group accounts from entity accounts. Where local public financial disclosure is limited, document the gap and seek suitable supporting evidence rather than assuming that no filing means no business.
Illustrative example
A website can represent several legal companies
Illustrative scenario: a group website lists offices in Germany, France and the UK, but the contract is signed by an Irish entity. Resolve and assess the Irish company first, then investigate relevant group support and operating relationships.
What to check
- Registration jurisdiction
- Local identifiers
- Financial basis and currency
- Country-specific gaps and further checks
Frequently asked questions
Should I search by headquarters country?
Use the contracting company’s registration jurisdiction; headquarters can be different.
Can a translated company name be enough?
Prefer the registered name and local registration identifier where available.
Are VAT numbers company registration numbers?
Not necessarily. Their meaning and availability differ by jurisdiction.
Can all countries provide public financials?
No. Disclosure obligations and public access vary.
Should I convert financials to one currency?
If needed, use a documented conversion convention while retaining original values.
Does a foreign registry listing prove payment ability?
No. It establishes recorded company facts, not a complete financial assessment.
Are credit scores comparable across borders?
Only where the model and mapping explicitly support that comparison.
Is sanctions screening part of every report?
No. Confirm the specific screening scope separately.
What if I cannot resolve the company?
Seek stronger identifiers and route the case to review rather than guessing.
Where can I check source references?
Use this website’s Our Data directory to examine published country source references.
Sources & further reading
Source references support the definitions. Process suggestions and examples are editorial guidance.
- Companies House: get information about a company
Official UK company information and the records available from the register.
- Business Credit Reports: company intelligence and delivery
The service provider’s own description of company information and access options.
Business Credit Reports provides commercial company information. Apply your organisation’s policy and appropriate specialist review. Suggest a correction.
For more detail: Company data sources and freshness →
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