Business verification in the United Kingdom
VBC certifies businesses registered in the United Kingdom. Verification starts from the official record: in United Kingdom the company register is maintained by Companies House, and the entity is identified by its Company Registration Number (CRN), eight characters.
Companies House publishes filings, registered office, directors and filing history free of charge, so a great deal can be confirmed independently. Sole traders do not appear there, so verification for them rests on HMRC records and trading evidence instead.
Where a business is registered for tax, the VAT registration number where the business is VAT registered is reviewed alongside the registration record, since it provides an independent corroborating identifier.
Why UK businesses certify
UK buyers routinely check Companies House before dealing with a new supplier, so a business that is already transparent has less to prove. The gap is with sole traders, who do not appear on that register at all and need another way to evidence their standing.
What VBC verifies for a UK business
Depending on the certification level, the review may cover legal identity and registration records, the registered business address, working contact details, website ownership and digital presence, supporting documentation and evidence of current business activity.
Documents a UK business commonly supplies at Enhanced level:
- Certificate of incorporation
- Confirmation statement filed at Companies House
- VAT registration certificate where applicable
- Proof of the registered office address
Levels, fees and process
Three levels apply everywhere VBC operates — Basic at $100 a year, Enhanced at $250, Trusted at $500 — and the eight-stage process is the same in every country. Only the paperwork differs, because each national registry issues its own records. See what each fee covers and the eight stages in detail.
Public verification
Every VBC certificate issued to a UK business carries a unique certificate ID and appears on the public register. Customers, suppliers and partners can check its current status themselves, without an account and without contacting the business first.
Verify a certificate or browse the directory.
Questions from UK businesses
Can a business registered in the United Kingdom get VBC certified?
Yes. VBC certifies businesses registered in the United Kingdom. Verification is based on records from Companies House, together with the address, contact and digital-presence evidence required at the certification level chosen.
What documents does a UK business need for VBC certification?
At Enhanced level a UK business normally supplies: certificate of incorporation; confirmation statement filed at Companies House; vAT registration certificate where applicable; proof of the registered office address. The VAT registration number where the business is VAT registered is normally reviewed alongside it. Exact requirements depend on the level and are confirmed during review.
What is the Company Registration Number (CRN), eight characters used for in verification?
The Company Registration Number (CRN), eight characters identifies the legal entity on the register maintained by Companies House. VBC uses it to confirm that the business named on the certificate is the same entity that appears on the official record.
How is a VBC certificate for a UK business verified?
Anyone can check it at https://vbcertified.online/verify using the certificate ID, or by scanning the QR code on the certificate. The record shows the current status, which may be valid, expired, suspended or revoked. No account is needed and the business does not have to be contacted first.
Is VBC certification a business licence in the United Kingdom?
No. VBC is a private verification and certification service, not a government licence, regulatory approval or ISO certification. A business in the United Kingdom remains responsible for every licence, registration and regulatory obligation that applies to it.
How much does VBC certification cost for a UK business?
The same three levels apply everywhere: Basic at $100 a year, Enhanced at $250 and Trusted at $500. Each level is a superset of the one below it and the level appears on the certificate.