Finding the name of a business

Cheechee

My friend has just started a small business from home.  I want to get a cake made with the company name on it but I can't remember what its called.  I dont want to ask either because she may get suspicious and i want it to be a surprise.

I know the address.  Is there a site I can enter her address and find the company name that way?

turnitround

Highly unlikely until she is registered with Companies House. Why not ask her how she came up with the name for the business.

Brie

She might be on google maps already.  Or she might have something mentioned on facebook.

uknick

Cheechee said:

My friend has just started a small business from home.  I want to get a cake made with the company name on it but I can't remember what its called.  I dont want to ask either because she may get suspicious and i want it to be a surprise.

I know the address.  Is there a site I can enter her address and find the company name that way?

If she has set up a Ltd company, try here; 

Find and update company information - GOV.UK (company-information.service.gov.uk)

and enter you friends name in the search box

baser999

Try Googling along the lines of ‘cake shop in (location)’ 

p00hsticks

baser999 said:

Try Googling along the lines of ‘cake shop in (location)’ 

The OP doesn't say that the business is a cake shop, but rather that she wants to get the friend a cake with the business name on it. 

(Thinking about it, buying a cake to give to someone who runs a cake shop would be a bit coals to Newcastle....)

Savvy_Sue

If it's not a ltd company, the definitely worth a google for her name, the kind of business it is, and any combination. Failing that, something like "how's the business going?" leading on to how she's advertising, how someone could find her if they needed whatever it is she's doing. 

NextDoor is another place to look ... 

Mistral001

I would leave off the name.  She will know that you did a lot of digging around to find out exactly what the name is and they might not appreciate that.  Also there is a chance you might get the name wrong.  Something like "Best wishes in your new business venture"  would probably say all that needs to be said.

DullGreyGuy

Cheechee said:

I know the address.  Is there a site I can enter her address and find the company name that way?

You switch between company and business but these aren't the identical things. If she has setup a company then it will be in Companies House and you can search either for her as a Director or a company registered at her postcode. 

Setting up a business, not a company, can also mean she is operating as a sole trader in which case Companies House will have no details at all. If that's the case then it's really a test of how well she has marketed herself and searching Google, Google Maps, Facebook etc. Again either for her to see if she's posted about her new business or for the type of business in that area. 

martindow

It must be a very rare business that has no online trace at all.  There may be a web site or mentions on Facebook or local groups if you search the person's name, type of business and address.

Mistral001

If a business does not need to advertise and does not do any business transactions online then they do not a need an online presence and that is exactly what happens believe it or not.  I have recently retired and when I was in business, my telephone book was the most precious document I had.  If I had lost it I would lose many of my contacts as they had no online presence.  They got their work by word of mouth.  They had no need to hide their identity, except to prevent nusance callers.    Would you get a franking machine if you did not post any letters?  So why have an online presense if you do not need it.