business ownership..

doom

Hi all,

Does anyone know if it is possible to find out online the ownership details of a small business.

I've looked here :

http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/c6c37c5ac0210982e5ec2f358d14d4df/wcframe?name=accessCompanyInfo

but it doesn't seem to say who owns the business...

Any help appreciated....

fengirl_2

With a limited company, the shareholders technically own the business. If you mean directors, these are listed at Companies House. Sole traders and partnerships don't register with anyone, so you wouldn't be able to find out who owns those types of businesses.

Pennywise

fengirl wrote: »

Sole traders and partnerships don't register with anyone, so you wouldn't be able to find out who owns those types of businesses.

Although the law requires sole traders to give the proprietor's own name on official paperwork, i.e. invoices etc, and small partnerships must also do likewise unless there are more than 20 partners in which case they must make a list of partners available.

richt71

As said you can get all the info about limited companies from companies house (either online or by visiing one of the offices around he country). You pay to download detailed info over the web - think it's about £4 for shareholder info and director/secretary info.

vivatifosi

richt71 wrote: »

As said you can get all the info about limited companies from companies house (either online or by visiing one of the offices around he country). You pay to download detailed info over the web - think it's about £4 for shareholder info and director/secretary info.

About the one thing that the government has cut the price on! Go to https://www.companies-house.gov.uk and click on the webcheck link. You can either get the shareholder info, or the annual return which will list both shareholders and directors (check the date to make sure its recent) for £1 a shot now (you can also pay £1 for the accounts).

I spend a lot of time looking up companies (I work for myself, but one of my jobs is as a researcher for an M&A firm) and it never ceases to amaze me how few companies bother to change the details between Annual Returns. So if it is recent, I think the Ann Rtn will be your best bet.