By International Credit Reports
Start with the question you need answered
A company registry search can help you find a registered business and inspect the records that registry makes available. A business credit report brings together obtainable company information for a broader review, which may include financial figures, payment information, public records, and a credit assessment.
If you only need to locate a company number or a publicly available filing, the relevant official register may answer your question. If your team needs additional company information in a report, check what can be obtained before purchasing. Buying a report does not guarantee access to every document.
Compare the information and its limits
| Question | Official register | Company credit report |
|---|---|---|
| Which entity is this? | Published names, identifiers, and registration details within that register's scope. | Company identity alongside other available business information. |
| Are financial records available? | Depends on local filing rules and the documents accessible for that entity. | Obtainable financial figures or statements, with periods and limitations. |
| How has the business paid? | A registration entry alone does not supply trade-payment experience. | Payment information or references where obtainable for that company and report. |
| What does it cost? | Some lookups are free; documents or extracts may have separate fees. | Our available report options have public prices by country and tier. |
| Does it guarantee performance? | Registration does not guarantee payment or delivery. | A report does not guarantee a future transaction or replace your own approval process. |
Official searches have different scopes
The UK's Companies House search (opens in a new tab) provides company data and filed document images. The existence of a filing and the information it contains still need to be considered in the context of your review. Our UK report page explains company identifiers and available report options.
Japan's National Tax Agency English search (opens in a new tab) publishes Corporate Numbers and the English names and addresses registered for publication. It is an identification resource; those basic entries are not a company financial assessment. See the Japan report page for local-name and identifier guidance.
These examples show why a search in one country should not be assumed to return the same information as a search elsewhere. The company's registration jurisdiction, legal form, and available filings shape the result.
From a register result to a report request
Suppose a supplier's quotation uses a trading name, while the proposed agreement names another company. First establish the legal name, identifier, and country of the contracting entity. A register result may help resolve that match. If you also need information about a separate manufacturer or parent, identify that entity independently.
List the additional questions you need answered: available accounts for a particular year, payment information, or a stated corporate relationship. Check the scope with the report team, then select an available option. Our international company verification page explains how to define the subject, and the pricing page lists current report options.
When a register search may be enough
A direct lookup can be useful when you need a published registered name, identifier, address, or a particular filing you can obtain yourself. Confirm that it is the official register and that the record matches the company. If you require a certified document, check the registry's document service and requirements; a general company report should not be assumed to substitute for it.
For a wider customer or supplier review, compare the information you already have with the sample report format. Our report-reading walkthrough explains dates, currency, scores, and missing fields so you can assess what further information would be useful.