- Your company registration number (CRN) is a unique identifier issued by Companies House and never changes
- The fastest way to find your CRN is by searching the Companies House public register
- Your CRN appears on incorporation documents, official correspondence, and company records
To find your company registration number, check the Companies House public register or your certificate of incorporation. Those are the two fastest and most reliable places to look.
If you already run a limited company or LLP, your company registration number, often shortened to CRN, is a permanent identifier issued when the business is incorporated. You’ll usually need it for banking, filings, tax admin, and formal company paperwork. For ongoing help with those obligations, many businesses use structured accounting services to keep core company records accessible and accurate.
If you’ve lost the paperwork, don’t worry. In most cases, you can retrieve the number in minutes using public records or documents you already have.
Where to find your company registration number
If your only goal is to retrieve the number quickly, start here.
The two fastest places to check
- Companies House public register: Search your company name and open the correct listing. Your CRN appears on the company overview.
- Certificate of incorporation: This is the original document issued when your company was formed. It shows the company number clearly near the top.
Other places your CRN may appear
- Companies House filing reminders
- HMRC correspondence linked to the company
- Business bank account opening documents
- Invoice templates and formal stationery
- Accountant records
- Internal compliance files
- Website footer or legal notice pages
If you need a second document to verify the number after checking Companies House, your certificate of incorporation is usually the best place to confirm it.
How to find your company registration number step by step
For most readers, the process is simple.
Search Companies House first
The public register is the quickest fallback if you do not have documents to hand.
- Go to the Companies House company search service
- Enter your company name exactly as registered
- Open the correct company result
- Check the company overview page
- Note the CRN shown against the business record
This method works even if you are away from the office or have lost your company paperwork.
Check your incorporation documents
If you formed the company yourself or through an agent, your CRN should also appear in the original incorporation pack.
Look for:
- Certificate of incorporation
- Formation confirmation email
- PDF copies of company documents
- Client portal records from your formation provider
If you need a refresher on the wider setup process, this guide on company registration gives the broader context around incorporation documents and what they are used for.
Review admin and finance records
If the business is already trading, the CRN often appears across records you use routinely.
Check:
- Business bank onboarding emails
- Confirmation statement records
- Annual accounts
- Company invoices
- Accountant engagement documents
- Legal contracts and order forms
That’s why many directors find the number faster through their working records than by searching archived emails.
What is a company registration number?
A company registration number is the unique number assigned to a company or LLP when it is incorporated with Companies House.
It identifies the legal entity itself, not the director, shareholder, or tax account linked to it. Once it is issued, it stays with the business for its full life.
So, even if you change the company name, move the registered office, appoint new directors, or stop trading, the CRN does not change.
For a broader explanation of how this identifier works in practice, see understanding your company number.
What a company registration number looks like
A CRN usually contains eight characters, but the format depends on where the company is registered and what type of entity it is.
Common formats
- England and Wales limited companies: 8 digits
Example: 12345678 - Scottish companies: SC followed by 6 digits
Example: SC123456 - Northern Irish companies: NI followed by 6 digits
Example: NI123456
Some LLPs and other incorporated structures may use different prefixes. However, the number always functions as the official Companies House identifier for that entity.
CRN vs UTR: what is the difference?
This is one of the most common points of confusion.
A CRN is issued by Companies House and identifies your company on the public register. A UTR is issued by HMRC and is used for tax administration.
Reference | Issued by | Used for |
Company registration number (CRN) | Companies House | Identifying the legal company |
Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) | HMRC | Tax reporting and Corporation Tax administration |
You cannot use them interchangeably. If you are dealing with Companies House, banks, lenders, or legal paperwork, you will usually need the CRN.
If you are handling tax setup or filings, you may also need your UTR, especially when you register for Corporation Tax.
When you need your company registration number
You may not use your CRN every day. However, it comes up regularly once the business is active.
Common situations where a CRN is needed
- Opening a business bank account
- Completing finance or credit checks
- Filing annual accounts
- Filing a confirmation statement
- Completing supplier onboarding
- Working with accountants or solicitors
- Issuing invoices and formal company documents
- Verifying the company during compliance checks
It is also commonly requested when you open a company bank account. So if that step is next, this guide on how to set up your first business bank account is the natural follow-on.
What to do if you have lost your company registration number
If you cannot find the number in your records, the answer is usually straightforward.
Start with the Companies House public register. That is the fastest recovery route for most companies.
If that does not solve it, try these in order:
- Check your certificate of incorporation
- Search old incorporation emails
- Review accountant or adviser records
- Search saved company PDFs
- Check banking setup documents
- Look at formal invoices or letterheads
If the company is live on the register, the number is normally recoverable without much difficulty.
Do all businesses have a company registration number?
No. Only businesses incorporated with Companies House receive a CRN.
Businesses that usually have a CRN
- Private limited companies
- Public limited companies
- Limited liability partnerships
- Other incorporated entities on the public register
Businesses that do not usually have a CRN
- Sole traders
- Ordinary non-incorporated partnerships
That distinction matters because some people search for a CRN when what they actually need is a tax reference or self-employment record.
Save your CRN in at least two easy-to-access places, such as your secure password manager and your finance admin file. That way, routine filings and onboarding checks take minutes instead of becoming a document search.
Why your company registration number matters
Your CRN is more than an admin detail. It is one of the core identifiers used to tie together your legal entity, statutory record, and business paperwork.
It helps third parties:
- confirm the company exists
- match the company to the right public record
- check incorporation details
- verify registered office and filing history
- reduce confusion where similar company names exist
It also becomes more useful over time, especially when your business grows and deals with more banks, suppliers, accountants, and compliance checks.
Related company details people often confuse with a CRN
The CRN is only one of several identifiers attached to a company. That is why confusion is so common.
The references most often mixed up are:
- Company registration number
- UTR
- VAT number
- PAYE reference
- Registered office address
If you are checking company records more broadly, your registered office address is another key detail to keep accurate because it is tied closely to Companies House records and statutory correspondence.
How Sleek helps post-incorporation businesses stay organised
Sleek supports companies after incorporation with a compliance-first approach that keeps core business details easy to access and easier to manage.
That matters because finding your CRN is rarely the real problem on its own. More often, it sits inside a wider admin issue: missing records, unclear deadlines, disorganised filings, or confusion between Companies House and HMRC references.
With Sleek, businesses can combine accounting services with structured support across company admin, tax, and compliance. That makes it easier to keep identifiers, filings, and supporting records together instead of searching for them each time you need them.
Disclaimer: The preceding information is not legal advice. This content is aimed to provide general guidance. For more formal or legal advice, contact Sleek directly.
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FAQs on how to find company registration number
Is a CRN the same as a company number?
Yes. In the UK, CRN and company number usually mean the same thing. CRN stands for Company Registration Number, which is the identifier issued when a company is incorporated. Some documents use “company number” while others use “CRN”, but both normally refer to the same Companies House reference.
Where is the CRN located on official documents?
Your CRN is usually shown on formal company documents issued during and after incorporation. It often appears near the top of the certificate of incorporation, and it may also be shown on confirmation statement paperwork, annual accounts, and official correspondence. The exact placement varies, so it is worth checking headings, company details panels, and footer sections.
Is the CRN public information in the UK?
Yes. A company’s CRN is public information because it forms part of the Companies House public record. That means other businesses, advisers, lenders, and customers can usually view it when checking company details online. This is normal and supports transparency, due diligence, and basic verification of UK incorporated businesses.
What’s the difference between a CRN and a VAT number?
A CRN identifies the company on the Companies House register. A VAT number, by contrast, is used for VAT administration and is linked to HMRC registration for Value Added Tax. Not every company has a VAT number, because VAT registration depends on turnover or voluntary registration, but every incorporated company will have a CRN.
How to check a UK company’s registration details online
The simplest way is to use the official Companies House search tool. Once you find the correct company, you can review key public details such as the registered name, company number, incorporation date, registered office, and filing history. This is useful when checking your own records or confirming details for another UK business.
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Can I find a CRN using a company address?
Sometimes, yes. A company address can help you narrow down the correct business when multiple companies have similar names. However, searching by the company name is usually the more direct route. Address details are more useful as a secondary check when you need to confirm that you are looking at the right legal entity.
How to verify a UK company using its CRN
A CRN is one of the cleanest ways to verify a company because it points to a specific legal entity rather than relying on the business name alone. You can use it to check whether the company record matches the registered office, incorporation date, and filing history shown at Companies House. This is especially useful during onboarding, due diligence, and supplier checks.
