UK Company Status Explained (Companies House)
When searching UK companies on firmlist, the Company Status filter is one of the most important tools for refining results.
Company status tells you whether a business is trading, closed, or in some form of insolvency process. Understanding these statuses helps you:
- Avoid wasting time on inactive companies
- Target businesses at specific lifecycle stages
- Identify opportunities based on financial or operational changes
Try these example searches:
What is a company status?
A company status reflects the current legal position of a company on the Companies House register. Statuses change over time as companies:
- begin trading
- cease trading
- enter insolvency processes
- are formally dissolved
firmlist uses the official status values recorded by Companies House.
Common UK company statuses explained
Active
Meaning
The company is currently registered and not dissolved.
Important note
"Active" does not guarantee that the company is trading or profitable — only that it exists legally and has not been closed.
Why it matters for searches
- Most B2B sales lists start with Active companies
- Useful baseline filter before applying SIC, age, or location
Typical use cases
- General B2B prospecting
- Market size analysis
- Industry segmentation
Dissolved
Meaning
The company has been formally closed and removed from the register.
Why it matters
- Dissolved companies cannot trade
- They should usually be excluded from sales lists
When dissolved companies are useful
- Historical research
- Market exit analysis
- Investigating former directors or patterns
Liquidation
Meaning
The company is being wound up, and its assets are being sold to pay creditors.
Liquidation can be:
- voluntary
- compulsory (court ordered)
Why it matters
- Company is no longer trading in a normal sense
- Employees are usually made redundant
- Directors' behaviour may be scrutinised
Potential use cases
- Insolvency professionals
- Asset buyers
- Credit risk research
- Investigative or journalistic analysis
Administration
Meaning
The company has entered administration to try to rescue the business or achieve a better outcome for creditors.
Why it matters
- Company may still be operating
- Control is with an appointed administrator
- Outcome may be rescue, sale, or liquidation
Potential use cases
- M&A professionals
- Turnaround specialists
- Creditors monitoring counterparties
Voluntary Arrangement (CVA / IVA-equivalent for companies)
Meaning
A Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) is an agreement with creditors to repay debts over time.
Why it matters
- Business continues trading
- Indicates financial distress
- Management remains in control
Potential use cases
- Credit monitoring
- Supplier risk assessment
- Specialist advisors
Receivership
Meaning
A receiver is appointed to recover funds for a secured creditor.
Why it matters
- Focus is on asset recovery, not rescue
- Often precedes liquidation
Why filtering by company status matters
1. Avoid wasted effort
Including dissolved or insolvent companies in a sales list wastes time and money.
2. Target by business lifecycle
Different buyers care about different stages:
| Use case | Relevant statuses |
|---|---|
| Sales / marketing | Active |
| Credit risk | Active + CVA |
| Insolvency services | Administration, Liquidation |
| Research | All statuses |
3. Spot opportunity
Some sectors actively target:
- newly insolvent firms
- businesses under administration
- companies approaching dissolution
firmlist allows you to include or exclude these intentionally.
Combining company status with other filters
Company status becomes far more powerful when combined with:
- Company type (e.g. LTD vs LLP)
- SIC codes (industry)
- Incorporation date (age of business)
- Location (postcode, region)
Example:
Active LTD companies, incorporated in the last 12 months, in SIC 69203 (accountancy), London postcode prefixes.
Common mistakes to avoid
Assuming "Active" means "trading"
Always combine status with:
- recent filings
- incorporation date
- sector context
Ignoring insolvency statuses entirely
If your services relate to:
- restructuring
- legal advice
- asset recovery
- recruitment
then insolvency statuses may be highly valuable.
Related guides
- Company Types Explained
- SIC Codes Explained
- Company Numbers & prefixes
- Postcode & location filtering
- Company age & incorporation date
- Other indicators