How to check if a company really exists

You have received a quote for €18,000, €45,000 or €120,000.

The document has a logo, a phone number, an email address, and maybe even a VAT number. The company has a website and a Facebook page with photos of its projects.

So it must exist, right? Wrong.

A website can be created in a few hours. A logo proves nothing. An address can be a simple mailbox. A VAT number can be copied from another company.

Before paying a deposit of €5,000, €10,000 or €30,000, a basic check is essential: DOES THE COMPANY ASKING YOU FOR MONEY ACTUALLY EXIST?

Fortunately, by 2026, this check has become relatively simple in most European countries.

1. Google is not a business register

The first instinct for many consumers is: "I'll type the company's name into Google." This is useful, but not enough.

A company can appear in Google Maps, Instagram, Facebook or a business directory without clearly telling you its exact legal name, current status, official number, registered office, date of creation, directors, registered activities or whether it has ceased trading.

The first check should therefore be carried out using an official register.

2. In Europe, start with BRIS

The European Union has the Business Registers Interconnection System – BRIS, accessible via the European e-Justice portal.

As of 2026, it allows you to search for companies registered in the registers of European Union countries, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The information is retrieved from national registers.

Depending on the country and the data available, you can search for a company by its business or registration number and access information or documents concerning its legal representatives, articles of association, annual accounts or subscribed capital.

It's an excellent first filter.

3. But "company found" does not mean "reliable company"

A company listed as ACTIVE in a register legally exists according to the recorded information. This does not automatically prove that it is solvent, pays its debts, is insured for your project, has the necessary skills, has never abandoned a project or that your quote is correctly priced.

Legal existence and reliability are two different checks.

4. BELGIUM: The Crossroads Bank for Enterprises is your starting point

In Belgium, the check starts with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (BCE/KBO) of the FPS Economy.

The Public Search allows you to consult a lot of public information for free: business number, name, status, legal form, start date, registered office, economic activities, certain authorisations, legal situation, legal functions and certain official de-registrations.

Above all, compare the business number on the quote with the BCE: name, address, status, activity and published functions. Any discrepancy warrants an explanation before you pay.

5. Belgium: Also check the declared activity

If a company offers to completely redo a roof when its registered activities only relate to the furniture trade, this does not automatically prove fraud, but it clearly justifies asking a question.

Since 2025, the BCE has also been using the NACE-BEL 2025 classification for the activities concerned.

6. Check the VAT number with VIES

For a company in the European Union that is subject to VAT in the relevant context, VIES – VAT Information Exchange System – allows you to verify the validity of a VAT number issued by a member state.

Warning: VALID VAT ≠ RELIABLE COMPANY. VIES is an additional check, not a certificate of good conduct.

7. The trap of impersonating a real company

A fraudster can copy the name, business number, VAT number, address and even the logo of a real company, then give you a fake quote with their own bank account details.

You check the register: everything seems perfect. But you are about to pay someone who is using the identity of a real company.

That's why you should never stop at the business number.

8. Compare the contact details independently

If in doubt, don't just call the number on the suspicious quote.

Independently look up the company's contact details via the official register, its official website (found independently) or its legal documents, then ask for confirmation that the quote was indeed issued by them.

For a €20,000 deposit, that call can be extremely worthwhile.

9. The bank account also deserves a check

If the quote is issued by a company but the payment must be made to a director's personal account, another company's account or a foreign account without explanation, do not pay until you understand why.

The higher the deposit amount, the more important the consistency between the company, contract, invoice and payment beneficiary becomes.

10. FRANCE: Check the SIREN and SIRET

In France, look up the company or entrepreneur using official government data, particularly the Annuaire des Entreprises.

Check the SIREN, SIRET, name, address, company status and main activity. For limited companies, the Registre national des entreprises (RNE) is also a central reference.

11. GERMANY: Handelsregister and Unternehmensregister

In Germany, the relevant companies can be looked up via the Handelsregister and the Unternehmensregister.

The register allows you to search by company name or EUID. Since 1 January 2024, the German register of registered civil law partnerships (Gesellschaftsregister – GsR) has also been accessible for registered eGbRs.

For a sole trader, check the exact form under which the professional operates.

12. NETHERLANDS: KVK Handelsregister

In the Netherlands, the point of reference is the Kamer van Koophandel – KVK.

Dutch companies and organisations are listed in the Handelsregister. A more complete extract allows you to check the directors or authorised representatives, the date of creation and address information.

Before you sign, ask yourself if the person in front of you is actually authorised to bind the company.

13. SPAIN: Registro Mercantil

In Spain, use the Registro Mercantil, via the Registradores de España.

Compare the razón social or denominación social, the NIF, the domicilio social, the administradores and the available registration information.

A trading name is not necessarily the legal name: always identify the natural or legal person with whom you are actually contracting.

14. ITALY: Registro delle Imprese

In Italy, the point of reference is the Registro delle Imprese, maintained by the chamber of commerce system.

Ask for the denominazione, codice fiscale / partita IVA, sede legale, stato dell'impresa, attività and representatives. A visura camerale can provide more detailed information.

15. PORTUGAL: Certidão Permanente

In Portugal, the Certidão Permanente de Registo Comercial is particularly useful.

The official system provides up-to-date information on the entity's registrations and documents, and online access is available via a code.

For a major project, ask for the information needed to precisely identify the company and, where relevant, an up-to-date certificate.

16. LUXEMBOURG: RCS / Luxembourg Business Registers

In Luxembourg, look up the company in the Registre de Commerce et des Sociétés (RCS), managed by Luxembourg Business Registers.

Check the RCS number, name, legal form, registered office, available directors or agents, and accessible filed documents.

17. AUSTRIA: Firmenbuch

In Austria, the relevant companies are registered in the Firmenbuch.

For a GmbH, AG or other registered company, look for the Firmenbuchnummer, Firmenname, Sitz, Geschäftsführer and Vertretungsbefugnis.

The latter piece of information tells you who actually has the power to sign on behalf of the company.

18. Switzerland: ZEFIX

Switzerland is not a member of the European Union. The national reference is ZEFIX – Zentraler Firmenindex, the central business name index.

Check the exact company name, the IDE/UID number, the registered office, the legal form, the status and the persons authorised to represent the company.

19. UNITED KINGDOM: Companies House

Since Brexit, the United Kingdom must be treated separately from the European Union registers. The point of reference is Companies House.

The search allows you to consult the company number, registered office, company status, nature of business (SIC), accounts, confirmation statements and various public documents.

Warning: being listed in Companies House means the company is registered, not that it is certified as reliable.

20. IRELAND: Companies Registration Office – CRO

In Ireland, the point of reference is the Companies Registration Office (CRO), which allows you to check Irish companies and their registration information.

21. Denmark: CVR

In Denmark, look up the company in the Central Business Register – CVR, accessible via Virk.

Check the CVR number, company name, address, status, industry and responsible persons according to the available data.

22. SWEDEN: Bolagsverket

In Sweden, the point of reference is Bolagsverket. As a minimum, check the organisationsnummer, legal name, address, legal form and representatives.

23. Finland: YTJ

In Finland, the Business Information System – YTJ allows you to perform basic checks. Look for the Business ID (Y-tunnus) and verify that the entity on the quote is the one found in the registers.

24. POLAND: KRS or CEIDG

In Poland, the register depends on the company's legal form. For many companies: KRS – Krajowy Rejestr Sądowy. For many sole traders: CEIDG.

A negative search in only one register does not necessarily mean that the professional does not exist.

25. CZECH REPUBLIC: Veřejný rejstřík

In the Czech Republic, look up companies in the public/commercial register accessible via the Ministry of Justice's system. Check the IČO, name, registered office and representatives.

26. Greece: GEMI / G.E.MI.

In Greece, the point of reference is the General Commercial Registry – GEMI (G.E.MI.). Ask for the company's GEMI number and compare it with the official information.

27. Romania: ONRC

In Romania, use the Oficiul Național al Registrului Comerțului – ONRC.

For a Romanian contractor working in another European country, check the entity in its home register and, where relevant, its VAT number in VIES.

28. Other European Union countries

Bulgaria: Commercial Register / Registry Agency. Croatia: Court Register / Sudski registar. Cyprus: Registrar of Companies. Estonia: e-Business Register. Hungary: Company Information Service. Latvia: Register of Enterprises. Lithuania: Register of Legal Entities. Malta: Malta Business Registry. Slovakia: Obchodný register. Slovenia: AJPES / Slovenian Business Register.

The commercial registers of the 27 EU member states are interconnected via BRIS, which allows you to start a search from the European e-Justice portal.

29. Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein

These three countries are not members of the European Union, but they participate in the European business search service via BRIS.

In Norway, the national reference is the Brønnøysund Register Centre, which allows you to search for an organisation by name or number and view various official information.

30. Your company exists. Now, check if it is still active

A company may have existed for fifteen years and then ceased trading, been dissolved, struck off, placed in liquidation or be subject to insolvency proceedings.

So don't just look for "COMPANY FOUND". Look for: "COMPANY FOUND + CURRENT STATUS".

The European e-Justice portal also provides access to information from national insolvency registers and an interconnected search for participating countries.

31. A company created three weeks ago is not necessarily suspicious

A very new company is not necessarily suspicious, but it doesn't have the same verifiable history as an older one.

Adapt your checks: real experience of the directors, any previous company, verifiable references, insurance, deposit conditions and ability to carry out the project.

32. Beware of companies with names that are almost right

Fraudsters sometimes use names that are similar to existing companies. The best protection is to compare the official number, not just the name or logo.

33. Check the address

A registered office address in a business centre is not automatically suspicious. But if the sales pitch describes a large warehouse, many workers and major equipment, check where the teams, vehicles and warehouse are actually located.

The register gives you one piece of information; check if the sales pitch is consistent with it.

34. Check who can bind the company

You might be negotiating with a director, a manager, an employee, a self-employed sales agent, a subcontractor or an intermediary.

Several European registers provide information on representatives or authorised persons. Check that the person you are talking to can actually bind the company.

35. The ECV method in 60 seconds

STEP 1 — Exact legal name

STEP 2 — Business number / SIREN / KVK / Handelsregister / Company Number / national identifier

STEP 3 — Active status

STEP 4 — Official address

STEP 5 — Activity consistent with the work

STEP 6 — Director or representative

STEP 7 — VAT checked where relevant

STEP 8 — Insurance corresponding to the project

STEP 9 — Consistent bank account and beneficiary

STEP 10 — Insolvency check where relevant

If three or four items don't match: DO NOT PAY THE DEPOSIT UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND WHY.

36. Google searches used by consumers

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Behind all these searches lies a single question: "WHO AM I ACTUALLY GIVING MY MONEY TO?"

37. ECV: The company's existence is just the beginning

Finding a company in an official register is an excellent first step, but it's not enough.

You need to connect the dots: COMPANY IDENTITY + STATUS + ACTIVITY + INSURANCE + QUOTE + PRICE + TECHNICAL CONSISTENCY + RISKS.

A company can perfectly well exist and still provide a bad quote. Conversely, a new tradesperson can be perfectly reliable.

The goal is to gather enough consistent information to make a reasonable decision.

Conclusion: Before checking the price, check who is asking for it

A €60,000 quote can look perfectly professional: impeccable logo, beautiful photos, a modern website and positive reviews.

But before you ask yourself, "Is €60,000 a good price?", start with: "WHO IS ASKING ME FOR THIS €60,000?"

Check the official register, the number, the status, the address, the activity, the person you are dealing with, the VAT number where applicable and, above all, that all this information tells the same story.

It's often when they start to contradict each other that problems arise.

Official European and national sources

• European Union — European e-Justice Portal / BRIS: search for companies in the interconnected registers.
• European Commission — VIES: verification of European VAT numbers.
• Belgium — FPS Economy / BCE Public Search.
• France — Annuaire des Entreprises / Registre national des entreprises.
• Germany — Handelsregister / Unternehmensregister.
• Netherlands — Kamer van Koophandel (KVK).
• Spain — Registro Mercantil / Registradores de España.
• Italy — Registro delle Imprese.
• Portugal — Certidão Permanente de Registo Comercial.
• Luxembourg — Registre de Commerce et des Sociétés / Luxembourg Business Registers.
• Austria — Firmenbuch.
• Switzerland — ZEFIX.
• United Kingdom — Companies House.
• Ireland — Companies Registration Office (CRO).
• Norway — Brønnøysund Register Centre.
• European Union — e-Justice Portal: insolvency registers.