Situation
Verify a business partner
You're about to sign a contract, make an investment, or send a payment to a counterparty you mostly know through email, video calls and a website — and you want to know that the company and the people behind it are what they claim to be.
Where you probably are
What you're feeling, and what you actually need to know
The opportunity or partnership looks legitimate, and you don't want to insult anyone by asking pointed questions — but you also know that a polished website and a confident email signature are not proof of anything. Cross-border and remote-first business relationships remove many of the informal checks people normally rely on.
What matters is not whether you feel suspicious, but whether the entity you're dealing with, and the people signing on its behalf, hold up against independent, publicly available information — and whether the level of checking matches what you're actually about to commit.
Match the check to the deal
Proportionate checks by deal size
Not every payment or contract needs the same depth of review. What's appropriate should scale with the money and commitment involved.
- STEP 01
Modest one-off payment
Confirm the entity is genuinely registered, active, and matches the name and details you were given. A focused company verification usually covers this.
- STEP 02
Ongoing supplier or service contract
Add checks on the signatory's identity and authority, the entity's operating history, and any public reputational signals before committing to a recurring arrangement.
- STEP 03
Equity investment or significant capital commitment
Full business due diligence: ownership structure, principals' backgrounds, financial signals, litigation or regulatory history, and reputational research across public sources.
- STEP 04
Cross-border deal with unfamiliar counterparties
Treat unfamiliarity with the jurisdiction as a reason to go deeper, not skip checks — public information landscapes and business norms vary significantly by country.
What checking can do
What public-source research can and cannot establish
Can help establish
- Whether an entity is genuinely registered and appears active
- Whether the people presented as owners or signatories have a public trace matching their claims
- Whether the registered address, website and claimed history are internally consistent
- Publicly reported disputes, adverse media, or regulatory actions connected to the entity or its principals
- Whether the same individuals appear behind other entities or ventures
Cannot establish
- Future performance, solvency, or intent to honour a contract
- Access to private financial records, bank statements, or internal accounts
- A legal opinion on the enforceability of any agreement
- Certainty where a jurisdiction's public records are limited or unavailable
Ask for these
Documents to request from the counterparty
- Certificate of incorporation or equivalent registration document
- Proof of identity for the individual signing on the company's behalf
- Evidence of that individual's authority to bind the company
- Banking details that match the registered entity, not a third party
- Any licence or accreditation relevant to their claimed line of business
- Recent proof of address or operating location, where relevant
The right service
Which service fits your situation
Choose the depth of review that matches what you're about to sign, invest, or pay.
For a single payment or a straightforward check that an entity is genuine, Company Verification is the proportionate starting point. Where you're considering a significant contract, an equity stake, or an ongoing commitment, Business Due Diligence covers the entity, its principals and reputational history in far more depth. If you're not yet sure which applies, a case assessment will confirm the right scope before anything is charged.
Deliverable
What a report will contain
- Confirmation of the entity's registration status and key corporate details
- Findings on the identity and background of the individuals involved
- Any adverse media, disputes or regulatory history identified
- The sources each finding rests on, and an overall confidence assessment
- A plain-language summary of gaps where public information was limited
Frequently asked questions
We've only ever spoken by video call and email. Is that a red flag?
Not on its own — plenty of legitimate business is conducted this way, especially across borders. It does mean the usual informal checks people rely on, like a shared office or mutual contacts, aren't available, which makes independent verification more useful rather than less.
How much checking is proportionate for a small deal?
For modest, low-risk payments, a focused company verification confirming the entity exists, is active, and matches what you've been told is usually enough. Depth should scale with the money and commitment involved, not be the same for every deal.
Can you confirm the business will actually deliver or perform?
No. Verification and due diligence establish who and what you're dealing with — legal existence, ownership, history and public reputation. They cannot predict future performance or guarantee that a contract will be honoured.
What documents should I ask the counterparty for?
Typically: registration or incorporation documents, proof of the signatory's identity and authority, banking details matching the registered entity, and any licences relevant to their claimed activity. What's requested is then checked against public sources rather than taken at face value.
We're about to invest a significant amount. Is a basic check enough?
Generally not. Significant capital, equity stakes, or long-term contractual commitments usually warrant full business due diligence covering the entity, its principals, financial signals and reputational history, not just an existence check.
Continue reading
- Verify before you payA check before any money changes hands.
- Guide: business due diligence checklistWhat proportionate diligence looks like.
- Guide: how to verify a company before paymentPractical steps before you send funds.
- Company VerificationA focused existence and consistency check.
- Business Due DiligenceIn-depth review for larger commitments.
- Sample reportSee how findings are presented.
Know who you're dealing with before you sign
Describe the deal and what you already know. You'll receive an honest scope and price before any work begins.