What does company status mean?
A company's Company Status indicates the current lifecycle stage of the company. Understanding these statuses is crucial for assessing business relationships.
Common Company Statuses:
- Active:
- Company is live and can trade normally
- Should be filing accounts and confirmation statements
- The desired status for most business relationships
- Dissolved:
- Company no longer exists
- Has been removed from the register
- Cannot trade or enter contracts
- May have been voluntary or compulsory
- Liquidation:
- Company is being wound up
- Assets being sold to pay creditors
- Cannot enter new contracts
- Directors' powers usually ceased
- Administration:
- Company is under control of an administrator
- Attempting to rescue the business
- Protected from creditors temporarily
- May continue limited trading
- Receivership:
- Receiver appointed by secured creditor
- Specific assets being realized
- Company may continue trading
- Dormant:
- Company exists but not trading
- Has no significant transactions
- Still must file confirmation statements
- Can become active again
- Voluntary Arrangement:
- Agreement with creditors to pay debts
- Company continues trading
- Debts being restructured
Less Common Statuses:
- Converted/Closed: Changed to different entity type
- In Administration/Administrative Receiver: Formal insolvency
- Live but Receiver Manager on at least one charge: Partial receivership
- Voluntary Arrangement/Administrative Receiver: Combined procedures
- Voluntary Arrangement/In Administration: Combined procedures
- Registered: Recently incorporated, may show before 'Active'
What This Means for You:
- Active: Safe to trade with (but check filing history)
- Dissolved/Liquidation: Do not trade - high risk
- Administration/Receivership: Proceed with extreme caution
- Dormant: Verify before trading
Always check the date of the status change and recent filing history for the complete picture.
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