A Certificate of Good Standing assures that the company concerned has been in permanent and continuous existence since the date of its incorporation and also authenticates the company name, company number and date of incorporation. The certificate also makes it clear that the Registrar of Companies is currently not taking any action to strike the company of the registrar and dissolve it as defunct. To the best of the Registrar’s knowledge, the company is not in liquidation or subject to an administration order and no manger or receiver of the company’s property has been appointed.

A Certificate of Good Standing is usually issued by the Registrar of Companies stating that your company is professional and organised with a good standing certificate which have filed all the necessary documents and forms in order to meet statutory disclosure requirements. If a company is late in filing its annual return, or has failed to update information about the company's constitution, ownership, or control it will not qualify for a good standing certificate until these issues are rectified.

The Need for a Certificate

Whilst most companies generally do not require a certificate of good standing, those whose directors are largely based overseas and who wish to carry out business activities in those countries are frequently requested to produce one.

For example, where non UK resident directors wish to open a foreign branch of the company in their respective country, the official registration body which governs that jurisdiction (the Companies House equivalent) will want to ensure that the business entity in not in breach of any of the UK laws or regulations.

UK banks, financial companies or other interested parties sometimes ask for good standing certificates as an indication that the company's records with Companies House are accurate and up-to-date, and that the company has not been late in filing its annual returns.

It primary purposes here would be to demonstrate that the company is active, complying with regulatory matters and controlled by the stated directors and at the registered office address given. Having a certificate of good standing is a great way to show that your company is in good order. They also encourage a sense of confidence in your company, so customers or other interested parties feel reassured when doing business with you.

A Certificate will normally state that:

• The certificate shows the company's name and incorporation number
• No action is currently being taken by the Registrar of Companies for striking the company off the register and dissolving it as defunct, and as far as the Registrar is aware:
• The company is not in liquidation or subject to an administration order, and
• No receiver or manager of the company's property has been appointed. It may also include details of the Directors, Company Secretary and the Registered Office address.

Once Companies House has issued the certificate of good standing it is a valid for a period of three months from the date shown of the document.
We can offer an express service which will takes 2-3 working days or a normal service that takes 10-12 working days. Please click here if you wish to order a Certificate of Good Standing.