What is a Company Registration Number and How Do I Apply for One?

Are you a business owner? You may have been asked to supply a “CN”, also referred to as a CRN or company registration number, as part of an invoice or similar document. A CN is a unique identifier created by Companies House when you incorporate your business as a company. This article will explain which businesses will have CRNs, when to use one and where you can find them. 

Does My Business Have a CRN?

If you trade through a company, then Companies House, which is the public body that regulates companies and other incorporated businesses, will have issued your business a CRN at the point you incorporated your business. 

If you have not incorporated your business as a company, you will not have a CRN. Only companies will have CRNs, including:

• companies limited by shares; 
• companies limited by guarantee; and 
• unlimited companies. 

However, suppose you trade through another form of an incorporated business structure, such as an LLP. In that case, your business will have been issued a similar registration number, called a “limited liability partnership registration number.”

How Do I Apply for a CN?

You will receive a CN when your company is registered and incorporated by Companies House. The CN will appear on your certificate of incorporation. You can likewise find your CN by searching for your company in the Companies House database. 

What Is the Purpose of a CN?

CNs are unique numbers that identify your company, and no company will have the same CN. 

CNs are valuable tools for other parties like trade suppliers, lenders, and potential investors to use to research the specifics of your company. For example, if you have a company registration number, you can immediately search for it in Companies House’s database of all companies registered and incorporated in the UK. 

Having a CN can be helpful if you are trying to identify a single company among a group of companies that share a similar name. For instance, Big Bus Tours Group, an England-based company famous for its open-roof bus tours, has around a dozen different companies registered in the UK with names such as Big Bus Tours Group Limited, Big Bus Tours Limited and Big Bus Tours Group Holdings Limited among others.

Identifying a particular company within this group could be challenging based on the names alone. However, you might want to do this when doing something like sending an invoice.

When Should I Include My CN?

As you can see from above, CNs are essential identifiers. Therefore, there are certain occasions when, by law, you must supply your CN when sending correspondence under your company’s name. These include:

• business letters; 
• order forms; and 
• your company’s website(s).

As a matter of best practice, you should include your CN under all official correspondence, along with certain other information, including:

• if your business is registered in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland; 
• its registered office; and
• the fact that it is a limited company (i.e., by listing the company’s full name as it appears on your certificate of incorporation, such as NewCo Limited, rather than just “NewCo”).

What if I Have Lost My CN?

Your CN will be on your company’s certificate of incorporation from the Registrar of Companies. 

If you cannot locate your certificate of incorporation, fear not: you can simply search through Companies House’s database to find your company. Then, click on the link, and the CN will be underneath your company name. 

Finally, you can redownload your company’s certificate of incorporation by scrolling to the bottom of the “Filings History” tab and locating the “Incorporation” filing. Next, click on the “View PDF” link to bring up the registration and incorporation documents. Your company’s certificate of incorporation will be the first page in the packet of documents.

Key Takeaways 

Your CN is your company’s unique identifier. Companies House issues it along with your certificate of incorporation upon successfully registering your company with Companies House. Furthermore, you should include your CN on all official documents and correspondence. It is also good to know the CNs of other companies you are doing business with in case you need to send them official documents, such as invoices. 

If you need help incorporating your business into a company, our experienced corporate lawyers can assist as part of our LegalVision membership. For a low monthly fee, you will have unlimited access to lawyers to answer your questions and draft and review your documents. Call us today at 0808 196 8584 or visit our membership page.

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