Documentation

Everything you need to know about using Company Shark.

1. Create an Account

Visit the registration page and enter your username, email address, and a secure password. All accounts require administrator approval before you can log in.

2. Wait for Approval

After registering, you'll receive a confirmation email. An administrator will review your registration and approve your account. You'll receive another email once your account has been approved.

3. Log In

Once approved, log in with your username (or email) and password. You can tick "Remember me" to stay logged in across browser sessions.

4. Start Searching

From your dashboard, use the search tools to find UK companies by location, SIC code, incorporation date, and more.

Location Search

Search for companies by their registered address location. Enter a city, town, county, or postcode area to find companies registered in that area.

SIC Code Filtering

Filter results by Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes to find companies in specific industries. You can select multiple SIC codes to broaden your search. Common examples include construction, retail, technology, and professional services.

Date Range Filtering

Narrow results to companies incorporated within a specific date range. This is useful for finding newly formed businesses or companies established during a particular period.

Company Status

Filter by company status such as "Active", "Dissolved", or "In Administration" to focus on the companies most relevant to your needs.

Company Status

Active means the company is currently registered and operating. Dissolved means it has been removed from the register. Other statuses include liquidation, administration, and voluntary arrangement.

SIC Codes

SIC codes classify a company's primary business activity. A company may have multiple SIC codes if it operates across several industries. Codes are displayed alongside their descriptions.

Incorporation Date

The date the company was officially registered with Companies House. This indicates the company's age and establishment.

Officer Data

Available on Pro and Business tiers, officer data shows the company's directors and secretaries, including their names, roles, and appointment dates. This is useful for identifying key decision-makers.

Registered Address

The official registered address of the company as recorded with Companies House. Note that this may differ from the company's trading address.

Export Formats

Depending on your subscription tier, you can export search results in the following formats:

  • CSV (Pro & Business) — Comma-separated values, compatible with Excel, Google Sheets, and most data tools.
  • Excel (Business only) — Native .xlsx format with formatted headers.
  • JSON (Business only) — Structured data format, ideal for developers and integrations.
  • PDF (Business only) — Formatted report suitable for printing and sharing.
Export Limits

Each tier has a monthly export limit. Pro users receive 1,000 exports per month, while Business users receive 10,000. Your current usage is displayed on the dashboard and in your account settings.

How to Export

After performing a search, use the export buttons above the results table to download data in your preferred format. Only the current search results will be exported.

Free Plan

The Free plan is ideal for occasional use. You get 3 searches per month with access to basic company data. No exports are available, and search history is retained for 7 days.

Pro Plan — £9/month

The Pro plan is designed for professionals who need regular access to company data. It includes 100 searches per month, CSV exports (up to 1,000/month), officer data access, and 30-day search history.

Business Plan — £15/month

The Business plan is built for teams and power users. It includes 5,000 searches per month, all export formats (up to 10,000/month), full officer data, unlimited search history, and SIC code search filtering.

Visit the Pricing page for a full feature comparison and to subscribe.

Account Settings

Access your account settings from the user menu in the top navigation bar. Here you can update your email address, change your password, and view your account details.

Usage Statistics

View your current month's search and export usage from the Usage page. This shows how many searches and exports you've used against your tier limits, along with historical usage data.

Changing Your Subscription

Upgrade or downgrade your subscription from the Pricing page. Upgrades take effect immediately. Downgrades take effect at the end of your current billing period.

Cancelling Your Subscription

You can cancel your paid subscription at any time from your account settings. Your access will continue until the end of the current billing period, after which your account will revert to the Free tier. No refunds are provided for unused time.

Where does the data come from?

All company data is sourced from the official Companies House public register via the Companies House API. This is the same data available on the Companies House website, presented in a more searchable and exportable format.

How often is the data updated?

Data is fetched in real-time from the Companies House API when you perform a search, so results reflect the most current information available from Companies House.

Are there API rate limits?

The Companies House API has its own rate limits which we manage transparently. Your subscription tier's search limits are set comfortably within these boundaries. If you experience any issues, please contact support.

Can I use the data for marketing?

The company data from Companies House is publicly available information. However, you should comply with all applicable data protection laws (including GDPR) when using the data for marketing purposes, particularly regarding any personal data such as officer names.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept all major credit and debit cards through Stripe, including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.

How do I get support?

For any questions or issues, contact us at [email protected]. We aim to respond within one working day.