Company registration is not the same as a financial licence
Understand the difference between incorporation records and permissions to provide regulated financial services.
This is general consumer education, not legal or financial advice. Rules and register entries can change; check the current official record for the relevant service and jurisdiction.
What company registration can establish
A corporate register may show that an entity was formed, its legal name, filing history, or current company status. Those facts can help identify the entity, but they are not a financial-services permission.
What a financial-services register can establish
A regulator's register may show whether a firm or person is authorised for specified activities, subject to restrictions and conditions. The scope and meaning of each entry depends on the jurisdiction.
Check both records when relevant
Use the company record to match the legal entity and the financial regulator's record to check regulated permissions. If a firm cites only an incorporation number, ask for the regulator and permission covering the service.
Official sources
- UK Companies House searchUK company registry
- FCA RegisterUK financial regulator
- ASIC register searchAustralian regulator
These links are starting points for checking current records. Their inclusion is not an endorsement and does not verify a particular company or offer.
Frequently asked questions
Does a registered company automatically have a financial licence?
No. Incorporation and financial authorisation are separate processes.
Can a regulator register exist without a company number?
Some individuals, partnerships, or other entities may be recorded differently. Follow the regulator's own record and identify the legal party to the contract.