How to Build a B2B Prospect List Using UK Companies House Data

Why Companies House Is the Best Free Lead Source Nobody Talks About

Every month, between 60,000 and 80,000 new companies register in the UK. Each registration includes the company name, registered address, SIC code (the industry classification), and the date of incorporation. This is public information — legally mandated disclosure — and it is freely available via the Companies House API.

Most sales teams buy lists from data brokers who charge thousands of pounds for contacts that are often months or years out of date. Companies House data is the opposite: it is fresh, authoritative, and free at the source.

What the Data Contains

A typical Companies House record for a new company includes: company_name, company_number, date_of_creation, company_status, sic_codes, registered_office_address, and company_type.

The Prospecting Strategy That Actually Works

New company registrations are one of the most reliable buying signals in B2B sales. A business that registered 30–90 days ago is actively making purchasing decisions. They need accounting software, HR systems, insurance, a website, office furniture, legal advice, banking — everything.

The window is short. Contact them too early (first two weeks) and the founder is still doing admin. Contact them too late (after six months) and they have already chosen their suppliers. The 30–90 day window is the sweet spot.

Filtering by SIC Code

SIC codes let you filter new registrations to your exact target market. If you sell to tech companies, filter for SIC codes 62010–62090. If you sell to restaurants, filter for 56101–56290. If you target professional services, filter for 69000–75000.