How to read a Companies House filing to assess a sales prospect
By Anna Fontanes | March 2026 | 8 min read
Most sellers have never looked at a Companies House filing. They know it exists. They might assume it contains "accounting stuff" that doesn't matter to them.
That's a missed opportunity. A Companies House filing tells you everything you need to know about a company's trajectory, financial health, and likelihood of being in buying mode.
You just need to know what to look for.
What's actually in a Companies House filing
A UK company files accounts once a year with Companies House. These accounts are public record. The filing includes: company details, turnover, gross profit, operating profit, net profit or loss, cash position, assets and liabilities, and director appointments and resignations.
Most of this is formatted in tables, which makes it scannable rather than requiring you to read financial statements like an accountant.
What each metric means for sales purposes
Revenue (turnover): The most reliable measure of company size because it's filed with Companies House - it's official.
Growth rate: Look at revenue from this year vs. last year. If they grew 40% year-over-year, that's a company in expansion mode.
Gross profit vs. net profit: A company with £10M revenue but £200K net profit (2%) is managing thin margins. If net profit is £3M (30%), they're in healthier territory and have more budget available.
Cash position: A company with growing revenue but declining cash reserves is burning money. Combined with revenue growth, that usually signals growth investment.
Director appointments: This is pure signal. A company that appointed a new Finance Director three months ago is signalling financial formalisation.
How to read a filing without an accounting background
You're looking for three things:
1. Is the company growing? Compare revenue year-over-year. Faster than 20% growth = high growth. 5-20% = steady growth.
2. Is the company financially healthy? Look at net profit margin (net profit / revenue). Above 10% = healthy. Below 5% = tight margins.
3. Has there been a recent change in leadership? Look at the director appointments section.
That's it. Three questions, five minutes, tells you everything.
Practical example
Example Ltd filing shows:
- Revenue this year: £12M (up from £8.5M last year) = 41% growth
- Net profit: £2.4M (20% margin) = healthy
- Cash position: £3M
- Recent appointment: Finance Director appointed six months ago
This reads as: high-growth company in good financial health, bringing in financial expertise. That's a company that's probably scaling, raising capital, or preparing for acquisition. They have budget.
Compare that to a company with declining revenue, negative profit, and a new CEO brought in to turn things around. Low priority.
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FAQ
Are Companies House filings always accurate and current?
Filing deadlines vary, but most companies file within 9 months of their financial year-end. The data is accurate (it's legally binding), but it can be 6-9 months old.
What if a private company doesn't file accounts?
UK private companies with turnover under £6.5M can file abbreviated accounts. You might not get full financials, but you'll still get director information.
How far back should I look in filings?
At least two years, ideally three. You want to see trends, not snapshots.
Author Bio
Anna Fontanes is a revenue operations consultant who has built account scoring and ICP frameworks for UK B2B sales teams across SaaS and professional services.