Where to find them
Every UK company's filed accounts are free to view on the Companies House website. Search for the company, open the filing history and download the latest accounts.
Start with the balance sheet
The balance sheet is a snapshot on the year-end date. Read it in this order:
- Net assets. Capital and reserves tell you whether the company is worth more than it owes.
- Current assets versus creditors due within one year. If short-term debts exceed short-term assets, the company may struggle to pay bills.
- Cash at bank. A healthy cash balance gives flexibility.
- Director loans. Large amounts owed to or by directors deserve a closer look.
Get your accounts filed
We prepare your FRS 105 accounts and Company Tax Return and file both with Companies House and HMRC for one fixed fee.
File your accountsGet a quoteThe notes
Check the average number of employees, accounting policies and any commitments or guarantees. They show how the company operates.
What you will not see
Micro-entity accounts are short. The public copy may not include a profit and loss account, so turnover and profit may not be visible. That is changing under reforms signalled for April 2027. Read the changes.
Warning signs
- Net liabilities for several years running.
- Accounts filed late repeatedly. Check the filing history.
- Large amounts owed to directors with no clear repayment.
- Very small cash balances alongside large creditors.
Reading your own accounts
If you are a director, ask your accountant to walk you through the figures each year. See using accounts to run your business and the template guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see a company's profit from its micro-entity accounts?
Often not, because the profit and loss account can be omitted from the public copy today. Other sources, such as credit reports, may provide estimates.
Keep reading
Micro-Entity Accounts Template and Example (FRS 105)
Micro-entity accounts follow a fixed layout: a short balance sheet, optional profit and loss for the public record and a few notes. This guide shows each part so you know what to expect from your accountant or software.
Micro-entity accountsWhat Is FRS 105 and How Does It Affect Micro-Entities?
FRS 105 is the accounting standard UK micro-entities use to prepare simpler accounts. It limits what you must disclose and how you measure assets, which keeps accounts shorter and cheaper to produce.
Micro-entity accountsProfit and Loss Statement for a Micro-Entity Explained
A profit and loss statement shows income less costs over a year and ends with your profit or loss. Micro-entities need one for HMRC today, and for Companies House from the reforms signalled for April 2027.