Business Registration Number Lookup | Find and Verify Business Information

AML Compliance officers, legal practitioners, and businesses face the increasing challenge of doing business due diligence to know their business partners and related entities.

However, with businesses operating across borders, conducting BRN verification has become crucial to confirm the legal existence and maintain compliance with local and international regulations.

Therefore, a fundamental part of business due diligence is verifying the business entities and their related companies. Validating through the Business Registration Number is one of the ways to know that a company is legally registered.

Moreover, BRN verification helps in exposing shell companies and fronts that might be set up for fraud or money laundering. Let’s explore what BRNs are. Why they matter and how verifying them can ensure compliance with AML laws through proper due diligence.

What is a Business Registration Number?

Business Registration Number (BRN) is a unique identifier used for filing taxes, opening accounts, or working with other businesses.

Additionally, verifying business registration status at the time of partnership is crucial; however, more important is to conduct continuous monitoring on the business registration status. It ensures that the license and registration are not expired or suspended.

Why Verifying Business Registration Is Essential?

Failing to verify a business’s registration properly can expose the company to significant legal, financial, and reputational risks. Entities could unknowingly engage with a business that lacks the authority to operate, is not compliant with tax obligations, or is operating in violation of industry regulations.

These are the mistakes that can lead to penalties, lawsuits, or even damage the company’s credibility in the market.

Behind the Curtains: How a Fake Company Fooled Dior

In December 2024, Reuters discovered a significant issue in Dior’s Italian supply chain. A company called AZ Operations, which worked with Dior, appeared to be in order during inspections in 2023. However, later, police in Milan discovered that AZ Operations was not a real company at all. It was just a cover for another group that was using undocumented workers in unsafe working conditions.

The inspections missed this because they were only conducted at times when AZ Operations was aware, and the inspectors were not allowed to review important documents.

As the investigation got deeper, they discovered that AZ Operations wasn’t even properly registered as a business in Italy, despite appearing to be in order on paper and in audit reports.

Before establishing a formal partnership with another company, it’s crucial to confirm that the business is properly registered and authorized to operate.

Business Registration Verification in the United States

In the U.S., however, the concept of being “registered” can involve several different factors, making verification more complex than it appears at first glance.

Business entities are required to verify whether their company is registered to operate within the United States legally and is authorized to conduct business and pay taxes in specific states.

Additionally, if the business operates in a regulated industry, entities are required to ensure they hold the appropriate licenses or permits required by law.

What are the Various Types of Business Registration Numbers?

How to Look Up a Company Registration Number?

Knowing the BRN is vital; however, more important is how to find and verify it. A valid BRN confirms that the government authorities recognize the company and that the business has the proper licenses to operate in the state.

For business registration number search, entities can access multiple public registries, government databases, and official websites.

Moreover, the business registration number lookup process involves checking multiple sources depending on the type of business and its location.  Here’s how entities can easily get the BRN:

Government Databases

Entities can visit the official websites of state Secretary of State offices, where most businesses are required to register. These websites often allow entities to search for registered businesses using the company name or other details.

Business Verification Platform

Platforms like The KYB provide fast, reliable access to verified business registration information, pulling data from official sources.

Business Credit Reports

Credit bureaus and agencies often include business registration numbers and financial health-related information in their reports.

How BRN Lookup helps in Sanctions Due Diligence

Business registration number lookup assists sanction due diligence by offering critical information to verify a company’s legitimacy and associated UBOs. Moreover, the sanctions not only target individuals but also cover large corporations. Checking if a company or business follows a similar process to checking if an entity is sanctioned.

However, when it’s about companies, businesses need to search for the company name and identifiers like BRNs, business address, or legal entity identifiers.

Moreover, performing due diligence on subsidiaries or associated holding companies is crucial, as sanctions may also apply to them. Many jurisdictions add EINs, VAT numbers, and CRNs(Company Registration Numbers) to the sanctioned entities to simplify the search process.

Use of Business Identifiers in Sanctions List | The Global Overview

United States

The Office of Foreign Assets Control(OFAC) publishes sanctions lists with the EIN or Taxpayer Identification Number(TIN) of some entries.

European Union

The EU sanctions lists often provide company registration numbers or VAT IDs where applicable, especially for entities in EU member states.

United Kingdom

The UK’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) sanctions list sometimes includes CRNs for UK-based entities.

Canada

The Consolidated Canadian Autonomous Sanctions List includes registration numbers or unique identifiers when available.

Australia

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) sanctions lists include Australian Business Numbers (ABN) or Australian Company Numbers (ACN).

What are the Best Business Verification Lookup Tool Features to Consider?

When selecting a business verification lookup tool, it’s essential to ensure it meets the business’s specific needs and offers reliable, accurate, and secure data. Here are the key features to look for before making a deal:

Data Accuracy and Source Reliability

Ensuring the tool extracts data directly from the official government registries and trusted sources. Accurate and up-to-date information is crucial for reliable verification.

Comprehensive Coverage

Searching across multiple federal, state, and local jurisdictions is essential. Business verification should cover various types of businesses, including LLCs, corporations, nonprofits, and sole proprietorships.

Real-time Updates

Business verification platforms that offer real-time data updates to reflect any recent changes in business registrations, statuses, or ownership structures should be adopted by the financial sector, supply chain, and credit service providers.

AML Compliance and Due Diligence

Business verification that ensures AML compliance and ensures transparency with traceable business ownership is also a vital feature to consider. By confirming the legitimacy of businesses, companies can easily mitigate risk.

Additionally, verifying entities against the sanctions list, PEP lists, watchlist, and warning list can help in proper AML checks and ESG compliance.

“The KYB provides real-time data from official business registries and screens against Sanctions, PEPs, Adverse Media, Criminal Watchlists, and Regulatory Enforcements. The KYB ensures accurate data, reliable sources, comprehensive coverage, and real-time updates, supporting full AML compliance and effective due diligence.”

What are the Repercussions of not Conducting a Business Registration Lookup?

Legal Liability

Engaging with an unregistered business can expose business entities to legal penalties. If the company is not authorized to operate, any contract or partnership could be deemed invalid, leaving the business vulnerable to legal disputes and financial losses.

Financial Risk

Without verifying a business’s registration status, entities risk financial loss. For instance, if the business is not registered to pay taxes or does not comply with AML regulations, the company could be held responsible for unpaid taxes or fines, affecting its financial health.

Damage to Reputation

Associating with an unregistered or non-compliant business can harm the company’s reputation. It may raise doubts among clients, investors, and partners about the business’s credibility and due diligence practices.

Operational Challenges

If a business isn’t properly registered, it may face operational limitations, such as difficulty opening bank accounts, entering into contracts, or accessing funding. These challenges can impede the partnership and disrupt operations, leading to delays or complications in business processes.

Suggest Read: Business Registration Lookup: Verify Legitimacy of Organizations

How The KYB Assists with Business Registration Number Lookup

Business registration numbers are often helpful in due diligence procedures and are one of the most useful lookup methods to verify a company’s legal registration. Conducting a BRN lookup through multiple sources can be tedious and time-consuming.

Therefore, The KYB offers seamless, real-time access to data of businesses and their relevant entities, including UBOs, shareholders, and company directors from official registries that are publicly available. With reduced risk of errors and delays, The KYB streamlines the entire process of looking for business registration numbers by providing businesses with comprehensive data on business entities.

Additionally, The KYB not only offers data but also gives additional insights into whether a proper BRN is associated with criminal activity.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Business Registration Number The Same As EIN?

No, in contrast to an EIN, a business registration number(BRN) is a broader term that refers to any unique identification number issued by a U.S. government or regulatory body to a company. One type of BRN that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) assigns to a business to monitor that business’s tax returns is an Employer Identification Number (EIN).