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Company Search

Our Company Search Element allows searching by company name or registration number.

Searching by company name​

When searching by company name, we will return Companies based on their relevance and current status in their respective national databases.

Note

We return the first 25 Companies matched, by default. If you're using the company_search API endpoint directly, you can change this as per the pagination section in our API reference.

Searching by registration number​

Each country has its own system for identifying companies and uses different identifier formats. Our Company Search Element accepts different company identifiers based on the country where the company is registered.

Feature availability by geography

Not all Hokodo functionality is available in all geographies. In our core geographies (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, UK) all functionality mentioned in these guides is generally available. In other EU geographies, there are gaps such as sole trader coverage and the credit limits endpoint. Your Customer Success Manager will advise best practice during the scoping phase of your onboarding.

🇧🇪 Belgium​

Belgium have adopted the VAT number as their company registration number.

  • Registration number: 10 digits
  • VAT Number: BE + Registration number
Example
  • Company name: Amazon
  • Registration number: 0416295096
  • VAT number: BE0416295096

🇫🇷 France​

In France the registration number can be recognised from the VAT number, but they are not the same.

  • Registration number: 9 digits SIREN
  • SIRET: 14 digits
  • VAT number: FR + XX + SIREN
Example
  • Company name: AMAZON FRANCE LOGISTIQUE SAS
  • SIREN: 428785042
  • SIRET: 42878504200105
  • VAT number: FR00428785042

🇩🇪 Germany​

  • Registration number: Handelsregisternummer
Example
  • Company name: Amazon Distribution GmbH
  • Handelsregisternummer: Leipzig HRB 22572
Note

Handelsregisternummer in Germany are not unique. Our Company Search Element may return multiple matches.

🇬🇷 Greece​

In Greece, the VAT and registration (GEMI) numbers are different. We only support search by VAT number, which is more commonly used than the GEMI.

  • Registration number: 5-12 digit GEMI number
  • VAT number: EL + 9 digit number
Example
  • Company name: COMPANY NAME
  • Registration number: 99139
  • VAT number: EL123456789
GEMI numbers

We do not support search by GEMI number in Greece.

🇮🇹 Italy​

In Italy, our Company Search API accepts search by VAT number as well as by registration number, even though they are different identifiers. In Italy the VAT number is more commonly used to identify companies.

  • Registration number: Province Code + 4-7 digit REA code
  • VAT number: 11 digit number, with an optional IT prefix
Example
  • Company name: COMPANY NAME SPA
  • Registration number: MI2579272
  • VAT number: 12345678901 (or IT12345678901)

🇳🇱 Netherlands​

  • Registration number: 8 digits KVK number
Example
  • Company name: Amazon B.V.
  • KVK number: 37089680

🇵🇹 Portugal​

Portugal have adopted the VAT number as their company registration number.

  • Registration number: 9 digits
  • VAT number: PT + registration number
Example
  • Company name: AMAZON PHARMA
  • Registration number: 123456789
  • VAT number: PT123456789

🇪🇸 Spain​

Spain have adopted the VAT number as their company registration number.

  • Registration number: 9 alphannumeric digits NIF (CIF has been merged into NIF since 2008)
  • VAT number: ES + NIF
Example
  • Company name: AMAZON PHARMA S.L
  • NIF: B81539983
  • VAT number: ESB81539983

🇨🇭 Switzerland​

Switzerland have adopted the VAT number as their company registration number.

  • Registration number: CHE and 9 digit UID. We accept in the format CHE123456789 as well as CHE-123.456.789.
  • VAT number: as above
Example
  • Company name: AMAZON PHARMA S.L
  • UID: CHE123456789
  • VAT number: CHE123456789

🇬🇧 United Kingdom​

  • Registration number: 8 digits Companies House number
Example
  • Company name: Amazon Ltd
  • Companies House number: 10804351

Sole traders​

A sole trader is a self-employed person who owns and runs their own business as an individual. Certain countries require that sole traders be registered, others do not. In countries where sole traders are registered, our Company Search Element directs users to search for Sole Traders. In countries where sole traders are not registered, our Company Search Element directs users to create Sole Traders. The option to create Sole Traders is not available in geographies where sole traders are registered. The breakdown of countries where this occurs is as follows:

CountryIncorporated companiesSole traders
FranceRegisteredRegistered
SpainRegisteredRegistered
GermanyRegisteredSome registered, others not. Depends on the region.
NetherlandsRegisteredRegistered
BelgiumRegisteredRegistered
United KingdomRegisteredNot registered