Companies House Lookup for WooCommerce — check the company number at the checkout

Companies House Lookup for WooCommerce adds a “Company number” field to the WooCommerce checkout (classic and block) and checks what is typed against the Companies House register of the United Kingdom through its free API: the company name and status appear under the field and a number that does not exist stops the order. Companies House has no checkout plugin of its own for WooCommerce.

This module has never run against the real Companies House. We had no Companies House API key, so nothing was ever sent to the real register.

What the free version does

You paste your own free API key from the Companies House Developer Hub; “Check connection” tests it on a known company. At the checkout the buyer types the number (8 characters, for example 00000006 or SC123456); when the field loses focus “name — status” appears under it. When the order is placed the number is checked again on the server: a wrong format, or a number the register does not know, stops the order with a plain message (this can be switched off). Number, name, status and address are kept on the order with a note, and the order page has a box with them. The field can be required or optional and its label changed. If the register is down the order goes through and a note says the number was not verified.

What Pro adds

Search by name: the buyer types a name, picks the company from a list and the number is filled in. Autofill of the empty billing fields (company, registered office address). Refusal of companies that the register shows as not active (dissolved, in liquidation, receivership or administration), with the name and status in the message. A separate switch: whether to refuse when the register is down. A “Check again” button on the order page and a check before shipping: when the order goes to Processing the register is asked once more and an order whose company is no longer active is put on hold.

How it works, step by step

1. In the Companies House Developer Hub create an application of the type “API key” and copy its key.
2. WooCommerce → Companies House: paste the key, press “Check connection” and save.
3. Open the checkout: the “Company number” field is there. Try the number 00000006.
4. Decide whether the field is required and whether unknown numbers are refused.

Under the hood

• The key is stored encrypted and stays on the server: the browser talks to the shop, not to the register. Answers are kept for 6 hours. The checkout calls are throttled per address and protected by a nonce.
• HPOS and block checkout compatible (a WooCommerce additional checkout field); language: English.

How to install

1. Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin: choose the zip and activate it.
2. WooCommerce → Companies House: the API key.
3. Enter the service credentials and test the connection.
4. Try one test order before you switch the automation on.

The module is not on wordpress.org yet: the free version and Pro are one archive from this page. Without a key it works as the free version.