Last updated Sep 17, 2026 and written by Daniel Tuckey

What Does "Active" Mean in the "Company Status" Field?

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It means your company legally exists and hasn't been dissolved or put forward for strike-off, nothing more. It says nothing about whether the company is actually trading.

Key Takeaways

  • "Active" only confirms your company legally exists, it has no connection to trading activity.
  • A dormant company shows as "Active" for as long as it remains properly registered.
  • The other possible statuses are "Dissolved" and "Active – Proposal to Strike Off," neither of which relate to trading either.

What Does "Active" Actually Tell Me?

Just that your company exists on the Companies House register and hasn't been dissolved. Trading activity plays no part in this field at all, so a dormant company that's up to date with its filings will show exactly the same "Active" status as one that's trading heavily.

If you see something other than "Active," the most likely alternatives are "Dissolved," meaning the company has closed, or "Active – Proposal to Strike Off," meaning the process to close it has started but isn't finished yet.

For the fuller picture on dormancy generally, our main guide to making your company dormant covers what to file and what's changed recently.

FAQs

Does "Active" mean my company is trading?

No, it only confirms the company legally exists. Trading status isn't reflected in this field.

What other statuses might I see instead of "Active"?

"Dissolved," meaning the company has closed, or "Active – Proposal to Strike Off," meaning closure is underway but not complete.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. For the fuller picture, see our main guide to making your company dormant.