Obtaining sensitive commercial information

[singlecoil]

Any ideas? There are a couple of businesses not too far away from me, and in the same line, and I would absolutely love to know what their sales are like at the moment. There's nothing listed under "spying services" on yell.com

[Eric Mc]

Companies House?

You can get some (albeit limited) information on limited companies' trading position by paying a fairly small sum to Companies House.

[singlecoil]

Eric Mc said:

Companies House?

You can get some (albeit limited) information on limited companies' trading position by paying a fairly small sum to Companies House.

Unfortunately these are franchises. Thanks anyway.

[Eric Mc]

The fact that the businesses are franchises is irrelevant. If the franchisee is operating through a limited company, then the normal limited company data will be on file at Companies House.

[singlecoil]

Eric Mc said:

The fact that the businesses are franchises is irrelevant. If the franchisee is operating through a limited company, then the normal limited company data will be on file at Companies House.

I will look into that, but in any case I expect the info would be maybe at least a year old? To be useful it would need to be much more up to date.


I don't think I'm going to have much luck with this.

[Eric Mc]

In a way, why should you have access to such data? I don't suppose you'ld be keen on anybody and everybody having access to your personal financial data.

Limited companies are different because the proprietor has the advantage of limited liability - but the disadvantage ogf having to disclose certain information to those who ask.

Small limited companies are allowed a reduced disclsoure option which limits much of the information avavilable to the public.

[singlecoil]

Eric Mc said:

In a way, why should you have access to such data? I don't suppose you'ld be keen on anybody and everybody having access to your personal financial data.

No reason at all, apart from wanting it. Sales information is one of those things which it is better to receive than to give. I freely admit that.

[Eric Mc]

The only time you are likely to get access to such data would be if you were planning on buying or investing in the business. In that case, it would be prudent to expect to see at least the last three years' worth of trading figures.