A company registration number (CRN) is an ID number assigned to your business by the government when it is registered. Some premium news outlets on our platform require this number, and the ways to find your CRN differ depending on your country of registration.
United States Company Registration Numbers
The company registration number, which is usually referred to as an Entity Number or File Number, is issued by the state where the business is incorporated. It is different from the Employer Identification Number (EIN), which is a federal tax ID issued by the IRS.
The company registration number for many US businesses can be found by entering your business name on opencorporates.com or dnb.com.
If your business is not found using the links above, then this number will also be listed on the Certificate of Incorporation/Formation issued by the state. You can also find it by searching the state’s Secretary of State website through their business entity search tool.
Here are the business lookup websites for a few of the most populated US states:
European Union (EU) Company Registration Numbers
Each country in the European Union assigns a unique Company Identification Number (CIN) to registered businesses. The name and structure of this number vary by country. For example, in Germany, it is called the Handelsregisternummer, and in France, it is referred to as the SIREN number.
The company registration number for many US businesses can be found by entering your business name on e-justice.europa.eu
The CIN is usually listed on the company’s Certificate of Incorporation or similar documents. You can also search for this number in public business registries or through your country’s Chamber of Commerce website.
United Kingdom Company Registration Numbers
The company registration number (CRN) in the UK is issued by Companies House when a business is registered. It is a unique identifier that consists of 8 characters (numbers and/or letters).
The CRN is listed on the company’s Certificate of Incorporation and can also be found by searching the Gov.uk online database.
Australia Company Registration Numbers
In Australia, the company registration number is called an Australian Company Number (ACN) or Australian Business Number (ABN) issued by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC).
The ABN or ACN is listed on the company’s Certificate of Registration. You can also search for this number through the ABR Business Names Register or other public business registries.
Canada Company Registration Numbers
In Canada, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) assigns businesses a business number (BN) for tax purposes. Upon incorporation, each corporation is also assigned a Corporation Number by the federal or provincial authority.
Business Number (BN): Used for tax, payroll, and other government services. Issued by the CRA.
Corporation Number: Assigned by Corporations Canada or a provincial government upon incorporation.
The BN and Corporation Number are on the company’s Certificate of Incorporation or can be found by searching Canada's Business Registries or the provincial registry.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) Company Registration Numbers
In the UAE, businesses receive a Trade License Number or Commercial Registration Number, depending on their business type and location (mainland or free zone).
This number is found on your Trade License issued by the relevant authority, such as the Department of Economic Development (DED) for mainland companies or the free zone authority for businesses registered in free zones.
You can also find the registration number by searching for your business name on the National Economic Register.
Rest of the World Company Registration Numbers
In most other countries, businesses are assigned a unique Company Registration Number or similar identifier when registering. The name and structure of the number vary by country.
The company registration number is typically listed on the Certificate of Incorporation or equivalent document.