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A trading name can change or refer to several structures. Start with an identifier, scope and date, then connect the documents that actually answer the question.
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Separate three questions: which legal unit carries the activity, which establishment is involved and which event was published. In France, SIREN identifies a legal unit with nine digits; SIRET identifies an establishment with fourteen digits, the first nine being its SIREN. A current record does not automatically describe the situation on the date of an earlier event.
Guides
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These services complement each other. Administrative data, a registration certificate and a published notice are different kinds of records.
Start with a SIREN, SIRET or name to find a structure and its establishments. Check the provenance of the relevant field before repeating a summary.
Record to retain · Identifier, inspected field, named source and access dateLocate the identified legal unit or establishment in Insee’s register. Keep the establishment’s status separate from the legal unit’s status.
Record to retain · Requested SIREN or SIRET, displayed status and observation dateA registration certificate is available for a company registered with RNE. Read the downloaded record and its date, and identify the information it contains.
Record to retain · Certificate, identifier, issue date and relevant passageFind published notices of creation, changes, removal and other events. Retain the notice number and distinguish the event date from publication date.
Record to retain · Notice number, category, publication date and notice textCompare names, public statements and identifiers with the records above. A website describes a commercial presentation; it does not replace a register.
Record to retain · Public-information URL, declared name and access date03 / GUIDE / COMPANIES
Produce a short conclusion linked to exact records and limited to their relevant period.
Record the discovered name, the role to identify, country and relevant date. For a brand or domain, first identify the structure presenting itself as operator.
Retain the legal unit’s SIREN and, where necessary, the establishment’s SIRET. Preserve leading zeros as text; separate trading name, legal name and address.
Open Sirene information, the RNE certificate if available and relevant BODACC notices. Compare dates, identifiers, scopes and document types.
Write what each record establishes, retain contradictions and identify remaining checks. Attach URL, date, record and passage to each claim.
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These are methodological situations, with no real company implicated.
Do not match on name alone. Compare SIREN, country, address, history and records before merging entries.
Read the dossierCheck that the status refers to that SIRET. Do not automatically infer closure of the legal unit or all its establishments.
Read the dossierDistinguish current status from a published event and place each record in time. Retain the conflict instead of choosing the newest document without analysis.
Read the dossierUse the relevant jurisdiction’s register and identifier. BRIS, Companies House and EDGAR cover different scopes; none is an exhaustive worldwide company directory.
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06 / FAQ
No. SIREN identifies a legal unit and SIRET an establishment. SIRET starts with SIREN, but one legal unit can have several establishments.
It documents the registered information present at issue date. Delivery of a service, product quality or solvency require other records.
No. Correct length or a check digit does not show that an identifier exists or belongs to the intended entity. Open the official record and compare its information.
Use the entity worksheet or evidence register, with one observation per claim. Keep permitted originals, URLs, dates, versions and reservations.
07 / Discuss a context
A stable identifier, dated records and explicit scope make an entry reusable in a directory, monitoring process or decision dossier.
