Check a SIRET number for free

Updated March 2026 - Checking a SIRET number for free is an essential step to secure your commercial relationships. In just a few clicks, you can confirm the existence of an establishment, validate a billing address or ensure the legitimacy of a future partner. The right method? Return to official sources: INSEE, Business Directory, National Business Register (RNE) and INPI registration data.

See also: LMNP and SIRET, Help to create your business from A to Z and Business plan.

To check a SIRET number for free, go to the Business directory or to the INSEE Sirene situation notice service. Enter the 14-digit number or the name of the company: you will obtain the legal identity, head office address, declared activity and administrative status (active, closed or in the process of being deregistered).

The SIRET is a unique 14-digit identifier assigned to each physical establishment of a company. It is broken down into two parts:

• the first 9 digits correspond to the SIREN, which identifies the company (legal entity);
• the last 5 digits form the NIC (Internal Classification Number), which distinguishes each establishment.

Concretely, a company with one headquarters and three branches will have a single SIREN, but four distinct SIRETs. The SIREN identifies the legal entity, the SIRET identifies the place of practice.

What is the difference between SIREN, SIRET and APE code#

The APE code is assigned by INSEE upon registration and determines the applicable collective agreement.

1. The Business directory (annuaire-entreprises.data.gouv.fr)#

A public portal powered by INSEE, DGFiP and INPI, the Business Directory is the most complete entry point for verifying a SIRET. It allows you to consult:

• the company name and the commercial name;
• the SIREN and SIRET numbers and the address of the head office;
• the APE code and the administrative state (active, closed, in difficulty);
• executive corporate officers;
• turnover for companies subject to publication.

Major advantage: the Directory centralizes data from multiple administrations, which avoids multiplying searches.

2. The Sirene situation notice (INSEE)#

The INSEE Sirene situation notice service provides an official document attesting to the registration of a company. This PDF is often requested by banks, insurers or partners when opening a professional account.

To obtain it, enter the SIREN or SIRET. The document indicates the date of creation, the legal form, the address of the headquarters, the main activity and the location of each establishment.

3. The National Business Register (RNE) via the INPI#

Since January 1, 2023, the RNE has replaced the RCS and the Directory of Trades. Consulted via data.inpi.fr, it gives access to the constitutive documents, changes in management, changes of headquarters, collective procedures and pledges.

Hayot Expertise advice: before signing, invoicing, subcontracting or paying, always check the SIRET from a public and recentized source. It is a simple check which avoids many errors upstream.

Securing commercial relationships#

Every year, thousands of businesses fall victim to scams involving fictitious companies or stolen identities. Checking a SIRET number constitutes the first reflex of vigilance: it confirms that your interlocutor corresponds to a registered and active entity.

Make billing more reliable#

An error from SIRET on an invoice can lead to payment rejections, accounting complications and, in the worst case, tax adjustments if VAT is involved.

Prepare a financing file and document the controls#

Banks and guarantee organizations require up-to-date information on the legal structure. A recent Sirene situation notice is one of the classic documents requested. In a compliance process (KYC, fight against fraud), the trace of a dated SIRET verification constitutes proof of due diligence.

When you carry out a SIRET INSEE check, here is the accessible data:

Checking a SIRET is necessary, but it is not sufficient. An active number guarantees neither financial health nor the quality of services. Depending on the context, it is appropriate to complete your analysis with:

• verification of signing authority: does the person signing have a delegation of authority?
• solvency analysis: consult the annual accounts on data.inpi.fr;
• control of actual activity: does the declared APE code correspond to the actual activity?
• consultation of collective procedures: a company in recovery may have an active SIRET while being unable to honor its commitments;
• verification of certifications: certain sectors (construction, health, etc.) require approvals which do not appear in the Sirene directory.

Micro-entrepreneurs also have a SIRET number. The verification follows the same procedure, with a few particularities: the SIREN is identical to the natural person number and the declared activity must correspond to the chosen micro-tax régime.

Note 2026: registration formalities are centralized on the INPI Single Window, which makes the data more reliable and quickly updated.

Structure your approach:

• check upon entering into a relationship: check the SIRET of each new customer or supplier before signing;
• archiving the evidence: keep a PDF of the situation notice with the date of consultation;
• periodic monitoring: annual verification for strategic partners;
• documentary cross-check: compare the SIRET with the legal notices of the invoices and quotes.

Checking a SIRET number for free is a quick operation with major consequences for the security of your business. Official sources — Business directory, Sirene and RNE status notices — are sufficient to validate the identity and administrative situation of your contacts.

The real issue is not limited to finding a number: it is about making your commercial chain more reliable, from prospecting to invoicing.

(Official sources: Entreprendre.Service-Public.fr, INSEE, INPI)