A new partner, contractor, or client: before signing a contract, you want to know who you're dealing with. Is the sole proprietorship suspended, are there debts, is the person involved in court cases.

In Ukraine, all this information is available in public registries. The problem is that there are many registries, and their interfaces are different. It's easy for a newcomer to get confused: where to look, what exactly to search for, which service provides real data rather than just an extract from three years ago.

Below are five working ways to check an entrepreneur or company: from a completely free government registry to analytical platforms that compile a dossier from 180 sources in a minute.

💡 Quick overview:

• Free search on the Ministry of Justice portal, the basic method: sole proprietorship status, registration date, types of activity.
• YouControl, complete dossier from 180+ sources, connections, sanctions lists.
• Opendatabot, free monitoring: notifications about changes in registration data.
• "Diia", official extract from the USR with electronic signature, legally valid.
• PrivatBank business reputation dossier, quick check through online banking.

What is stored in the Unified State Register

The Unified State Register of Legal Entities, Individual Entrepreneurs, and Public Organizations (USR) is the official database maintained by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine. Access to the registry is regulated by Article 11 of the Law of Ukraine "On State Registration of Legal Entities, Individual Entrepreneurs, and Public Organizations."

Through the USR, you can find out: the full name of the entrepreneur or company name, identification code (EDRPOU/TIN), status (active/suspended/terminated), registration date, list of activity types (KVED), registration address, information about founders and ultimate beneficiaries, presence of separate subdivisions.

Some data is available for free, some only through paid requests. Let's examine each option.

Method 1: Free search on the Ministry of Justice portal

The simplest method that requires no registration is the Ministry of Justice portal at usr.minjust.gov.ua. This is an official government resource, and its data is updated directly from the registry.

The search uses two criteria: the full name of the individual entrepreneur or their identification code. Simply enter the first name, last name, and patronymic, and the system will show the current status of the sole proprietorship, registration date, and basic registration data.

The downside of free search is that it doesn't show the history of changes, court cases, tax debts, or connections with other companies. For a quick status check ("closed or not closed"), this is enough. For comprehensive counterparty verification, you need broader tools.

Method 2: YouControl, dossier from 180 sources in a minute

YouControl is an analytical system that collects data about a company or entrepreneur from more than 180 official sources: registries, court databases, tax authorities, sanctions lists.

The counterparty profile includes: all registration data from the USR, history of changes (renamings, director changes), court cases and decisions, information about debts and enforcement proceedings, sanctions list checks (Ukraine, UN, EU, USA), connections between companies and individuals (affiliation graph), financial statements.

Some information is available for free. Full access requires a subscription. For a one-time partner check before a deal, it makes sense to get a minimum monthly plan: the cost is comparable to the price of one mistake in choosing a counterparty.

Method 3: Opendatabot, free monitoring and notifications

Opendatabot works with the same government registries, but its main feature is automatic change monitoring. You add a company or sole proprietorship to tracking, and the bot sends a notification if something changes in the registration data: a director is replaced, enforcement proceedings are opened, or tax debt appears.

Basic checks are free. Extended monitoring and access to court data require a subscription. The service is especially useful when you work with a counterparty not once but on an ongoing basis: the bot will warn you about warning signs itself, no need to log in and check manually every month.

Method 4: "Diia", official extract with legal validity

On the government services portal "Diia", you can order an official extract from the USR. It has legal validity, is certified with an electronic signature, and is suitable for submission to a bank, court, or government agencies.

The service is paid, but the price is symbolic. The process: authorize through electronic signature (QES) or BankID, fill out an application specifying the EDRPOU code of the entity of interest, pay, and receive the finished document electronically. Timeframe: from several minutes to one day.

Unlike free search, an extract from "Diia" is an official document. Unlike YouControl and Opendatabot, it doesn't require a monthly subscription for a single request.

Method 5: Business reputation dossier from PrivatBank

If you have an account with PrivatBank, the "Privat24 for Business" online banking offers the "Business Reputation Dossier" service. It allows you to quickly check a company or entrepreneur against key risk factors directly from your personal account, without switching to third-party services.

The system analyzes: presence of court cases, tax history, connection to sanctions lists, signs of fictitious activity. The report is generated in a couple of minutes. Convenient for initial verification when the contract is already on the table and there's no time to compile a deep dossier.

Video: how counterparty verification works

This video demonstrates the general process of checking a business partner through an example; the same principles apply to Ukrainian registries.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Can I check an entrepreneur knowing only the last name and first name?

Yes. On the Ministry of Justice portal, entering the last name and first name is sufficient; the system will find all registered sole proprietorships with that data. If there are several entrepreneurs with identical names, the identification code will help specify the right one. Without the code, you can rely on the registration address and types of activity.

How much does it cost to obtain an official extract from the USR?

As of 2026, the cost of an electronic extract through the "Diia" portal is symbolic, within 100-150 hryvnias. A paid extract differs from free search in that it is an official document with an electronic signature that has legal validity. Processing time ranges from several minutes to one business day.

Does the free search show tax debts?

No. The free search on the Ministry of Justice portal shows only registration data: status, registration date, KVEDs. Information about tax debt can be obtained through Opendatabot, YouControl, or directly through the taxpayer's electronic cabinet on the State Tax Service website.

How does YouControl differ from Opendatabot?

YouControl is a tool for deep one-time verification: a complete dossier from 180+ sources, connections between companies, financial statements. Opendatabot is a tool for ongoing monitoring: the bot tracks changes and sends notifications. Entrepreneurs often use both: YouControl for initial partner verification, Opendatabot for tracking their status going forward.

Can I check an entrepreneur anonymously?

The free search on the Ministry of Justice portal is completely anonymous; no registration is required. YouControl and Opendatabot in the free version also don't require identification. However, ordering an official extract through "Diia" requires authorization through electronic signature, meaning your request is recorded.

Which verification method to choose for your task

If you need to quickly find out the status of a specific sole proprietorship, the free search on the Ministry of Justice portal is sufficient. A couple of minutes, no registration.

If you're checking a future business partner and risking money, use YouControl. One month of subscription is cheaper than working with a problematic counterparty.

If you're already working with someone on an ongoing basis, set up monitoring in Opendatabot and receive notifications about changes automatically.

If you need an official document for a bank, court, or government agency, order an extract through "Diia."

Counterparty verification is not paranoia but basic business hygiene. Five minutes today save weeks of disputes later.