Know what has been checked, and by whom.

What each badge means

Company linked

A Companies House record is attached to the listing: legal name, status, incorporation date, officers and PSCs.

Seller ID checked

The seller passed an identity check with a verification provider. Not issued yet: identity checks start when a provider is connected.

Seller authority confirmed

The seller was matched to a director or PSC record on that company, or an adviser mandate is on file.

Financials on file

Accounts have been uploaded to the data room. It does not mean we have audited them, and we do not.

Buyer ID checked

You passed an identity check. Not issued yet: identity checks start when a provider is connected.

Funds attested

You evidenced funding above the level the seller set for this listing. We store the result, never your bank data. Not issued yet: proof of funds checks start when a provider is connected.

Broker verified

The broker's business and contact details have been checked. It is not a rating and not an endorsement of their advice.

There is deliberately no single “Verified” badge. A word that means seven different things means nothing.

Questions buyers ask

Why can I not see the business name?

Because the seller asked us not to publish it, and most do. Staff, customers and suppliers finding out before a sale is agreed can damage the business you are trying to buy. The name is released when an NDA is in place.

Does Attainer check the financial information?

No, and we say so on every listing. Figures a seller enters are seller-provided and labelled as such. What we can check today is the Companies House record and a seller's authority to sell, and each badge states exactly what was verified. Identity checks are not live yet, so nobody carries an ID badge.

Does the platform handle the money?

Never. We take no part in the consideration. Funds move between the parties' solicitors, as they would in any business sale. Buyers are never charged for anything here. Listing is free at present, and the only fee we intend to charge is a seller's listing fee.

What is a proof of funds threshold?

A level a seller can set on a listing, above which a buyer is expected to evidence funding. It exists so serious sellers are not spending weeks with buyers who cannot complete. Proof of funds checks are not live yet, so nothing is asked of a buyer at any level today: once an NDA is signed, the seller decides document by document what to release.