Is it legal to cold email businesses in the UK?

Yes, with conditions. Under PECR you may email corporate subscribers (limited companies, LLPs, public bodies) at business addresses without prior consent, as long as you identify yourself, offer an easy opt-out and honour it. Sole traders and ordinary partnerships are treated like individuals and need consent first. UK GDPR still applies to named people, so keep only what you need.

Where can I get UK business data for free?

Companies House (company names, numbers, status, SIC codes and registered addresses), the business’s own website, and Google Maps. Together they cover most of what a small business needs for a first prospect list.

Should I buy a lead list instead?

Bought lists are often out of date, include sole traders you cannot legally email, and give no source for each record. If you buy or commission one, ask how each contact was found and when it was checked.

How many leads do I need?

Fewer than you think. One hundred well-chosen, checked businesses that match your offer usually beats thousands of random ones, and it is something you can actually follow up properly.

Guide · Small business · Finding customers

How to build a B2B lead list in the UK for free: a 7-step method

You do not need a paid database to find business customers. Companies House, company websites and Google Maps are free, accurate and up to date. This method gives you a checked list of prospects you can contact legally, with the source recorded for every detail.

Rather have it done for you? 100 checked leads for £30

The 7 steps

Define exactly who you want. Write one line: trade, area, size and legal form. For example, "independent cafes and restaurants in Essex that are limited companies". A tight definition gives a short list that converts, not a long list that wastes your time.
Search Companies House by SIC code and location. The free Companies House advanced search (find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/advanced-search) lets you filter by SIC code (the official industry code, for example 56101 for licensed restaurants), company status "active" and registered address. Export or note the company names and numbers.
Check each company is still trading. Remove anything marked dissolved, in liquidation or with overdue accounts. Look for a recent filing date. A company that has not filed for two years is unlikely to buy anything.
Find the trading website and public contact details. Search the company name plus town. On their website, take the public phone number and the generic business email (info@, hello@, sales@) from the contact page. Note the page you took it from.
Use Google Maps for the shop-front details. Google Maps shows opening hours, reviews and whether the business is still open. A business with recent reviews is active; one marked "permanently closed" comes off the list.
Record the source for every field. Add a column that says where each detail came from and the date you checked it. That is what makes the list trustworthy, and it is the record you need if anyone asks how you got their details.
Follow the UK rules before you contact anyone. Under PECR, you can send unsolicited marketing email to limited companies and LLPs at business addresses, but not to sole traders or ordinary partnerships without consent. Every email must say who you are, give a working reply address and a simple way to opt out, and you must honour opt-outs. Check the ICO guidance if you are unsure.

Spreadsheet layout you can copy

Use these columns as the header row in Excel or Google Sheets.

Company name | Company number | Legal form (Ltd/LLP) | Status | SIC code | Town | Website | Public phone | Generic email | Source URL | Date checked | Notes

Common mistakes

Emailing sole traders or personal Gmail and Hotmail addresses without consent.
Keeping dissolved or dormant companies on the list.
Not recording where each contact came from.
Sending without your business name, a reply address and an opt-out line.
Building thousands of rows and following up none of them.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to cold email businesses in the UK?: Yes, with conditions. Under PECR you may email corporate subscribers (limited companies, LLPs, public bodies) at business addresses without prior consent, as long as you identify yourself, offer an easy opt-out and honour it. Sole traders and ordinary partnerships are treated like individuals and need consent first. UK GDPR still applies to named people, so keep only what you need.
Where can I get UK business data for free?: Companies House (company names, numbers, status, SIC codes and registered addresses), the business’s own website, and Google Maps. Together they cover most of what a small business needs for a first prospect list.
Should I buy a lead list instead?: Bought lists are often out of date, include sole traders you cannot legally email, and give no source for each record. If you buy or commission one, ask how each contact was found and when it was checked.
How many leads do I need?: Fewer than you think. One hundred well-chosen, checked businesses that match your offer usually beats thousands of random ones, and it is something you can actually follow up properly.

Short on time?

TCH Works builds checked lists of UK businesses in the trade and area you choose, using exactly this method: company name, address, website, public phone and generic business email, with the source for every field. 100 leads for £30 or 300 for £75, delivered as CSV or Excel by email.

See the lead list service · from £30

Written by TCH Works, Harlow, Essex, October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice; see the ICO’s guidance on electronic marketing for the full rules.