Frequently Asked Questions About USP Data

USP Data is a UK company intelligence platform used by investors, corporate finance advisers, acquisitive businesses, consultants and marketing professionals to identify companies, analyse markets and manage acquisition or business development projects. The answers below cover the questions we are most frequently asked about our subscriptions, company data, industry reports and acquisition search capabilities.

USP Data combines Companies House information with more than 30 years of sector research, allowing users to identify companies, analyse markets, build acquisition target lists and manage business development projects from a single platform.

Unlike many company databases that rely solely on SIC codes, USP Data includes more than 1,000 researched industry sectors together with ownership intelligence, financial screening tools, company monitoring and a built-in CRM.

USP Data is used by a wide range of organisations including:

• Corporate finance advisers
• Private equity investors
• Acquisitive companies
• Management consultants
• Marketing agencies
• Business development teams
• Market researchers

Users typically employ USP Data for acquisition target search, market analysis, lead generation, competitor research and sector benchmarking.

Most company databases are designed to identify companies that match a set of financial, geographic or SIC code criteria.

USP Data goes further by combining financial information, ownership intelligence, researched sector classifications and project management tools within a single platform. This allows users to move beyond list generation and focus on identifying genuinely relevant acquisition, marketing or research opportunities.

For example, users can identify owner-managed businesses, exclude private equity-backed consolidators, analyse shareholder structures and build acquisition pipelines that can be maintained and updated over time.

SIC codes are often a useful starting point but they can be inconsistent and frequently fail to capture the actual activities of a business.

USP Data includes more than 1,000 researched industry sectors developed over three decades of research. These sector classifications help users identify companies that genuinely operate within a market, improving the accuracy of acquisition searches, market analysis and lead generation campaigns.

Yes.

USP Data is widely used to identify acquisition targets, build buyer lists and manage buy-and-build programmes.

Users can combine sector classifications, financial criteria, ownership intelligence and shareholder information to create acquisition universes and prioritise opportunities. The built-in CRM then allows research, notes, outreach activity and project information to be stored in a single location.

For more information see our Acquisition Target Search and Deal Origination Software pages.

Yes.

USP Data includes information on directors, shareholders, Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) and ownership structures. This allows users to identify businesses where ownership is concentrated in the hands of a small number of individuals and where succession planning may become an important consideration.

Whilst no database can predict whether an owner wishes to sell, ownership intelligence can help users focus attention on businesses that may represent more realistic acquisition opportunities.

Yes.

USP Data is widely used by acquisitive organisations, private equity investors and corporate finance advisers to identify acquisition targets, analyse ownership structures and build acquisition pipelines. Users can combine sector research, financial screening and shareholder intelligence to identify businesses that fit a buy and build acquisition strategy.

USP Data provides access to information on 5.5+ million live UK companies together with detailed sector classifications, ownership information, shareholder data, financial records and market research.

The exact number changes as companies are incorporated, dissolved and updated.

Company information and financial records are updated each week as new information becomes available from Companies House and other data sources.

Saved company lists within the CRM can therefore be revisited and re-screened without having to repeat the original research process.

Depending on subscription level, users can export:

• Company information
• Financial data
• Director information
• Shareholder data
• Contact information
• Sector classifications
• Custom reports and analysis

Exports can be tailored using custom templates to match existing workflows.

Yes.

Users can upload their own company lists and then enrich them using USP Data’s company, financial and sector information. This is particularly useful for acquisition projects, customer analysis, competitor research and market mapping exercises.

Acquisition searches, business development projects and market research exercises often evolve over many months.

The integrated CRM allows users to save company lists, record research findings, track contact activity and maintain a structured project history. Because company information continues to be updated, saved projects remain current and can be revisited whenever requirements change.

The best subscription depends on how many sectors you need access to and how you intend to use the platform.

Users focused on a small number of sectors can often subscribe to individual industry databases, whilst organisations working across multiple industries typically benefit from access to the full USP Data platform.

Our pricing page provides a full breakdown of available options including details of the UK Data Access subscription for those who believe SIC code sectorisation is sufficient for their purposes.

Yes.

We are happy to provide a demonstration of the platform and discuss the most appropriate subscription option for your requirements. Please contact us to arrange a demonstration or free trial.