How to check a Sri Lankan business before you work with it

Whether you are ordering stock, hiring a contractor or booking a service, a few minutes of checking before you pay can save a lot of trouble. This checklist is what we recommend to anyone using BizGrid.lk, and it works just as well for businesses you find anywhere else.

1. Ask for the registration details

Every legitimate business in Sri Lanka is registered somewhere, and an honest owner will tell you where without hesitation. Ask for the full registered name and the registration number, and make sure the name on quotations, invoices and bank accounts matches it.

• Companies (for example a “(Pvt) Ltd”) are incorporated with the Department of the Registrar of Companies. Private limited company numbers usually begin with PV. The Department’s online eROC system lets the public search registered companies; a small fee may apply to view company documents such as the list of directors.
• Sole proprietorships and partnerships are registered under business names rules at the local level, usually through the Divisional Secretariat for the area. They cannot be searched in eROC, so ask to see the business registration certificate instead.

A registration number on its own doesn’t prove a business is reliable, but a seller who refuses to give one, or gives a name that doesn’t match any record, is a strong warning sign.

2. Check that the contact details belong to a real place

• Address: look it up on a map. Does the street exist, and does the building look like the kind of premises the business claims to have? For large orders, visit if you can.
• Phone: a landline or a number that has been used consistently for years is more reassuring than a new mobile number. Call it rather than relying only on chat messages.
• Email: an address on the company’s own website domain is better than a free webmail account, although many genuine small businesses do use free email.

3. Look at their history

How long has the business been operating? On BizGrid.lk every profile shows the year it was established. Look for a consistent online presence over time: a website, a social media page with real posts and customer comments, and listings that all show the same name, address and phone number. A business that appeared a few weeks ago with prices well below everyone else deserves extra caution.

4. Get it in writing

Before paying, ask for a written quotation on the business’s letterhead or from its official email address. It should state exactly what you are buying, the price including any taxes, the delivery or completion date, and the payment terms. If the business is VAT registered, its invoices should show its VAT number. For building work, repairs and services, agree on what happens if the work is late or not up to standard.

5. Pay safely

• Pay into a bank account in the business’s registered name, not a personal account belonging to someone else.
• Keep deposits small with a new supplier, and pay the balance on delivery or completion.
• For a first order, consider a smaller trial order before committing to a large one.
• Be wary of anyone who asks you to pay with gift cards, cryptocurrency or cash sent through a third party.

We cover the most common payment tricks, including “changed bank details” emails, in our guide to avoiding payment scams.

6. Ask for references

For bigger jobs it is reasonable to ask for two or three recent customers you can speak to, or photos of completed work with the location. Genuine businesses are usually proud to share them.

How BizGrid.lk helps

Every listing on BizGrid.lk is reviewed by our team before it is published, and businesses with a Verified badge have had their registration details confirmed. That reduces the risk of fake listings, but it is not a guarantee of the quality of anyone’s work, so we still recommend the checks above. If something about a listing doesn’t look right, use the Report this listing link on the profile and we will look into it.

Quick checklist

1. Registered name and number obtained, and they match the invoice and bank account.
2. Address and phone number checked.
3. Business has a visible history.
4. Written quotation received.
5. Deposit kept small, paid to an account in the business’s name.
6. References or examples of past work seen for large jobs.