1. The national register of legal entities. Check the status, how long the company has existed and its managers.
  2. Court registers. Are there cases against it as a defendant for failure to perform contracts?
  3. Financial statements. Annual turnover vs the value of your deal. A mismatch = a risk.
  4. Industry associations and networks. Informal reputation often matters more than formal reputation.
  5. Social media and press. Check whether the company appears in scandals, sanctions or investigations.

Rule: if 2 out of 5 sources give a negative signal, the deal needs additional guarantees (letter of credit, 10% prepayment, a face-to-face meeting).