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Verify your new business

If your business was registered in the last 3 months and not yet trading, we may ask you for proof that you plan for it to operate. This is nothing to worry about – one strong document could be sufficient.

This guide shows you how to:

  • Provide your proof

  • Submit the main types of proof

  • Support your main proof with these documents

Why we need your proof

Why we need your proof

We use this information to help us understand and support your business needs.

This evidence can be a bit trickier to verify, as it's not factual like your ID showing your address.

We're on the lookout for proof that is genuine, and hasn’t been created simply to satisfy our request.

How to provide your proof

How to provide your proof

In your Tide app, tap:

  1. The Support icon in the top right corner

  2. Messages

  3. Reply with PDF, JPG/JPEG, or PNG

Provide one of these main types of proof

Choose from the 4 documents listed below. Keep in mind that you don't need to select all – just one will do.

1. Business plan

Your business plan provides an overview of how you plan on building, launching, and running your business. For example, it shows your business idea, goals, and how you plan on attracting investments.

💡Submit your business plan as main proof, if you’re not actively trading yet.

The business plan has a clear structure and includes most (if not all) of these sections:

Executive summary

  • Business name

  • Business start date – even if it's in the future

  • Purpose of the plan – like investment or loan

Company description

  • If you're a sole trader or registered business

  • Business activity – optional SIC code

  • Markets you service

  • Ideal customers

  • Your registered or intended location

Market analysis

  • Market (and industry) trends

  • Competitor analysis

  • Legal requirements – like trademarks

Business goals

  • Short term objectives

  • Long term objectives

  • Success metrics and indicators

Products and services

  • Description of your products and/or services

  • Your pricing

  • Partnerships or suppliers

Marketing and finances

  • Expected profit

  • Potential investors

  • Needed funding

  • How much it costs to run your business

Let us walk you through creating your business plan with our step-by-step blog.

2. Contracts or agreements

That includes signed client or supplier contracts and service or partnership agreements.

We'll accept contracts that are:

  • Signed by both parties – either e-signature or wet ink

  • Outline services or products, deliverables, and commercial terms

  • With a client or supplier that can be verified – via company registry, website, or LinkedIn

  • Dated preferably within the past 3 months – or includes a future start date

We'll accept agreements that include:

  • Specifics – like scope, parties, dates, and obligations

  • Signatures and dates

  • A partner that is credible and business-related

We won't accept contracts or agreements where:

❌ The other party seem fake or is unverified

❌ Generic, templated, or unsigned contracts

❌ Vague scope or terms – like “consulting services” without providing specific details

3. Platform onboarding confirmation

From the likes of Amazon Seller Central, Shopify, Uber Eats - whichever platform you may be using to sell online.

We'll accept confirmation that is:

  • Clearly linked to your business or yourself – with the same email, name, legal entity, registered business (or trading) address, or phone number

  • Showing the setup progress – like your active listings, menus, or dashboard access

  • In the format of a screenshot, email confirmation, or public link

We won't accept confirmation of:

❌ Inactive accounts – that includes ones that are only registered

❌ Accounts in your personal name with no reference of your business

4. Issued or received invoices

These shouldn't be older than 3 months.

We'll accept invoices that:

  • Contain full details – like the your own and the client names, dates, product or services, and amounts

  • Stay consistent with your activity and timing – like an invoice for equipment needed to start your business

We won't accept invoices that:

❌ Lack key details – like invoice number or client information

❌ Are self-issued, dummy, or inconsistent with declared activity

❌ Are pro forma, but have no actual transaction

Support your main proof with any of these documents

If you want to show even more clearly that your business is real and ready to launch, you can provide your website, marketing plan, or any of these documents.

1. Published website or social media presence

1. Published website or social media presence

We'll accept websites or social media:

  • Containing your business name, services or products, and contact details

  • Updated recently – within the last 1–2 months

  • You or your business own the website domain

2. Initial investment or funding proof

2. Initial investment or funding proof

We'll accept proof that is:

  • Bank statements showing business-related deposits or capital injection

  • Grant or funding confirmation – like government startup aid

  • Investor commitment letters

3. Product or service catalogue

We'll accept your catalogue if it's:

  • Branded to your business – with pricing and service levels

  • Delivered in professional format – like a PDF or an online listing

We won't accept your catalogue if it's:

❌ Generic templates or mockups with no unique content

❌ Lacking in product or service details or target customers

4. Advertising or marketing material

We'll accept this marketing material:

  • Published ads with business details – like in Google Ads, Facebook, flyers

  • Campaigns targeted to real customers and consistent with business activity

We won't accept this marketing material:

❌ Internal drafts

❌ Unpaid campaigns

❌ Mockups

5. Physical premises proof

We'll accept this location proof:

  • Lease or utility bill – that includes your or your business's name

  • The address aligns with your business location

We won't accept this location proof:

❌ Residential-only with no business use

❌ No clarity as to how it's linked to your business

Find more support for your business: