Guides

Straight answers about new UK companies

The questions people ask us most, answered with the live numbers from the Formation Index and the outcomes of 2.5 million earlier companies. Free to quote with attribution.

How many companies are formed in the UK each week?The number of companies incorporated in the UK last week, per day and per year, where the figure comes from, and how many of them become real businesses.What proportion of new UK companies actually trade?About a third, two in five since the 2024 fee rise. The outcomes of 2.5 million UK companies formed from 2022 to 2024: how many were dissolved, dormant or trading, why, and whether it can be predicted.Is it legal to email a new limited company about your services?What PECR and UK GDPR allow when you email a newly registered company or LLP, what every message must contain, and the difference between companies and sole traders.Why do so many new UK companies disappear at seventeen months?Nearly half of all company dissolutions happen at exactly seventeen months of age: the confirmation statement, the registrar's strike-off, the Tuesday batch, the default address, and what it means if it's your company or your customer.

Finding new customers, by trade

How firms in each trade find new business customers: the usual ways weighed up, and last week's count of businesses at the moment they choose a supplier.

How can an accountancy practice find new clients?For accountancy practices: new companies ranked at incorporation, and accounts due.How can an accountancy practice find established companies that need advisory work?For accountancy practices: established companies that are scaling.How do CCTV, alarm and fire installers find new commercial customers?Security and fire installers How do security companies win new guarding, keyholding and patrol contracts?Security services: guarding, keyholding and patrols How do commercial cleaning companies win new contracts?Commercial cleaning and facilities How do IT support companies find new business clients?IT support and managed service providers How do payroll bureaux and HR consultancies find new clients?Payroll, HR and pensions providers How do recruitment agencies find new business clients?Staffing and recruitment agencies How do signmakers and shopfitters find new customers?Signmakers and shopfitters How do card terminal and EPOS providers find new merchants?Card terminals and tills How do business telecoms resellers find new customers?Business telecoms and broadband How do commercial waste companies find new business customers?Commercial waste How do business water retailers find new customers?Business water retailers How do commercial insurance brokers find new business clients?Commercial insurance brokers How do commercial finance brokers find new business clients?Commercial finance brokers and lenders How do fuel card, telematics and vehicle leasing companies find new fleet customers?Fuel cards, telematics and vehicle leasing How do pest control companies find new commercial customers?Pest control and food safety How do commercial solar and energy efficiency installers find new customers?Solar and energy efficiency installers How do health and safety and fire risk consultants find new clients?Health and safety and fire risk consultants How do catering equipment suppliers find new commercial kitchens to sell to?Catering equipment and commercial kitchens How do office removals and office furniture companies find new customers?Office removals and office furniture How do managed print and copier suppliers find new customers?Managed print and office equipment suppliers How do commercial property agents win new instructions?Commercial property agents and surveyors How do commercial laundries and linen hire companies find new customers?Commercial laundry and linen hire How do EV charging installers find new business customers?EV charging installers