Last updated: 29th March 2025
Written by: VAT Calculators
The total number of all UK companies, including LTD, LLC and sole traders is 5,498,990. We'll break this number down in all it's pieces in this comprehensive analysis.
Sole Proprietorships: 3,079,795
LLC Partnerships: 355,760
LTD companies: 2,063,435
Employee Size Band |
Number of Businesses |
Employment (thousands) |
Turnover (£ millions) |
No employees (unregistered) |
2870855 |
3154 |
124024 |
No employees (registered) |
1200970 |
1285 |
241988 |
1 |
124220 |
275 |
27995 |
2 to 4 |
770185 |
2132 |
347064 |
5 to 9 |
266860 |
1798 |
304088 |
10 to 19 |
141900 |
1944 |
289327 |
20 to 49 |
78000 |
2373 |
491236 |
50 to 99 |
25410 |
1764 |
429630 |
100 to 199 |
10160 |
1427 |
331642 |
200 to 249 |
2180 |
486 |
165159 |
250 to 499 |
4205 |
1457 |
360135 |
500 to 999 |
2115 |
1459 |
467182 |
1000 or more |
1930 |
8199 |
1693136 |
This chart shows total employment and total turnover for UK businesses, grouped by employee size.
For example, the 200–249 employee band includes around 2,180 businesses.
Together, they employ about 486,000 people and generate a combined turnover of £165 billion.
That’s an average of ~£75.8 million turnover per business, showing how larger companies contribute significantly to the UK economy—despite being fewer in number.
Any company with a turnover in excess of £90,000 per year must register for VAT, you can use our free VAT calculator to work out your pricing.
Industry |
Businesses |
Employment (thousands) |
Turnover (£ millions) |
Turnover (£ billions) |
All industries |
5498990 |
27754 |
5272607.0 |
5272.607 |
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing |
147845 |
499 |
57859.0 |
57.859 |
Mining, Utilities & Waste |
31050 |
380 |
298841.0 |
298.841 |
Manufacturing |
246805 |
2552 |
683969.0 |
683.969 |
Construction |
870185 |
2066 |
406931.0 |
406.931 |
Wholesale, Retail & Motor Repair |
558935 |
4889 |
1810784.0 |
1810.784 |
Transportation and Storage |
312775 |
1587 |
239512.0 |
239.512 |
Accommodation and Food |
212035 |
2537 |
130362.0 |
130.362 |
Information and Communication |
337945 |
1539 |
403779.0 |
403.779 |
Financial and Insurance |
86140 |
1108 |
|
|
Real Estate |
142865 |
567 |
80574.0 |
80.574 |
Professional, Scientific & Technical |
754940 |
2928 |
525029.0 |
525.029 |
Admin and Support Services |
495275 |
3096 |
376412.0 |
376.412 |
Education |
298500 |
596 |
30372.0 |
30.372 |
Human Health and Social Work |
355805 |
1921 |
106457.0 |
106.457 |
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation |
280405 |
775 |
80798.0 |
80.798 |
Other Service Activities |
367490 |
713 |
40928.0 |
40.928 |
Region |
All Businesses |
North East |
751000 |
North West |
811000 |
Yorkshire and the Humber |
860000 |
East Midlands |
885000 |
West Midlands |
889000 |
East of England |
1016000 |
London |
1370000 |
South East |
1188000 |
South West |
1113000 |
Wales |
853000 |
Scotland |
779000 |
Northern Ireland |
875000 |
This chart shows
X-axis: Number of businesses in the region
Y-axis: Total turnover in £ millions
Bubble size: Number of people employed in that region
The UK has experienced fluctuations in its business population over recent years:
2020: Peak of 6.0 million businesses.
2022: Decline to 5.5 million businesses, a 1.5% decrease from 2021.
2023: Small increase to 5.6 million businesses.
2024: Decrease back to 5.5 million businesses.
In 2023, the UK saw the slowest rate of new business births since 2010:
New Businesses: 316,000 (11.0% birth rate).
Business Closures: 309,000 (10.8% death rate).
Sources