As of 3 October 2026, 68,379 companies were incorporated in the United Kingdom in September 2026, according to the Companies House register. In the same month, 63,051 companies were dissolved, producing a net increase of 5,328 registered companies.
Over the twelve months to September 2026, 782,015 companies were incorporated and 744,846 were dissolved. On average, 2,279 companies were formed per day during September 2026.
Key figures
- 68,379 companies incorporated in Sept 2026 (as of 3 October 2026)
- 63,051 companies dissolved in Sept 2026 (as of 3 October 2026)
- 5,328 net change in registered companies in Sept 2026 (incorporations minus dissolutions) (as of 3 October 2026)
- 782,015 companies incorporated in the twelve months to Sept 2026 (as of 3 October 2026)
- 744,846 companies dissolved in the twelve months to Sept 2026 (as of 3 October 2026)
- 27.8% of Sept 2026 incorporations gave a London registered office (as of 3 October 2026)
What this page measures
This page counts companies incorporated and dissolved each month in the United Kingdom, drawn directly from the Companies House register. It breaks down the most recent month's incorporations by the city named in the registered office address, by company type, and by ten industry sectors relevant to wealth, property, technology, hospitality and care. The monthly table shows incorporations, dissolutions and the net change for the past twelve months. All figures are as of 3 October 2026.
The data comes from the Companies House advanced company search, queried by incorporation date and dissolution date. City counts match the registered office address text as it appears in the register, making them indicative rather than definitive. Sector counts use the first Standard Industrial Classification code filed by each company and cover only the ten codes shown in the sector table. Figures for the most recent month can rise slightly as late filings are processed by Companies House in the days following the month end.
The headline numbers
In September 2026, 68,379 companies were incorporated and 63,051 were dissolved, as of 3 October 2026. The net change was an increase of 5,328 registered companies. Over the twelve months to September 2026, incorporations totalled 782,015 and dissolutions totalled 744,846.
The daily average for September 2026 was 2,279 companies formed, as of 3 October 2026. Of the companies incorporated in September 2026, 27.8 per cent gave a London registered office address and 96.9 per cent were private limited companies.
These headline figures provide a snapshot of company formation activity in the United Kingdom during September 2026. The net increase of 5,328 companies reflects the balance between new incorporations and companies leaving the register through dissolution. The twelve-month totals show the longer-term trend in company formation activity across the year to September 2026.
Incorporations and dissolutions by month
The table below shows the number of companies incorporated and dissolved in each of the twelve months to September 2026, together with the net change in the register for each month.
Companies incorporated and dissolved by month
| Month | Incorporated | Dissolved | Net change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 75,943 | 52,727 | 23,216 |
| Nov 2025 | 59,762 | 56,512 | 3,250 |
| Dec 2025 | 51,043 | 68,905 | -17,862 |
| Jan 2026 | 71,733 | 59,570 | 12,163 |
| Feb 2026 | 60,477 | 63,243 | -2,766 |
| Mar 2026 | 74,137 | 69,535 | 4,602 |
| Apr 2026 | 67,637 | 55,348 | 12,289 |
| May 2026 | 62,567 | 59,377 | 3,190 |
| Jun 2026 | 63,619 | 43,213 | 20,406 |
| Jul 2026 | 68,366 | 92,862 | -24,496 |
| Aug 2026 | 58,352 | 60,503 | -2,151 |
| Sept 2026 | 68,379 | 63,051 | 5,328 |
Source: Companies House advanced search. Counted on 2026-10-03; the latest month can rise as late filings are processed
Figures for the most recent month can rise slightly as late filings are processed by Companies House. The net change for each month is calculated as the number of incorporations minus the number of dissolutions in that month. A positive net change indicates that more companies were incorporated than dissolved, whilst a negative net change would indicate more dissolutions than incorporations.
The monthly pattern of incorporations and dissolutions can vary throughout the year due to seasonal business cycles, tax year considerations, and other economic factors. Tracking these monthly figures over time helps identify trends in company formation activity across the United Kingdom.
Incorporations by city
The following table shows incorporations in September 2026 by the city named in the registered office address, as of 3 October 2026. City counts match the address text recorded at Companies House, so they are indicative rather than definitive.
Incorporations by registered-office city, Sept 2026
| City | Incorporated |
|---|---|
| London | 18,989 |
| Manchester | 1,919 |
| Birmingham | 1,626 |
| Leeds | 653 |
| Glasgow | 1,044 |
| Edinburgh | 602 |
| Bristol | 613 |
| Liverpool | 726 |
| Cardiff | 360 |
| Belfast | 213 |
Source: Companies House advanced search. Address text match; indicative
London accounted for 27.8 per cent of all incorporations in September 2026. The concentration of company formations in London reflects the capital's position as the United Kingdom's primary business and financial centre. However, companies are formed across the country, with significant numbers in other major cities and towns.
The city counts are based on the registered office address text as it appears in the Companies House register. This means the counts are indicative, as address formatting can vary and some addresses may not include a city name. A company's registered office does not necessarily indicate where the business operates or where its directors are based.
Incorporations by company type
Private limited companies made up 96.9 per cent of incorporations in September 2026, as of 3 October 2026. The table below shows the breakdown by company type.
Incorporations by company type, Sept 2026
| Company type | Incorporated |
|---|---|
| Private limited company | 66,255 |
| Limited liability partnership | 258 |
| Public limited company | 14 |
| Company limited by guarantee | 1,582 |
Source: Companies House advanced search
Private limited companies are by far the most common type of company formed in the United Kingdom. This company type offers limited liability protection to its shareholders whilst maintaining relatively straightforward administrative requirements. Other company types include public limited companies, limited liability partnerships, and private unlimited companies, each with different legal structures and regulatory requirements.
The dominance of private limited companies in the incorporation statistics has remained consistent over time. This reflects the suitability of this company type for small and medium-sized businesses, which make up the majority of new company formations in the United Kingdom.
Incorporations in ten selected sectors
The table below shows incorporations in September 2026 for ten industry sectors, identified by the first Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code filed with Companies House. The ten codes cover sectors relevant to wealth, property, technology, hospitality and care.
Incorporations in ten selected sectors (first SIC code), Sept 2026
| SIC 2007 | Sector | Incorporated |
|---|---|---|
| 62012 | Business and domestic software development | 4,360 |
| 70229 | Management consultancy | 4,149 |
| 68100 | Buying and selling of own real estate | 3,232 |
| 68209 | Letting and operating of own or leased real estate | 5,000 |
| 64205 | Activities of financial services holding companies | 92 |
| 56101 | Licensed restaurants | 786 |
| 47910 | Retail sale via mail order or internet | 7,613 |
| 86900 | Other human health activities | 1,193 |
| 87100 | Residential nursing care | 71 |
| 41100 | Development of building projects | 1,023 |
Source: Companies House advanced search
These counts use only the first SIC code declared by each company and cover only the ten codes shown. Many companies file multiple SIC codes, and the full SIC 2007 classification contains hundreds of codes. The ten sectors shown here were selected for their relevance to wealth management, property development and rental, technology services, hospitality businesses, and care services.
The sector breakdown provides insight into which industries are seeing the most new company formations. However, it represents only a subset of all incorporations in September 2026, as many companies file SIC codes outside these ten categories. Companies can also change their SIC codes after incorporation as their business activities evolve.
What changed since the last update
This is the first edition of this page; the next refresh will show what has changed.
Frequently asked questions
How many companies were formed in the UK in September 2026?
68,379 companies were incorporated in the United Kingdom in September 2026, as of 3 October 2026, according to the Companies House register.
How many companies were dissolved in September 2026?
63,051 companies were dissolved in September 2026, as of 3 October 2026. The net change was an increase of 5,328 registered companies.
How many companies were formed in the last twelve months?
In the twelve months to September 2026, 782,015 companies were incorporated and 744,846 were dissolved, as of 3 October 2026.
What percentage of new companies are registered in London?
27.8 per cent of companies incorporated in September 2026 gave a London registered office address, as of 3 October 2026. City counts match address text, so they are indicative.
What is the most common type of company formed?
Private limited companies accounted for 96.9 per cent of incorporations in September 2026, as of 3 October 2026, making them by far the most common company type.
Download the data
Download the tables as CSV (data as of 30 September 2026).
Sources
- Companies House advanced company search
- Companies House API documentation
- UK SIC 2007 condensed list
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Updated 3 October 2026. This page is refreshed automatically when new data is published; figures carry the date they are true for. Permanent link: https://millionaire.news/uk-company-formations-statistics/
Last verified: 2026-10-03
