Online retail tops UK startup charts reveal over 24,000 new businesses
Street scene showing local retail outlets.
— Image by © Tim Sandle
Online shops dominate a new UK business registrations with 24,240 startups recorded in 2025. The property sector grabbed three spots in the top ten most common business types, totalling 45,225 new ventures.
Online shopping has emerged as Britain’s favourite new business venture, according to a new review from manufacturing software provider MRPeasy. The survey finds that Internet retail dominated new UK business registrations last year.
The analysis of Companies House data showed retail sales via mail order houses or via the Internet topped the chart with a considerable number – 24,240 new firms registered. Online shops now make up nearly a third of all new businesses in Britain’s wholesale and retail sector.
Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate secured second place with 22,321 new businesses, while buying and selling of own real estate took third with 16,741 registrations.
Management consultancy activities ranked fourth with 13,881 new firms, information technology consultancy came fifth with 9,478 registrations, and business and domestic software development took ninth with 7,044 companies.
Food businesses made a strong showing with take-away food shops and mobile food stands grabbing sixth place. Next came other business support service activities in seventh spot with 7,337 registrations, and other service activities in eighth with 7,074 new firms. The tenth most popular business type was activities of other holding companies, with 6,473 new registrations, pointing to significant activity in corporate structuring.
Looking at broader categories, wholesale and retail trade led with 83,090 total new businesses, followed by real estate activities (49,714 businesses) and professional, scientific and technical activities (41,990 businesses).
Information and communication took fourth spot with 37,326 new businesses, while construction completed the top five with 34,782 new registrations.
Top 10 Most Common Business Classifications in the UK in 2025
| Classification | Category | Businesses | |
| 1 | Retail sales via mail order houses or via the Internet | Wholesale and retail trade | 24,240 |
| 2 | Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate | Real estate activities | 22,321 |
| 3 | Buying and selling of own real estate | Real estate activities | 16,741 |
| 4 | Management consultancy activities other than financial management | Professional, scientific and technical activities | 13,881 |
| 5 | Information technology consultancy activities | Information and communication | 9,478 |
| 6 | Take-away food shops and mobile food stands | Accommodation and food service activities | 8,374 |
| 7 | Other business support service activities n.e.c. | Administrative and support service activities | 7,337 |
| 8 | Other service activities n.e.c. | Other service activities | 7,074 |
| 9 | Business and domestic software development | Information and communication | 7,044 |
| 10 | Activities of other holding companies n.e.c. | Financial and insurance activities | 6,473 |
At the opposite end of the scale, traditional industries saw minimal new activity. Mining and quarrying proved the least popular business category with just 373 new registrations across Britain. Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply ranked second-lowest with 643 new businesses, followed by water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities with 1,125 registrations. Public administration and defence; compulsory social security took fourth-last place with 1,171 new businesses, while agriculture, forestry and fishing completed the bottom five with 1,652 registrations.
These data reveal clear trends in the UK’s entrepreneurial landscape, with digital businesses continuing to lead the way. The strong showing of e-commerce reflects how the pandemic permanently changed consumer shopping habits, creating opportunities for new online.
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