Insights
Notes on UK company formation, sectors, regions and what the register reveals about the market.
What happens to new UK companies? Survival rates for 2016–2025 incorporations
27.4% of UK companies formed in 2016 are still active. Exact Companies House cohort data on how many new companies dissolve, how fast, and in which lines of business.
Top SIC codes by new UK company registrations, H1 2026
400,193 companies were incorporated in the UK in the first half of 2026, down 5.9% year on year. Exact counts for the 20 most-registered SIC codes, what grew, what shrank, and who to target.
Where new UK companies registered in Q2 2026: the top towns and cities
London took 54,077 of the 193,829 companies incorporated in the UK in the second quarter of 2026. Exact registration counts for 39 towns and cities, with year-on-year change.
How Companies House Works: The UK Register Explained
Companies House is the UK's official registrar of companies. Here's what it is, what's on the register, what companies must file, and how to actually use the data.
How to Research a UK Company: A Step-by-Step Guide
A practical, step-by-step way to research any UK company from public data — its people, ownership, finances, filings and red flags — and what each source tells you.
UK Company Types Explained: Ltd, PLC, LLP, CIC & More
A plain-English guide to the main UK company and business types — private limited (Ltd), PLC, LLP, CIC and sole trader — and how to tell them apart on the register.
Company Accounts Explained: Dormant, Micro-Entity & Small
What UK company accounts are, why the level of detail varies by company size, and how to read dormant, micro-entity and small-company accounts on the register.
What Is a Confirmation Statement? (UK Companies)
A confirmation statement is the annual filing that confirms a UK company's key details are up to date. Here's what it covers, who files it, and why it matters for research.
UK Company Status Meanings: Active, Dormant, Dissolved & More
What each Companies House company status means — active, dormant, dissolved, in liquidation, in administration and proposed strike-off — and what it tells you.
The Best UK Company Database in 2026: A Buyer's Guide
There's no single best UK company database — the right one depends on your job. Here's how the main categories compare and how to choose without overpaying.
Endole Alternative: Free, Live UK Company Search
Endole is a popular way to look up UK company data. If you want live register data, new-formation tracking and transparent sourcing, here's how CompaniesIQ compares.
Company Check Alternative: Live Company Intelligence, Not Just Credit
Company Check is known for financials and credit context. If your job is finding, researching and tracking UK companies — especially new ones — here's how CompaniesIQ compares.
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