The Most Common New Business in the UK? Online Retail!
Online shopping has emerged as Britain’s favourite new business venture, a fresh study reveals. Research from manufacturing software provider MRPeasy found that internet retail dominated new UK business registrations last year. Their analysis of Companies House data showed retail sales via mail order houses or via the Internet topped the chart with a whopping 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.
Five Least Common Business Categories in the UK in 2025
| Classification | Businesses | |
| 1 | Mining and quarrying | 373 |
| 2 | Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 643 |
| 3 | Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 1,125 |
| 4 | Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 1,171 |
| 5 | Agriculture, forestry and fishing | 1,652 |
Karl Heinrich Lauri, Managing Team Member at MRPeasy, offered his insights on the findings:
“The data reveals 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 retailers.
“It’s interesting that while manufacturing ranks outside the top ten categories, we’re still seeing over 12,000 new manufacturing businesses established in 2025. This suggests there remains solid interest in production despite challenges such as energy costs and supply chain disruptions.
“Small manufacturers today can compete effectively by using digital tools that were once only available to larger businesses. Modern MRP systems help these companies manage production efficiently and maintain competitiveness in an increasingly digital marketplace.”
