Online shops have dominated new UK business registrations with 24,240 startups recorded in 2025. Following this, the property sector has shown significant growth, totalling 45,225 new ventures.
This is based on research from manufacturing software provider MRPeasy, which 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 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.
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 |
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.
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.
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 |
These data reveal 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.
