New analysis by Your Company Formations suggests the UK’s entrepreneurial economy remains remarkably resilient, with business formation recovering following regulatory changes while business closures continue to decline.
Although UK company incorporations slowed following Companies House reforms and higher statutory fees, the latest data indicates that entrepreneurial activity is already strengthening across the North, suggesting the earlier decline reflected a period of market adjustment rather than weakening business confidence.
Your Company Formations analysed data from Companies House, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and other official business datasets to assess the outlook for UK entrepreneurship heading into 2026.
Companies House recorded 801,864 new company incorporations during the financial year ending 31 March 2025, approximately 10% lower than the previous year. The reduction coincided with increased incorporation fees and reforms introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, which strengthened identity verification and corporate transparency requirements.
However, incorporation activity recovered quickly.
During Quarter 3 of 2025, Companies House recorded 215,982 new incorporations, representing a 12.68% increase compared with the same quarter in 2024. Business
creation also increased across 15 of the UK’s 16 major industrial groups during Quarter
4 2025, with the strongest growth recorded in the transport and storage, and information
and communication sectors.
When looking at their own regional data from Your Company Formations, they found
Manchester remains the entrepreneurial powerhouse of the North West, generating
more new business activity than any other Greater Manchester borough during the first
half of 2026.
Professional, creative, technology and property-related businesses continue to feature prominently in Manchester business registrations, reflecting the increasingly diverse nature of Greater Manchester’s economy.
The findings suggest that entrepreneurs have adapted rapidly to the new regulatory environment, with incorporation activity returning to growth despite higher compliance
expectations. The analysis also points to improving business resilience.
According to the Office for National Statistics, 65,750 businesses closed during Quarter
4 of 2025, representing a 3.6% decrease compared with the same period a year earlier.
Nine of the UK’s sixteen principal industrial sectors reported fewer closures, with the largest improvements recorded in transport and storage, together with business administration and support services.
The combination of increasing business creation alongside falling closure rates
suggests that the UK’s entrepreneurial ecosystem remains healthy despite continued
economic uncertainty.
Robert Engeham (pictured), founder and CEO of Your Company Formations, said: “The latest figures present a far more encouraging picture than many people might expect. While regulatory changes temporarily slowed incorporation volumes, we are already seeing formation activity recover alongside fewer business closures.
“One of the most encouraging findings is the geographical spread of new businesses. Entrepreneurial activity isn’t confined to Manchester itself; we’re seeing founders establishing companies across Bolton, Salford, Stockport, Bury, Rochdale, Wigan and many other communities throughout Greater Manchester.”
International demand for UK company formation also remains positive.
Companies House recorded 14,574 overseas companies with a UK establishment at the end of the financial year ending March 2025, representing 1.9% annual growth and reinforcing the UK’s continuing appeal as a destination for international entrepreneurs and globally focused businesses.
The findings support a broader trend emerging across the UK business landscape. While regulatory expectations surrounding identity verification, corporate transparency and governance continue to increase, entrepreneurial confidence appears to be strengthening rather than weakening.
Founders are increasingly establishing businesses with greater emphasis on compliance, operational resilience and long-term sustainability.
About Your Company Formations
Your Company Formations is one of the UK’s leading company formation and business
compliance specialists, having supported more than a million entrepreneurs. The
business provides company registration, registered office services, identity verification,
compliance support and business administration services for founders in the UK and
internationally.
