Car repair and valeting companies in the Southampton area
539 car repair and valeting companies have a registered office in the Southampton area (SO postcodes), and 92 of them were formed in 2025 or 2026. In their latest accounts, the typical one held £21,810 in cash and owed £42,166 at year end.
The numbers
| Measure | Southampton | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Registered companies | 539 | 52,744 |
| Formed in 2025 or 2026 | 92 (17%) | 23% |
| Being struck off or in liquidation | 58 (11%) | 9.8% |
| Typical cash at year end | £21,810185 accounts | £22,955 |
| Typical amount owed at year end | £42,166348 accounts | £34,132 |
| Typical number of employees | 2351 accounts | 2 |
What this means if you’re starting one
Most of these businesses are run by one or two people
The typical car repair and valeting company in the Southampton area (SO postcodes) reports 2 employees; the top quarter has 5 or more (351 filings).
You are mostly up against owner-operators. Your own hours are likely to be your biggest cost, and the easiest one to undercount.
Cash is tight in this trade
At year end the typical car repair and valeting company in the Southampton area (SO postcodes) holds £21,810 in cash and owes £42,166; that cash figure is lower than 54% of UK industries.
Typical operators end the year holding less cash than they owe, so there is little slack if takings dip or a big bill lands early.
Planning a business like this in Southampton?
Answer two questions about your customer and what makes you different, and get a free three-week plan to test the idea before you spend real money. No account or card.
Check my ideaWhat these figures can’t tell you
Companies are counted where their registered office is, which may be an accountant or a home address rather than a shop. Sole traders and partnerships are not on the register, and electronically filed accounts cover roughly 60–75% of accounts filed each year. The figures describe companies that exist; they cannot prove demand for your idea or predict whether it will work. How the figures are built.
Car repair and valeting in other places
- Milton Keynes692 companies
- Reading666 companies
- Portsmouth638 companies
- Brighton585 companies
- Guildford579 companies
- Tonbridge562 companies
- Medway546 companies
- Hemel Hempstead523 companies
Other businesses in Southampton
- Buy-to-let landlord2,349 companies
- Business consultancy2,068 companies
- IT support or consultancy1,029 companies
- Dog grooming and other personal services984 companies
- Online shop882 companies
- Haulage791 companies
- Builder716 companies
- Web design and software701 companies