Courier or delivery companies in Manchester
218 courier or delivery companies have a registered office in Manchester, and 88 of them were formed in 2025 or 2026. In their latest accounts, the typical one held £6,364 in cash and owed £10,556 at year end.
The numbers
| Measure | Manchester | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Registered companies | 218 | 7,984 |
| Formed in 2025 or 2026 | 88 (40%) | 32% |
| Being struck off or in liquidation | 34 (16%) | 19% |
| Typical cash at year end | £6,36432 accounts | £5,748 |
| Typical amount owed at year end | £10,55684 accounts | £9,097 |
| Typical number of employees | 186 accounts | 1 |
What this means if you’re starting one
More of these companies are closing than in most trades
13% of courier or delivery companies in Manchester are currently being struck off, against 8.3% of all companies there. Nationally that rate is higher than 98% of UK industries.
Closures run high here. It is a churn signal, not a survival rate, but it means the common failure points are worth learning before you start.
Most of your competition will be other newcomers
40% of the 218 courier or delivery companies in Manchester were formed in 2025–26, against 28% of all companies in Manchester. Nationally, that share of new companies is higher than 91% of UK industries.
New rivals are arriving faster than in most trades, so your customers already have fresh options. Being new is not a difference on its own.
Cash is tight in this trade
At year end the typical courier or delivery company in Manchester holds £6,364 in cash and owes £10,556; that cash figure is lower than 97% 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 Manchester?
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.
Courier or delivery in other places
- London735 companies
- Birmingham450 companies
- Northampton267 companies
- Medway197 companies
Other businesses in Manchester
- Buy-to-let landlord7,441 companies
- Online shop6,584 companies
- Business consultancy4,033 companies
- Dog grooming and other personal services3,648 companies
- IT support or consultancy2,429 companies
- Takeaway and street food2,411 companies
- Physiotherapy or therapy clinic2,365 companies
- Web design and software2,306 companies