Event catering companies in the Southend-on-Sea area
171 event catering companies have a registered office in the Southend-on-Sea area (SS postcodes), and 54 of them were formed in 2025 or 2026. In their latest accounts, the typical one held £1,099 in cash and owed £9,998 at year end.
The numbers
| Measure | Southend-on-Sea | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Registered companies | 171 | 21,214 |
| Formed in 2025 or 2026 | 54 (32%) | 32% |
| Being struck off or in liquidation | 18 (11%) | 13% |
| Typical cash at year end | £1,09944 accounts | £7,570 |
| Typical amount owed at year end | £9,99876 accounts | £12,460 |
| Typical number of employees | 177 accounts | 1 |
What this means if you’re starting one
Most of your competition will be other newcomers
32% of the 171 event catering companies in the Southend-on-Sea area (SS postcodes) were formed in 2025–26, against 19% of all companies in the Southend-on-Sea area (SS postcodes). 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 event catering company in the Southend-on-Sea area (SS postcodes) holds £1,099 in cash and owes £9,998; that cash figure is lower than 92% 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.
More of these companies are closing than in most trades
7% of event catering companies in the Southend-on-Sea area (SS postcodes) are currently being struck off, against 7.3% of all companies there. Nationally that rate is higher than 90% 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.
Planning a business like this in Southend-on-Sea?
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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.
Event catering in other places
- Chelmsford242 companies
- London4,356 companies
- Birmingham788 companies
- Manchester505 companies
- Harrow403 companies
- Glasgow330 companies
- Cardiff321 companies
- Leicester307 companies
Other businesses in Southend-on-Sea
- Buy-to-let landlord2,267 companies
- Business consultancy1,683 companies
- Dog grooming and other personal services1,466 companies
- Electrician984 companies
- IT support or consultancy983 companies
- Handyman975 companies
- Online shop921 companies
- Takeaway and street food783 companies