Haulage companies in the Chelmsford area
724 haulage companies have a registered office in the Chelmsford area (CM postcodes), and 144 of them were formed in 2025 or 2026. In their latest accounts, the typical one held £14,368 in cash and owed £13,715 at year end.
The numbers
| Measure | Chelmsford | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Registered companies | 724 | 68,316 |
| Formed in 2025 or 2026 | 144 (20%) | 27% |
| Being struck off or in liquidation | 131 (18%) | 18% |
| Typical cash at year end | £14,368221 accounts | £8,909 |
| Typical amount owed at year end | £13,715378 accounts | £10,608 |
| Typical number of employees | 1403 accounts | 1 |
What this means if you’re starting one
More of these companies are closing than in most trades
17% of haulage companies in the Chelmsford area (CM postcodes) are currently being struck off, against 6.6% 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.
Cash is tight in this trade
At year end the typical haulage company in the Chelmsford area (CM postcodes) holds £14,368 in cash and owes £13,715; that cash figure is lower than 88% 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.
Most of these businesses are run by one or two people
The typical haulage company in the Chelmsford area (CM postcodes) reports 1 employee; the top quarter has 2 or more (403 filings).
You are mostly up against owner-operators. Your own hours are likely to be your biggest cost, and the easiest one to undercount.
Planning a business like this in Chelmsford?
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.
Haulage in other places
- Peterborough2,721 companies
- Ipswich1,356 companies
- Southend-on-Sea634 companies
- Norwich394 companies
- London4,892 companies
- Birmingham3,672 companies
- Coventry2,458 companies
- Northampton2,238 companies
Other businesses in Chelmsford
- Buy-to-let landlord3,134 companies
- Business consultancy3,046 companies
- Dog grooming and other personal services1,563 companies
- IT support or consultancy1,500 companies
- Physiotherapy or therapy clinic1,174 companies
- Online shop1,131 companies
- Electrician1,034 companies
- Builder914 companies