Marketing or advertising agency companies in Bristol
372 marketing or advertising agency companies have a registered office in Bristol, and 83 of them were formed in 2025 or 2026. In their latest accounts, the typical one held £28,996 in cash and owed £20,207 at year end.
The numbers
| Measure | Bristol | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Registered companies | 372 | 33,083 |
| Formed in 2025 or 2026 | 83 (22%) | 33% |
| Being struck off or in liquidation | 23 (6.2%) | 9.2% |
| Typical cash at year end | £28,99679 accounts | £17,802 |
| Typical amount owed at year end | £20,207212 accounts | £14,687 |
| Typical number of employees | 1213 accounts | 1 |
What this means if you’re starting one
You can start without much equipment
The typical marketing or advertising agency company in Bristol carries £2,528 of equipment and other fixed assets after depreciation, lower than 94% of UK industries.
Most of the cost of entry is time and running costs rather than kit, so a small test is cheap.
Most of these businesses are run by one or two people
The typical marketing or advertising agency company in Bristol reports 1 employee; the top quarter has 3 or more (213 filings).
You are mostly up against owner-operators. Your own hours are likely to be your biggest cost, and the easiest one to undercount.
Most of your competition will be other newcomers
22% of the 372 marketing or advertising agency companies in Bristol were formed in 2025–26, against 18% of all companies in Bristol. Nationally, that share of new companies is higher than 92% 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.
Planning a business like this in Bristol?
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.
Marketing or advertising agency in other places
- Bournemouth370 companies
- Gloucester212 companies
- London10,410 companies
- Manchester1,001 companies
- Birmingham767 companies
- Cardiff549 companies
- Brighton499 companies
- Ipswich468 companies
Other businesses in Bristol
- Buy-to-let landlord4,258 companies
- Business consultancy2,651 companies
- IT support or consultancy1,604 companies
- Dog grooming and other personal services1,332 companies
- Web design and software1,268 companies
- Online shop1,198 companies
- Physiotherapy or therapy clinic1,075 companies
- Builder954 companies