Online shop companies in Manchester
6,584 online shop companies have a registered office in Manchester, and 3,573 of them were formed in 2025 or 2026. In their latest accounts, the typical one held £2,842 in cash and owed £8,045 at year end.
The numbers
| Measure | Manchester | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Registered companies | 6,584 | 162,689 |
| Formed in 2025 or 2026 | 3,573 (54%) | 51% |
| Being struck off or in liquidation | 705 (11%) | 10% |
| Typical cash at year end | £2,842560 accounts | £3,974 |
| Typical amount owed at year end | £8,0451,871 accounts | £7,594 |
| Typical number of employees | 11,914 accounts | 1 |
What this means if you’re starting one
Most of your competition will be other newcomers
54% of the 6,584 online shop companies in Manchester were formed in 2025–26, against 28% of all companies in Manchester. Nationally, that share of new companies is higher than 99% 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 online shop company in Manchester holds £2,842 in cash and owes £8,045; that cash figure is lower than 99% 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.
You can start without much equipment
The typical online shop company in Manchester carries £1,193 of equipment and other fixed assets after depreciation, lower than 99% of UK industries.
Most of the cost of entry is time and running costs rather than kit, so a small test is cheap.
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.
Online shop in other places
- Stockport1,272 companies
- Liverpool1,233 companies
- Preston1,010 companies
- Warrington865 companies
- Chester822 companies
- London50,599 companies
- Birmingham5,522 companies
- Cardiff4,296 companies
Other businesses in Manchester
- Buy-to-let landlord7,441 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
- Hair and beauty salon1,783 companies