Online shop companies in the Medway area
1,044 online shop companies have a registered office in the Medway area (ME postcodes), and 406 of them were formed in 2025 or 2026. In their latest accounts, the typical one held £6,508 in cash and owed £9,717 at year end.
The numbers
| Measure | Medway | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Registered companies | 1,044 | 162,689 |
| Formed in 2025 or 2026 | 406 (39%) | 51% |
| Being struck off or in liquidation | 94 (9%) | 10% |
| Typical cash at year end | £6,508120 accounts | £3,974 |
| Typical amount owed at year end | £9,717422 accounts | £7,594 |
| Typical number of employees | 0432 accounts | 1 |
What this means if you’re starting one
Most of your competition will be other newcomers
39% of the 1,044 online shop companies in the Medway area (ME postcodes) were formed in 2025–26, against 20% of all companies in the Medway area (ME postcodes). 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.
You can start without much equipment
The typical online shop company in the Medway area (ME postcodes) carries £1,523 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.
Cash is tight in this trade
At year end the typical online shop company in the Medway area (ME postcodes) holds £6,508 in cash and owes £9,717; 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.
Planning a business like this in Medway?
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
- Slough1,446 companies
- Reading1,303 companies
- Milton Keynes1,252 companies
- Kingston upon Thames1,072 companies
- Brighton1,067 companies
- Hemel Hempstead1,057 companies
- Guildford1,029 companies
- Portsmouth936 companies
Other businesses in Medway
- Buy-to-let landlord2,174 companies
- Business consultancy1,780 companies
- Dog grooming and other personal services1,033 companies
- Haulage1,031 companies
- IT support or consultancy942 companies
- Physiotherapy or therapy clinic895 companies
- Electrician852 companies
- Builder822 companies