Painter and decorator companies in the Portsmouth area
235 painter and decorator companies have a registered office in the Portsmouth area (PO postcodes), and 62 of them were formed in 2025 or 2026. In their latest accounts, the typical one held £11,760 in cash and owed £19,244 at year end.
The numbers
| Measure | Portsmouth | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Registered companies | 235 | 12,501 |
| Formed in 2025 or 2026 | 62 (26%) | 24% |
| Being struck off or in liquidation | 38 (16%) | 12% |
| Typical cash at year end | £11,76064 accounts | £11,567 |
| Typical amount owed at year end | £19,244125 accounts | £13,910 |
| Typical number of employees | 1123 accounts | 1 |
What this means if you’re starting one
the Portsmouth area (PO postcodes) already has more of these businesses than most places
Painter and decorator companies are 0.41% of companies registered in the Portsmouth area (PO postcodes), against 0.23% UK-wide (1.8× the national share).
Demand here is proven, but so is choice. Customers can compare you with several nearby options.
Most of these businesses are run by one or two people
The typical painter and decorator company in the Portsmouth area (PO postcodes) reports 1 employee; the top quarter has 2 or more (123 filings).
You are mostly up against owner-operators. Your own hours are likely to be your biggest cost, and the easiest one to undercount.
More of these companies are closing than in most trades
15% of painter and decorator companies in the Portsmouth area (PO postcodes) are currently being struck off, against 6.8% of all companies there. Nationally that rate is higher than 82% 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 Portsmouth?
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.
Painter and decorator in other places
- Brighton175 companies
- Medway170 companies
- Southampton144 companies
- Hemel Hempstead140 companies
- Dartford135 companies
- Tonbridge135 companies
- Reading134 companies
- London1,587 companies
Other businesses in Portsmouth
- Buy-to-let landlord2,993 companies
- Business consultancy2,281 companies
- Dog grooming and other personal services1,284 companies
- IT support or consultancy1,115 companies
- Online shop936 companies
- Builder873 companies
- Electrician833 companies
- Plumber833 companies