Painter and decorator companies in the Tonbridge area
135 painter and decorator companies have a registered office in the Tonbridge area (TN postcodes), and 19 of them were formed in 2025 or 2026. In their latest accounts, the typical one held £10,378 in cash and owed £14,413 at year end.
The numbers
| Measure | Tonbridge | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Registered companies | 135 | 12,501 |
| Formed in 2025 or 2026 | 19 (14%) | 24% |
| Being struck off or in liquidation | 21 (16%) | 12% |
| Typical cash at year end | £10,37846 accounts | £11,567 |
| Typical amount owed at year end | £14,41386 accounts | £13,910 |
| Typical number of employees | 185 accounts | 1 |
What this means if you’re starting one
More of these companies are closing than in most trades
15% of painter and decorator companies in the Tonbridge area (TN postcodes) are currently being struck off, against 5.9% 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.
Cash is tight in this trade
At year end the typical painter and decorator company in the Tonbridge area (TN postcodes) holds £10,378 in cash and owes £14,413; that cash figure is lower than 80% 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 painter and decorator company in the Tonbridge area (TN postcodes) reports 1 employee; the top quarter has 2 or more (85 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 Tonbridge?
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
- Portsmouth235 companies
- Brighton175 companies
- Medway170 companies
- Southampton144 companies
- Hemel Hempstead140 companies
- Dartford135 companies
- Reading134 companies
- London1,587 companies
Other businesses in Tonbridge
- Buy-to-let landlord3,040 companies
- Business consultancy3,031 companies
- IT support or consultancy1,429 companies
- Dog grooming and other personal services1,166 companies
- Online shop896 companies
- Web design and software843 companies
- Builder807 companies
- Physiotherapy or therapy clinic790 companies