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Removals companies in London

1,086 removals companies have a registered office in London, and 479 of them were formed in 2025 or 2026. In their latest accounts, the typical one held £6,120 in cash and owed £8,523 at year end.

Companies House register, 1 September 2026, and accounts filed in the last twelve months. Compared with the official category “Removal services” (SIC 49420).

The numbers

Removals companies in London compared with the same category across the UK. Typical figures are medians.
MeasureLondonUK
Registered companies1,0865,408
Formed in 2025 or 2026479 (44%)36%
Being struck off or in liquidation138 (13%)13%
Typical cash at year end£6,120139 accounts£8,125
Typical amount owed at year end£8,523390 accounts£13,869
Typical number of employees1397 accounts1

What this means if you’re starting one

More of these companies are closing than in most trades

12% of removals companies in London are currently being struck off, against 6.9% of all companies there. Nationally that rate is higher than 91% 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.

Most of your competition will be other newcomers

44% of the 1,086 removals companies in London were formed in 2025–26, against 28% of all companies in London. Nationally, that share of new companies is higher than 95% 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 removals company in London holds £6,120 in cash and owes £8,523; that cash figure is lower than 91% 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 London?

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What 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.

Other businesses in London

All business benchmarks in London