Skincare or cosmetics brand companies in London
942 skincare or cosmetics brand companies have a registered office in London, and 538 of them were formed in 2025 or 2026. In their latest accounts, the typical one held £15,234 in cash and owed £18,033 at year end.
The numbers
| Measure | London | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Registered companies | 942 | 2,561 |
| Formed in 2025 or 2026 | 538 (57%) | 51% |
| Being struck off or in liquidation | 54 (5.7%) | 6.9% |
| Typical cash at year end | £15,23463 accounts | £15,779 |
| Typical amount owed at year end | £18,033225 accounts | £21,406 |
| Typical number of employees | 1233 accounts | 1 |
What this means if you’re starting one
Most of your competition will be other newcomers
57% of the 942 skincare or cosmetics brand companies in London were formed in 2025–26, against 28% of all companies in London. 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.
London already has more of these businesses than most places
Skincare or cosmetics brand companies are 0.08% of companies registered in London, against 0.05% UK-wide (1.8× the national share).
Demand here is proven, but so is choice. Customers can compare you with several nearby options.
You can start without much equipment
The typical skincare or cosmetics brand company in London carries £1,999 of equipment and other fixed assets after depreciation, lower than 88% 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 London?
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.
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