Web design and software companies in Bristol
1,268 web design and software companies have a registered office in Bristol, and 406 of them were formed in 2025 or 2026. In their latest accounts, the typical one held £39,496 in cash and owed £20,026 at year end.
The numbers
| Measure | Bristol | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Registered companies | 1,268 | 96,921 |
| Formed in 2025 or 2026 | 406 (32%) | 42% |
| Being struck off or in liquidation | 53 (4.2%) | 6.4% |
| Typical cash at year end | £39,496258 accounts | £25,881 |
| Typical amount owed at year end | £20,026609 accounts | £15,248 |
| Typical number of employees | 1615 accounts | 1 |
What this means if you’re starting one
Most of your competition will be other newcomers
32% of the 1,268 web design and software companies in Bristol were formed in 2025–26, against 18% of all companies in Bristol. Nationally, that share of new companies is higher than 98% 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 web design and software company in Bristol carries £2,186 of equipment and other fixed assets after depreciation, lower than 90% of UK industries.
Most of the cost of entry is time and running costs rather than kit, so a small test is cheap.
Most of these businesses are run by one or two people
The typical web design and software company in Bristol reports 1 employee; the top quarter has 2 or more (615 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 Bristol?
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.
Web design and software in other places
- Bournemouth1,073 companies
- Gloucester714 companies
- London36,572 companies
- Manchester2,306 companies
- Ipswich1,881 companies
- Birmingham1,881 companies
- Harrow1,501 companies
- Cardiff1,494 companies
Other businesses in Bristol
- Buy-to-let landlord4,258 companies
- Business consultancy2,651 companies
- IT support or consultancy1,604 companies
- Dog grooming and other personal services1,332 companies
- Online shop1,198 companies
- Physiotherapy or therapy clinic1,075 companies
- Builder954 companies
- Property management916 companies