Web design and software companies in Manchester
2,306 web design and software companies have a registered office in Manchester, and 1,078 of them were formed in 2025 or 2026. In their latest accounts, the typical one held £24,451 in cash and owed £14,401 at year end.
The numbers
| Measure | Manchester | UK |
|---|---|---|
| Registered companies | 2,306 | 96,921 |
| Formed in 2025 or 2026 | 1,078 (47%) | 42% |
| Being struck off or in liquidation | 183 (7.9%) | 6.4% |
| Typical cash at year end | £24,451322 accounts | £25,881 |
| Typical amount owed at year end | £14,401791 accounts | £15,248 |
| Typical number of employees | 1810 accounts | 1 |
What this means if you’re starting one
Most of your competition will be other newcomers
47% of the 2,306 web design and software companies in Manchester were formed in 2025–26, against 28% of all companies in Manchester. 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 Manchester carries £2,622 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 Manchester reports 1 employee; the top quarter has 2 or more (810 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 Manchester?
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
- Warrington746 companies
- Stockport724 companies
- Liverpool659 companies
- Chester477 companies
- Preston418 companies
- London36,572 companies
- Ipswich1,881 companies
- Birmingham1,881 companies
Other businesses in Manchester
- Buy-to-let landlord7,441 companies
- Online shop6,584 companies
- Business consultancy4,033 companies
- Dog grooming and other personal services3,648 companies
- IT support or consultancy2,429 companies
- Takeaway and street food2,411 companies
- Physiotherapy or therapy clinic2,365 companies
- Hair and beauty salon1,783 companies