UK company incorporations July to September 2026: the figures

Companies House recorded 193,789 new company incorporations in the UK between July and September 2026, 10.3% fewer than in the same quarter of 2025. Dissolutions were higher, at 214,754, so the register shrank by 30,383 companies to 5,485,994. The figures come from Companies House’s quarterly official statistics, published on 29 October 2026.

How many companies were incorporated in July to September 2026?

There were 193,789 incorporations in the quarter, according to Companies House’s July to September 2026 release. That was slightly up on the previous quarter but well below a year earlier.

The changes up to January to March 2026 are as Companies House published them; the last two are our calculations, because the newer releases do not state them. Compared with a year earlier, incorporations fell by 22,193 (10.3%), also our calculation. Over the four quarters to September 2026 there were 775,576 incorporations in total.

How many companies were dissolved?

There were 214,754 dissolutions in the quarter, around 21,000 more than incorporations. Companies House breaks them down as follows:

Compulsory dissolutions rose by 38,639 on the previous quarter. Part of the reason is timing: Companies House said fewer companies were struck off in June 2026, only 27,717, because some online services were unavailable from 12 to 16 June, and strike-offs rose in July as a result. Dissolutions were still 8.4% lower than the 234,373 recorded in July to September 2025.

What happened to the size of the register?

The register fell by 30,383 companies, or 0.6%, over the quarter. It ended September 2026 at 5,485,994, compared with 5,516,377 at the end of June 2026. The month-by-month pattern shows the effect of the July strike-offs:

• July 2026: 5,477,095 companies, down 39,282
• August 2026: 5,470,862 companies, down 6,233
• September 2026: 5,485,994 companies, up 15,132

Year on year, the register is still bigger. At the end of September 2025 it stood at 5,454,109, so it grew by 31,885 companies (0.6%) over twelve months.

How did England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland compare?

All three jurisdictions shrank over the quarter, with England and Wales accounting for most of the fall.

Why did incorporations fall?

Companies House does not give a reason for the lower number of incorporations. Two changes since late 2025 are on the record, but neither is linked to the figures by the release:

• Higher fees. Companies House raised fees for incorporation and registration documents on 1 February 2026. Its fees page now shows £100 to incorporate online or through software, and £124 on paper.
• Identity verification. Since 18 November 2025, verifying identity has been a legal requirement for directors, people with significant control and those filing on behalf of companies. See how to verify your identity with Companies House.

Treat any claim that either change caused the fall with care until Companies House or other official data shows it.

A note on the data

The July to September 2026 release presents fewer measures than earlier ones. It does not give the effective register, which excludes companies being dissolved or liquidated; that stood at 4,930,634 at the end of March 2026. It also does not publish quarter-on-quarter or year-on-year percentage changes, so the comparisons above are calculated from separate releases. The full tables, including limited liability partnerships, are in the Excel, CSV and ODS files on the release page.

What this means for advisers and directors

1. Expect more strike-off activity. If a client’s company has fallen behind on filings, act before it reaches the compulsory strike-off stage. Objections move online only from 1 December 2026; see strike-off objections online.
2. Budget for the £100 incorporation fee when quoting for new company set-ups; our guide on how to set up a limited company covers the process.
3. Check ID verification before incorporating. New directors must be verified, which can add time to a set-up.
4. Watch for the next release on 28 January 2027, which will cover October to December 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How many companies were set up in the UK in July to September 2026?

Companies House recorded 193,789 incorporations in the quarter, published on 29 October 2026.

Are UK company incorporations falling?

Incorporations were 10.3% lower than in July to September 2025, though slightly higher than in April to June 2026.

How many companies are on the UK register?

There were 5,485,994 companies on the register at the end of September 2026, down 30,383 on the quarter.

Why were so many companies struck off in July 2026?

Fewer companies were struck off in June 2026 because some Companies House online services were unavailable from 12 to 16 June, so more were struck off in July.

When are the next incorporation statistics due?

Companies House’s next quarterly release, for October to December 2026, is due on 28 January 2027.