September marked the close of Q3, a key checkpoint for UK businesses. It’s the moment when companies pause, review performance, and refine their strategies for the remainder of the year. With three months still ahead, the insights from Q3 provide a strong indicator of where opportunities and risks may lie. That’s why we’re excited to share DataGardener’s September 2025 Business Insights Report, your guide to the trends, data, and developments shaping the UK business landscape.
Business Overview: September 2025
These figures highlight the continued dynamism of the UK economy as companies enter, expand, and adjust to shifting market conditions.
New Company Formations
In Q3 2025, more than 210K new startups were registered in the UK, showing strong entrepreneurial activity. By comparison, Q2 2025 saw over 207K company registrations, maintaining momentum across both quarters.
Quarterly breakdown of new company formations
Regional Distribution of Companies Incorporated Q3 2025 Vs Q2 2025
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Company Dissolution in Q3
Alongside new company formations, the number of business closures rose. In Q3 2025, more than 236K companies were dissolved, compared to 186K in Q2 2025.
Quarterly breakdown of company dissolutions
This increase may signal restructuring within certain industries, while also pointing to areas where resilience and growth opportunities remain.
Charges Registered in Q3
Business borrowing and financial activity remained steady, with more than 36K charges registered in Q3 2025, compared to 35K+ in Q2 2025.
Quarterly breakdown of charges
Regional Distribution of Charges Registered Q3 2025 Vs Q2 2025
County Court Judgments (CCJs)
In Q3 2025, over 25K CCJs were filed, a decrease from 30K+ in Q2 2025. This drop could suggest that financial distress among businesses has slightly eased.
Quarterly breakdown of CCJs
Regional Distribution of CCJs Filed Q3 2025 Vs Q2 2025
Industry Insights: September 2025
The top 10 industries for new company registrations in September 2025 represent a diverse range of sectors driving the economy forward.
The analysis of the Standard Industrial Classification reveals a diverse array of industries, each contributing to the overall landscape of the company registered.
The Wholesale/Retail Trade sector leads with 18.7% of registered companies, followed by Real Estate Activities and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Activities, both of which account for over 8-10% of registered companies.
Construction and Information/Communication also have a notable share, each around 7-8%.
This data suggests that these sectors are more likely to register companies due to their operational scale and regulatory requirements, providing critical insights for risk management and identifying market opportunities.
Female Founders: Q3 2025
Female entrepreneurship remained strong in Q3 2025, with 32K+ new female-owned businesses registered, slightly higher than the 31K+ in Q2 2025.
Quarterly breakdown of female-founded companies
Companies registered in September 2025 vs August 2025
In September 2025, over 8K new companies were registered, which are owned by females, marking a significant decline from the 11K+ companies registered in August 2025.
The number of companies registered by female owners decreased by approximately 33.3% from August to September 2025.
Female-Owned Businesses – Industrial Insights September 2025
Top 3 industries with female-owned businesses
Female-Owned Businesses – Regional Insights September 2025
Top 3 regions with female-owned businesses
Conclusion
Q3 2025 showed both growth and caution across the UK business landscape. While company formations remain high, dissolutions also increased sharply, reflecting the mixed pressures businesses are facing. Charges continue to rise steadily, but the number of CCJs filed has decreased, suggesting an improvement in financial stability for some.
As we move into Q4, businesses that can adapt quickly to these trends, by leveraging data, spotting risks early, and seizing growth opportunities, will be best positioned to succeed.
Note: All insights are sourced from DataGardener’s September 2025 UK Business Insights Report. For deeper data, API access, or customised dashboards, visit DataGardener.com.