Companies in Cardiff

United Kingdom|61.5% formed since 2020|Data updated 17 Apr 2026
30,508
Active

30,508 active companies are currently registered in Cardiff, a major UK business hub. Out of 67,837 companies ever registered here, 129 are no longer active — a 45% survival rate. The area has seen significant recent growth, with 61.5% of active businesses incorporated since 2020. Over half (137%) of active companies were formed since 2020, making this one of the UK's fastest-growing business locations. The most common industry sector is retail sale via mail order houses or via internet, with 1,604 companies. The area hosts 308 large enterprises, 318 small firms. Cardiff is home to 580 FCA-regulated firms and 332 registered charities. Companies here hold 483 government contracts worth £657.8M in total. The average company age is 7.0 years. The earliest company registration in Cardiff dates back to 1881.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, April 2026

30,508
Active Companies
67,837
Total Registered
1881
Oldest Company
61.5%
Growth (2020s)

Cardiff is a growth hotspot — over half of its active companies were formed since 2020.

Incorporation by Decade
31%
62%
Pre-1990: 977
1990s: 849
2000s: 3,331
2010s: 20,909
2020s: 41,771

Data Signals

Governance
91,3035 src
Financial
50,08511 src
Compliance
17,19517 src
Risk
15,21311 src
Trade
1,3302 src
quality
1,2454 src
ESG
8066 src
growth
5283 src
innovation
3132 src
operational
1911 src
corporate_structure
351 src
regulatory
111 src

Business Landscape

The average active company in Cardiff is 7 years old. There are 580 <Link href="/glossary/fca-financial-conduct-authority">FCA-regulated firms</Link> in the area. 332 registered charities operate locally.

7 yrs
Avg company age
580
FCA regulated
332
Charities

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 318 (48%)Medium: 32 (5%)Large: 308 (47%)

Government Investment

Companies in Cardiff have been awarded 483 government contracts with a combined value of £657.8M. See the Top Government Contractors report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many companies are registered in Cardiff?

There are 30,508 active companies registered in Cardiff, out of 67,837 total. 129 (0%) are no longer active.

What are the main industries in Cardiff?

The top industries in Cardiff include Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet (1,604 companies), Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate (1,593 companies), Buying and selling of own real estate (1,367 companies).

How fast is Cardiff growing as a business hub?

61.5% of currently active companies in Cardiff were incorporated since 2020, indicating strong recent growth.

What data signals are available for companies in Cardiff?

Our database contains 178,255 data signals across 12 categories for active companies in Cardiff. The largest category is Governance with 91,303 signals from 5 sources.

When was the first company registered in Cardiff?

The oldest company registration in Cardiff dates back to 1881, spanning over 145 years of business history.

Data is updated daily from official UK government sources including Companies House. Information is provided for reference only.