Companies in Edinburgh

United Kingdom|38.8% formed since 2020|7% inactive|Data updated 19 Oct 2026
56,868
Active

56,868 active companies are currently registered in Edinburgh, a major UK business hub. Out of 65,722 companies ever registered here, 4,893 are no longer active — a 87% survival rate. Business formation remains steady, with 38.8% of current companies established since 2020. A wave of registrations in the 2010s accounts for 50% of active companies, pointing to a decade of strong entrepreneurial activity. The most common industry sector is other, with 23,389 companies. The area hosts 1,088 large enterprises, 867 small firms. Edinburgh is home to 693 FCA-regulated firms and 314 registered charities. Companies here hold 768 government contracts worth £2.2B in total. The average company age is 10.0 years. The earliest company registration in Edinburgh dates back to 1871.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, October 2026

56,868
Active Companies
65,722
Total Registered
1871
Oldest Company
38.8%
Growth (2020s)

One of the UK's largest business hubs, home to a wide range of industries and company sizes.

Incorporation by Decade
10%
44%
41%
Pre-1990: 1,066
1990s: 1,842
2000s: 6,819
2010s: 28,409
2020s: 26,989

Data Signals

Governance
189,1596 src
Financial
103,92712 src
Risk
35,93011 src
Compliance
13,72118 src
Trade
3,9072 src
quality
2,2345 src
innovation
2,0592 src
ESG
1,3686 src
growth
9422 src
corporate_structure
6161 src
operational
1301 src
regulatory
281 src

Business Landscape

The average active company in Edinburgh is 10 years old. There are 693 <Link href="/glossary/fca-financial-conduct-authority">FCA-regulated firms</Link> in the area. 314 registered charities operate locally.

10 yrs
Avg company age
693
FCA regulated
314
Charities

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 867 (44%)Medium: 29 (1%)Large: 1,088 (55%)

Government Investment

Companies in Edinburgh have been awarded 768 government contracts with a combined value of £2206.5M. See the Top Government Contractors report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many companies are registered in Edinburgh?

There are 56,868 active companies registered in Edinburgh, out of 65,722 total. 4,893 (7%) are no longer active.

What are the main industries in Edinburgh?

The top industries in Edinburgh include Other (23,389 companies), Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate (1,933 companies), Buying and selling of own real estate (1,631 companies).

How fast is Edinburgh growing as a business hub?

38.8% of currently active companies in Edinburgh were incorporated since 2020, indicating moderate recent growth.

What data signals are available for companies in Edinburgh?

Our database contains 354,021 data signals across 12 categories for active companies in Edinburgh. The largest category is Governance with 189,159 signals from 6 sources.

When was the first company registered in Edinburgh?

The oldest company registration in Edinburgh dates back to 1871, spanning over 155 years of business history.

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