Companies in Guildford

United Kingdom|43.9% formed since 2020|9% inactive|Data updated 19 Oct 2026
8,000
Active

8,000 active companies are based in Guildford according to Companies House records. Out of 9,389 companies ever registered here, 816 are no longer active — a 85% survival rate. Business formation remains steady, with 43.9% of current companies established since 2020. Over half (52%) of active companies were formed since 2020, making this one of the UK's fastest-growing business locations. The most common industry sector is management consultancy activities other than financial management, with 544 companies. The area hosts 157 large enterprises, 198 small firms. Guildford is home to 133 FCA-regulated firms and 97 registered charities. Companies here hold 606 government contracts worth £1.5B in total. The average company age is 10.9 years. The earliest company registration in Guildford dates back to 1887.

Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, October 2026

8,000
Active Companies
9,389
Total Registered
1887
Oldest Company
43.9%
Growth (2020s)

A diverse local economy with no single sector accounting for more than 15% of businesses.

Incorporation by Decade
12%
34%
45%
Pre-1990: 399
1990s: 390
2000s: 1,133
2010s: 3,204
2020s: 4,182

Data Signals

Governance
33,8716 src
Financial
29,41511 src
Risk
5,27110 src
Compliance
3,85918 src
Trade
1,4612 src
innovation
7382 src
growth
6582 src
quality
5775 src
ESG
1676 src
operational
561 src
corporate_structure
501 src
regulatory
21 src

Business Landscape

The average active company in Guildford is 10.9 years old. There are 133 <Link href="/glossary/fca-financial-conduct-authority">FCA-regulated firms</Link> in the area. 97 registered charities operate locally.

10.9 yrs
Avg company age
133
FCA regulated
97
Charities

Company Size Breakdown

Small: 198 (54%)Medium: 12 (3%)Large: 157 (43%)

Government Investment

Companies in Guildford have been awarded 606 government contracts with a combined value of £1512.8M. See the Top Government Contractors report.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many companies are registered in Guildford?

There are 8,000 active companies registered in Guildford, out of 9,389 total. 816 (9%) are no longer active.

What are the main industries in Guildford?

The top industries in Guildford include Management consultancy activities other than financial management (544 companies), Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate (363 companies), Buying and selling of own real estate (322 companies).

How fast is Guildford growing as a business hub?

43.9% of currently active companies in Guildford were incorporated since 2020, indicating strong recent growth.

What data signals are available for companies in Guildford?

Our database contains 76,125 data signals across 12 categories for active companies in Guildford. The largest category is Governance with 33,871 signals from 6 sources.

When was the first company registered in Guildford?

The oldest company registration in Guildford dates back to 1887, spanning over 139 years of business history.

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