Find clients for your agency in London
The Greater London counts 77,880 local businesses of the kinds agencies sell websites, SEO and ads to. The biggest groups: 24,800 restaurants and takeaways, 18,760 builders and 9,895 hair and beauty salons. 6,200 advertising agencies compete for them.
The local businesses agencies sell to in London
Counts of business sites (local units, rounded to 5) by trade in the Greater London, per 10,000 residents, against the median of the 32 UK cities on this list.
| Trade | Businesses | Per 10,000 residents | vs median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Builders | 18,760 | 20.6 | +185% |
| Estate agents | 8,770 | 9.6 | +153% |
| Hair and beauty salons | 9,895 | 10.8 | +38% |
| Electricians | 5,785 | 6.3 | +30% |
| Plumbing and heating | 5,525 | 6.1 | +28% |
| Restaurants and takeaways | 24,800 | 27.2 | +27% |
| Garages and vehicle repair | 4,345 | 4.8 | −32% |
Source: ONS UK Business Counts, March 2026; population 9,122,909 (ONS mid-2025 estimate). Council area, not the wider metro area. Counts change as businesses open and close.
Where London stands out
- Builders: 20.6 per 10,000 residents, 185% above the median of the 32 UK cities on this list (rank 1 of 32).
- Estate agents: 9.6 per 10,000 residents, 153% above the median (rank 1).
- Garages and vehicle repair: scarcer here (32% below the median), so fewer prospects, each with fewer rivals.
- Competition: 6,200 advertising agencies for 611,340 businesses of all kinds, one for every 99. The median across the 32 UK cities on this list is one for every 191, so London ranks 30 of 32 on businesses per agency (1 is the least crowded): a crowded agency market, where niching on one trade and leading with proof wins.
How London compares with nearby and similar cities
Of these 7 cities, London has the most of these businesses per resident and Bradford the most businesses per agency.
| City | Local businesses | Per 10,000 residents | Businesses per agency | Strongest trade, vs median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 77,880 | 85 | 99 | Builders (+185%) |
| Birmingham | 6,385 | 54 | 175 | Estate agents (+23%) |
| Leeds | 4,995 | 59 | 116 | Electricians (+51%) |
| Manchester | 3,630 | 62 | 81 | Estate agents (+45%) |
| Glasgow | 3,900 | 60 | 183 | Hair and beauty salons (+36%) |
| Sheffield | 3,075 | 53 | 188 | Electricians (+20%) |
| Bradford | 2,910 | 52 | 327 | Plumbing and heating (+17%) |
Your first three lists in London
- Builders: 18,760 businesses, 185% more per resident than the median city, so owners compete hard for customers (rank 1 of 32).
- Restaurants and takeaways: 24,800 businesses, 27% more per resident than the median city, so owners compete hard for customers (rank 6 of 32).
- Estate agents: 8,770 businesses, 153% more per resident than the median city, so owners compete hard for customers (rank 1 of 32).
How to work a list, from the "No website" filter to the first call: LeadsIt for agencies.
Frequently asked questions
How many local businesses can an agency prospect in London?
ONS UK Business Counts, March 2026 counts 77,880 business sites (local units, rounded to 5) in the trades on this page in the Greater London, including 24,800 restaurants and takeaways, 18,760 builders and 9,895 hair and beauty salons.
How many marketing agencies are there in London?
6,200 advertising agencies in the Greater London (ONS UK Business Counts, March 2026), one for every 99 businesses, against a median of one for every 191 across the 32 UK cities on this list.
Which trade should an agency target first in London?
By volume, restaurants and takeaways (24,800). Relative to its size, London stands out most on builders: 20.6 per 10,000 residents, rank 1 of 32.