Find clients for your agency in Manchester
The Manchester city council area counts 3,630 local businesses of the kinds agencies sell websites, SEO and ads to. The biggest groups: 1,715 restaurants and takeaways, 505 hair and beauty salons and 475 builders. 365 advertising agencies compete for them.
The local businesses agencies sell to in Manchester
Counts of business sites (local units, rounded to 5) by trade in the Manchester city council area, per 10,000 residents, against the median of the 32 UK cities on this list.
| Trade | Businesses | Per 10,000 residents | vs median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estate agents | 325 | 5.5 | +45% |
| Restaurants and takeaways | 1,715 | 29.2 | +36% |
| Builders | 475 | 8.1 | +12% |
| Hair and beauty salons | 505 | 8.6 | +10% |
| Garages and vehicle repair | 300 | 5.1 | −27% |
| Electricians | 160 | 2.7 | −44% |
| Plumbing and heating | 150 | 2.5 | −46% |
Source: ONS UK Business Counts, March 2026; population 588,256 (ONS mid-2025 estimate). Council area, not the wider metro area. Counts change as businesses open and close.
Where Manchester stands out
- Estate agents: 5.5 per 10,000 residents, 45% above the median of the 32 UK cities on this list (rank 4 of 32).
- Restaurants and takeaways: 29.2 per 10,000 residents, 36% above the median (rank 2).
- Plumbing and heating: scarcer here (46% below the median), so fewer prospects, each with fewer rivals.
- Competition: 365 advertising agencies for 29,740 businesses of all kinds, one for every 81. The median across the 32 UK cities on this list is one for every 191, so Manchester ranks 31 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 Manchester compares with nearby and similar cities
Of these 7 cities, Manchester has the most of these businesses per resident and Leicester the most businesses per agency.
| City | Local businesses | Per 10,000 residents | Businesses per agency | Strongest trade, vs median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | 3,630 | 62 | 81 | Estate agents (+45%) |
| Sheffield | 3,075 | 53 | 188 | Electricians (+20%) |
| Bradford | 2,910 | 52 | 327 | Plumbing and heating (+17%) |
| Liverpool | 2,940 | 58 | 138 | Hair and beauty salons (+23%) |
| Edinburgh | 3,040 | 57 | 163 | Restaurants and takeaways (+32%) |
| Bristol | 2,945 | 59 | 112 | Electricians (+24%) |
| Leicester | 2,075 | 54 | 350 | Garages and vehicle repair (+15%) |
Your first three lists in Manchester
- Restaurants and takeaways: 1,715 businesses, 36% more per resident than the median city, so owners compete hard for customers (rank 2 of 32).
- Hair and beauty salons: 505 businesses, close to the median per resident, so the volume is the reason to start here (rank 7 of 32).
- Builders: 475 businesses, close to the median per resident, so the volume is the reason to start here (rank 11 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 Manchester?
ONS UK Business Counts, March 2026 counts 3,630 business sites (local units, rounded to 5) in the trades on this page in the Manchester city council area, including 1,715 restaurants and takeaways, 505 hair and beauty salons and 475 builders.
How many marketing agencies are there in Manchester?
365 advertising agencies in the Manchester city council area (ONS UK Business Counts, March 2026), one for every 81 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 Manchester?
By volume, restaurants and takeaways (1,715). Relative to its size, Manchester stands out most on estate agents: 5.5 per 10,000 residents, rank 4 of 32.