Out of Dorset's 118,341 total incorporated companies, 8,580 were formed in the last 12 months ending the 06th of December 2023.
The most common industries in Dorset are wholesale and retail trade including repair of motor vehicles; professional, scientific and technical activities; and construction. Looking at specific business type classifications, most companies in Dorset are classified as other letting and operating of own or leased real estate; residents property management; and management consultancy activities other than financial management.
| Industry | Companies Incorporated | Active | Dissolved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information and communication | 18,178 | 7,077 | 11,062 |
| Real estate activities | 7,769 | 5,963 | 1,980 |
| Administrative and support service activities | 11,945 | 5,394 | 6,562 |
| Activities of households as employers | 3,797 | 3,374 | 485 |
| Accommodation and food service activities | 6,126 | 3,256 | 3,006 |
| Manufacturing | 5,643 | 3,208 | 2,548 |
| Other service activities | 6,043 | 2,844 | 3,263 |
| Human health and social work activities | 4,191 | 2,358 | 1,875 |
| Financial and insurance activities | 3,363 | 2,123 | 1,278 |
| Arts, entertainment and recreation | 3,617 | 1,939 | 1,722 |
| Education | 2,400 | 1,364 | 1,060 |
| Transportation and storage | 2,457 | 1,326 | 1,152 |
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | 960 | 687 | 302 |
| Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation activities | 402 | 230 | 184 |
| Public administration and defence; compulsory social security | 435 | 223 | 299 |
| Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply | 256 | 147 | 113 |
| Mining and Quarrying | 142 | 64 | 79 |
| Business Classification | Companies Incorporated | Active | Dissolved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Information technology consultancy activities | 6,139 | 3,158 | 2,989 |
| Other business support service activities | 6,613 | 2,495 | 4,092 |
| Retail sale via mail order houses or via Internet | 4,230 | 2,223 | 2,036 |
| Buying and selling of own real estate | 2,290 | 1,682 | 626 |
| Development of building projects | 2,874 | 1,672 | 1,201 |
| Other service activities | 3,649 | 1,519 | 2,148 |
| Management of real estate on a fee or contract basis | 1,765 | 1,349 | 440 |
| Construction of domestic buildings | 1,922 | 1,239 | 715 |
| Other information technology service activities | 3,176 | 1,149 | 1,963 |
| Business and domestic software development | 1,723 | 1,109 | 635 |
| Other retail sale not in stores, stalls or markets | 2,300 | 1,037 | 1,269 |
| Other human health activities | 1,789 | 962 | 833 |
| Other professional, scientific and technical activities | 1,746 | 953 | 796 |
| Activities of other holding companies | 988 | 826 | 180 |
| Electrical installation | 1,404 | 784 | 635 |
| Other specialised construction activities | 1,449 | 772 | 689 |
| Plumbing, heat and air-conditioning installation | 1,252 | 756 | 523 |
We have collected business information and formation statistics for 200 locations within Dorset.
| Name | Companies Incorporated | Active Companies | Dissolved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbotsbury | 36 | 17 | 19 |
| Affpuddle and Turnerspuddle | 77 | 37 | 40 |
| Alderholt | 191 | 89 | 102 |
| Allington | 29 | 18 | 11 |
| Alton Pancras | 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Arne | 107 | 58 | 49 |
| Ashmore | 17 | 12 | 5 |
| Beaminster | 153 | 85 | 68 |
| Beer Hackett | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| Bere Regis | 71 | 43 | 28 |
| Blandford Forum | 1,131 | 607 | 523 |
| Blandford St. Mary | 74 | 35 | 39 |
| Bloxworth | 27 | 8 | 19 |
| Bothenhampton | 72 | 42 | 30 |
| Bournemouth | 31,590 | 16,362 | 15,114 |
| Bourton | 60 | 38 | 22 |
| Bradford Abbas | 55 | 28 | 27 |
| Bradford Peverell | 22 | 16 | 6 |
| Bradpole | 107 | 68 | 39 |
| Bridport | 1,033 | 617 | 414 |
| Broadmayne | 43 | 22 | 21 |
| Broadwindsor | 115 | 56 | 59 |
| Bryanston | 18 | 15 | 3 |
| Buckland Newton | 53 | 32 | 21 |
| Burleston | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Burton | 225 | 99 | 126 |
| Burton Bradstock | 53 | 28 | 25 |
| Cann | 48 | 34 | 14 |
| Castleton | 13 | 9 | 4 |
| Cattistock | 31 | 18 | 13 |
| Cerne Abbas | 40 | 22 | 18 |
| Charlton Marshall | 61 | 39 | 22 |
| Charminster | 189 | 115 | 74 |
| Charmouth | 223 | 110 | 112 |
| Chedington | 21 | 15 | 6 |
| Cheselbourne | 21 | 13 | 8 |
| Chetnole | 32 | 19 | 13 |
| Chickerell | 2,225 | 1,374 | 837 |
| Chideock | 41 | 24 | 17 |
| Child Okeford | 58 | 21 | 37 |
| Christchurch | 4,924 | 2,542 | 2,373 |
| Church Knowle | 17 | 13 | 4 |
| Colehill | 838 | 458 | 378 |
| Compton Abbas | 15 | 11 | 4 |
| Compton Valence | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Coombe Keynes | 8 | 5 | 3 |
| Corfe Castle | 107 | 70 | 37 |
| Corfe Mullen | 670 | 315 | 355 |
| Corscombe | 45 | 23 | 22 |
| Cranborne | 83 | 52 | 30 |
| Crossways | 141 | 77 | 64 |
| Dewlish | 26 | 7 | 19 |
| Dorchester | 5,846 | 2,979 | 2,599 |
| Durweston | 25 | 14 | 11 |
| East Lulworth | 12 | 10 | 2 |
| East Orchard | 19 | 11 | 8 |
| East Stoke | 43 | 25 | 18 |
| East Stour | 69 | 34 | 35 |
| Edmondsham | 16 | 8 | 8 |
| Evershot | 10 | 8 | 2 |
| Farnham | 17 | 8 | 9 |
| Ferndown Town | 5,675 | 4,192 | 1,482 |
| Fifehead Neville | 17 | 5 | 12 |
| Folke | 18 | 12 | 6 |
| Fontmell Magna | 46 | 29 | 17 |
| Frampton | 52 | 32 | 20 |
| Gillingham | 1,114 | 656 | 456 |
| Gussage All Saints | 15 | 8 | 7 |
| Gussage St. Michael | 26 | 22 | 4 |
| Halstock | 39 | 20 | 19 |
| Hanford | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Hazelbury Bryan | 78 | 43 | 35 |
| Hermitage | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Hinton Parva | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| Hinton St. Mary | 16 | 7 | 9 |
| Holnest | 14 | 8 | 6 |
| Holt | 202 | 120 | 82 |
| Holwell | 35 | 21 | 14 |
| Hooke | 19 | 11 | 8 |
| Horton | 93 | 61 | 32 |
| Hurn | 878 | 342 | 530 |
| Iwerne Courtney or Shroton | 40 | 21 | 19 |
| Iwerne Minster | 43 | 25 | 18 |
| Kimmeridge | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| Kingston Russell | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Kington Magna | 24 | 13 | 11 |
| Langton Long Blandford | 33 | 16 | 17 |
| Langton Matravers | 51 | 18 | 33 |
| Leigh | 27 | 14 | 13 |
| Leweston | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Lillington | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| Litton Cheney | 25 | 13 | 12 |
| Long Bredy | 8 | 3 | 5 |
| Long Crichel | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| Longburton | 31 | 14 | 17 |
| Lyme Regis | 344 | 170 | 173 |
| Lytchett Matravers | 7,756 | 4,501 | 3,227 |
| Lytchett Minster and Upton | 734 | 371 | 363 |
| Maiden Newton | 45 | 24 | 21 |
| Manston | 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Mappowder | 11 | 5 | 6 |
| Margaret Marsh | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Marnhull | 147 | 72 | 75 |
| Melbury Abbas | 37 | 31 | 6 |
| Melbury Bubb | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Melbury Osmond | 221 | 193 | 28 |
| Melcombe Horsey | 41 | 28 | 13 |
| Milborne St. Andrew | 63 | 26 | 37 |
| Milton Abbas | 54 | 33 | 21 |
| Morden | 19 | 7 | 12 |
| Mosterton | 34 | 16 | 18 |
| Motcombe | 132 | 64 | 68 |
| Nether Compton | 28 | 17 | 11 |
| Netherbury | 120 | 56 | 64 |
| Okeford Fitzpaine | 77 | 41 | 36 |
| Osmington | 66 | 34 | 32 |
| Over Compton | 22 | 12 | 10 |
| Owermoigne | 39 | 21 | 18 |
| Pamphill | 51 | 27 | 23 |
| Pentridge | 24 | 15 | 9 |
| Piddlehinton | 55 | 32 | 23 |
| Piddletrenthide | 37 | 17 | 20 |
| Pimperne | 85 | 35 | 49 |
| Poole | 28,631 | 12,017 | 16,580 |
| Portesham | 42 | 16 | 26 |
| Portland | 698 | 401 | 296 |
| Powerstock | 16 | 8 | 8 |
| Puddletown | 108 | 66 | 42 |
| Pulham | 22 | 17 | 5 |
| Rampisham | 23 | 17 | 6 |
| Ryme Intrinseca | 12 | 10 | 2 |
| Sandford Orcas | 22 | 15 | 7 |
| Shaftesbury | 783 | 419 | 364 |
| Shapwick | 17 | 11 | 6 |
| Sherborne | 1,085 | 582 | 500 |
| Shillingstone | 62 | 32 | 30 |
| Shipton Gorge | 35 | 21 | 14 |
| Silton | 17 | 14 | 3 |
| Sixpenny Handley | 94 | 55 | 39 |
| Spetisbury | 39 | 22 | 17 |
| St. Leonards and St. Ives | 755 | 403 | 351 |
| Stalbridge | 345 | 235 | 110 |
| Steeple | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| Stinsford | 25 | 17 | 8 |
| Stoke Abbott | 26 | 12 | 14 |
| Stour Provost | 84 | 45 | 39 |
| Stourpaine | 34 | 20 | 14 |
| Stourton Caundle | 23 | 14 | 9 |
| Stratton | 35 | 15 | 20 |
| Studland | 42 | 32 | 10 |
| Sturminster Marshall | 228 | 105 | 123 |
| Sturminster Newton | 420 | 216 | 204 |
| Sutton Waldron | 23 | 8 | 15 |
| Swanage | 1,572 | 913 | 657 |
| Swyre | 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Sydling St. Nicholas | 60 | 36 | 23 |
| Symondsbury | 86 | 50 | 36 |
| Tarrant Gunville | 28 | 17 | 11 |
| Tarrant Hinton | 161 | 72 | 88 |
| Tarrant Keyneston | 21 | 11 | 10 |
| Tarrant Monkton | 29 | 11 | 18 |
| Thorncombe | 50 | 26 | 24 |
| Thornford | 33 | 13 | 20 |
| Tincleton | 13 | 10 | 3 |
| Todber | 24 | 20 | 4 |
| Toller Fratrum | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Trent | 25 | 14 | 11 |
| Up Cerne | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Verwood | 1,419 | 788 | 627 |
| Wareham St. Martin | 482 | 324 | 157 |
| Wareham Town | 475 | 275 | 198 |
| Warmwell | 13 | 12 | 0 |
| West Moors | 913 | 593 | 320 |
| West Orchard | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| West Parley | 302 | 152 | 150 |
| West Stafford | 14 | 6 | 8 |
| West Stour | 17 | 10 | 7 |
| Weymouth | 5,413 | 2,836 | 2,559 |
| Whitchurch Canonicorum | 77 | 37 | 40 |
| Wimborne Minster | 2,210 | 1,280 | 925 |
| Wimborne St. Giles | 41 | 27 | 14 |
| Winfrith Newburgh | 65 | 43 | 22 |
| Winterborne Herringston | 14 | 10 | 4 |
| Winterborne Kingston | 65 | 33 | 32 |
| Winterborne Monkton | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| Winterborne St. Martin | 38 | 20 | 18 |
| Winterborne Stickland | 45 | 25 | 20 |
| Winterborne Whitechurch | 55 | 32 | 23 |
| Winterborne Zelston | 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Winterbourne Abbas | 12 | 5 | 7 |
| Winterbourne Steepleton | 12 | 4 | 8 |
| Witchampton | 31 | 22 | 9 |
| Woodlands | 97 | 46 | 51 |
| Woodsford | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Wool | 210 | 84 | 126 |
| Woolland | 9 | 3 | 6 |
| Wootton Fitzpaine | 32 | 18 | 13 |
| Worth Matravers | 66 | 38 | 28 |
| Wraxall | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Yetminster | 75 | 34 | 41 |
There are 61,381 active companies in Dorset as of Dec 2023. In total, 118,341 companies have been incorporated, and 56,433 have been dissolved.
Most companies in Dorset are categorised under: information and communication. This accounts for 7,077 companies.
The most common SIC codes used by companies in Dorset are: information technology consultancy activities; other business support service activities; and retail sale via mail order houses or via internet.
Last updated: 06 Dec 2023 00:00