Businesses in Scotland: 2025

Time Trends

As at March 2025, there were an estimated 384,280 private sector businesses operating in Scotland. Over the longer term, the number of businesses increased by 61.5% between 2000 and 2025. This is an increase of 146,385 businesses. A rise in the number of unregistered businesses drove this increase over the long term. Unregistered businesses have more than doubled (up 134.5%, +120,015 businesses) since 2000. The number of registered businesses has also increased over this period. Registered businesses increased by 17.7% (+26,370 businesses).

Figure 2: As at March 2025, there were an estimated 384,280 private sector businesses operating in Scotland. The total number of private sector businesses in Scotland increased by an estimated 7.3% over the latest year.

Private sector businesses operating in Scotland, 2000 to 2025.

Source: Businesses in Scotland 2025 from the Scottish Government.  For Figure 2 data, see table ‘Time Series 1’.

Time Trends – Registered Businesses

The number of registered businesses in Scotland increased over the latest year. Registered businesses are those that have registered for VAT and/or PAYE. The number of registered businesses grew from 174,085 as at March 2024 to 175,035 as at March 2025. This is an increase of 950 businesses, or 0.5%. This is the second year in a row to show an increase in the number of registered businesses since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Despite the rise, over the last two years, the registered business stock still sits below the pre-pandemic peak of 179,460.

Figure 3: The number of registered businesses in Scotland increased over the latest year by 950 businesses, or 0.5%.

Private sector registered businesses, 2000 to 2025.

Source: Businesses in Scotland 2025 from the Scottish Government.  For Figure 3 data, see table ‘Time Series 2’.

The number of small registered businesses (0 to 49 employees) increased over the latest year by 0.6%. This is a rise of 970 businesses. This increase is also reflected in the longer term trend. There has been an increase of 17.9% in the number of small registered businesses since 2000. This is a rise of 25,615 businesses.

The number of medium-sized businesses (50 to 249 employees) decreased over the latest year. A decrease of 20 businesses (-0.5%) since March 2024 brought the number of medium-sized businesses to 3,930. The longer term trend however shows an increase. The number of medium-sized businesses has increased by 17.3% since 2000. This is a rise of 580 businesses.

The number of large businesses (250 or more employees) did not change over the latest year. The number of large businesses remains 2,425. Again, the longer term trend shows an increase. There has been an increase in the number of large businesses – with an increase of 180 businesses since 2000 (+8.0%).