Scotland has 176,000 registered businesses. Hospitality is 8.9% of them, the third-highest share of any UK nation or region. Construction is 13.4% and professional services 11.3%.
We do not have an office, staff or events in Scotland. Everything is done online.
The local business mix
87.6% of Scottish businesses employ fewer than ten people, a little below the UK figure of 89.1%. Glasgow’s mix is quite different from Scotland’s as a whole, with retail and hospitality both higher.
| Sector | Businesses | Share | UK | vs UK · rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All businesses | 176,000 | 100% | — | 9 of 12 by count |
| Fewer than 10 staff | 154,115 | 87.6% | 89.1% | |
| Construction and specialist trades | 23,535 | 13.4% | 14.1% | about the same · 9 of 12 |
| Cleaning, facilities and landscaping | 3,890 | 2.2% | 2.0% | above · 5 of 12 |
| Wholesale | 5,070 | 2.9% | 3.6% | below · 10 of 12 |
| Retail | 14,100 | 8.0% | 7.7% | about the same · 5 of 12 |
| Motor trade and repair | 5,215 | 3.0% | 3.0% | about the same · 10 of 12 |
| Hotels, pubs, cafés and restaurants | 15,620 | 8.9% | 6.5% | above · 3 of 12 |
| Professional services (legal, accounting, consultancy, architects, marketing) | 19,895 | 11.3% | 12.3% | about the same · 6 of 12 |
| Software and IT services | 5,090 | 2.9% | 4.4% | below · 9 of 12 |
Source: ONS UK Business Counts 2026, via Nomis, March 2026. About these figures.
What fits here, and why
Ordered by how many local businesses each is likely to suit.
No. Grafto is run from Suffolk, where Green & Home Ltd has its warehouse in Mildenhall (registered office: Hertford). We work with businesses in Scotland remotely: the AI Tools Report, the apps and support are all online or by email. Our only in-person events are in Bury St Edmunds.
It depends on what you do, but on the local mix we would usually start with AI Tools Report. Ten minutes of questions, then a costed nine-slide plan: which jobs AI can take off you, which tools, what they cost. £59.99 inc VAT.
From the Office for National Statistics’ UK Business Counts for 2026, published through Nomis. They count 176,000 enterprises registered for VAT and/or PAYE in Scotland, so very small unregistered sole traders are not included.
Nearby
Also in Scotland: Glasgow.
Neighbouring: North East · North West · Northern Ireland. Or see everywhere we work.
Ten minutes of questions, then a costed plan for your business, wherever in the UK it is. £59.99 inc VAT.
Get my AI Tools Report →Questions first? Email hello@grafto.co.uk.