Smart list · 847 companies
Cash-rich small businesses
A strong cash position is one of the clearest signs of a well-run small business. These independent UK trading companies have fewer than 50 employees, made a profit in their latest year and reported at least £1m cash at bank. They are ranked by net assets. Group subsidiaries and years with a one-off 5x jump are left out.
- Trading business
- Independent
- Profit ≥ £1
- Employees ≤ 49
- Cash at bank ≥ £1m
- No one-off 5× jumps
- Sorted by Net assets ↓
| # | Company | Revenue | Profit | Margin | Staff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sonatrach Gas Marketing UK Limited London · Distribution of gaseous fuels through mains IndependentSmall team | £364m | £20.6m | 5.6% | 6 |
| 2 | Taylor Lindsey Limited Lincoln · Development of building projects IndependentOperating leverage | £19.9m | £3.9m | 19.7% | 40 |
| 3 | Ernest V. Waddington Limited Sheffield · Wholesale of wood, construction materials and sanitary equipment IndependentOperating leverage | £13.1m | £9.2m | 70.5% | 21 |
| 4 | Kinetic Games Limited Southampton · Ready-made interactive leisure and entertainment software development IndependentCash flow filed | £62.3m | £34m | 54.6% | 23 |
| 5 | Glass Recycling (UK) Limited Barnsley · Treatment and disposal of non-hazardous waste IndependentBoring industry | £32.8m | £9.9m | 30.3% | 46 |
| 6 | District Estates Limited(The) Chester · Buying and selling of own real estate IndependentSmall team | £9.3m | £8.2m | 88.2% | 6 |
| 7 | Bramall Properties Limited Harrogate · Buying and selling of own real estate IndependentSmall team | £10.6m | £4.4m | 41.3% | 8 |
| 8 | Klondyke Fishing Company Limited Fraserburgh · Marine fishing IndependentSmall team | £55.1m | £27.7m | 50.3% | 9 |
| 9 | J.wharton (Shipping) Limited Swaby Alford · Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate IndependentSmall team | £2.1m | £1.3m | 64.3% | 4 |
| 10 | Bridgehead Container Services Limited Liverpool · Other transportation support activities IndependentSmall team | £6.2m | £3m | 48.7% | 8 |
| 11 | Radical22 Limited London · Artistic creation IndependentSmall team | £23.3m | £14.2m | 60.9% | 6 |
| 12 | European Steel Sheets Limited Birmingham · Wholesale of metals and metal ores IndependentSmall team | £26.9m | £227k | 0.9% | 8 |
| 13 | Result Clothing Limited Colchester · Wholesale of clothing and footwear IndependentCapital-light | £37m | £2.7m | 7.2% | 40 |
| 14 | Mayo Civil Engineering Limited Rochdale · Construction of commercial buildings IndependentOperating leverage | £83.4m | £10.1m | 12.1% | 47 |
| 15 | T.r.suterwalla & Sons Limited London · Management consultancy activities other than financial management IndependentSmall team | £1.7m | £1.3m | 80% | 5 |
| 16 | Talisman Global Asset Management Limited London · Other business support service activities n.e.c. IndependentCapital-light | £46.1m | £24.6m | 53.3% | 17 |
| 17 | NRS Ocean Logistics Ltd. London · Sea and coastal freight water transport IndependentCash flow filed | £68.5m | £1.4m | 2.1% | 49 |
| 18 | G.S. Brown Construction Limited Perthshire · Construction of domestic buildings IndependentOperating leverage | £12.9m | £896k | 7% | 46 |
| 19 | The Indie Stone Ltd Gateshead · Ready-made interactive leisure and entertainment software development IndependentCapital-light | £14.2m | £6.2m | 44% | 12 |
| 20 | Grocola PLC Chingford · Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate IndependentSmall team | £2.1m | £1.4m | 64.9% | 5 |
| 21 | G. & R. Pykett Limited Cotmanhay Ilkeston · Wholesale of agricultural machinery, equipment and supplies IndependentOperating leverage | £24.5m | £2.6m | 10.7% | 16 |
| 22 | Naturetrek Limited Alton · Tour operator activities IndependentOperating leverage | £29.5m | £5.9m | 20% | 44 |
| 23 | International Copiers UK Limited Tunbridge Wells · Other service activities n.e.c. IndependentCapital-light | £9.9m | £2.6m | 26.3% | 44 |
| 24 | Sadie Coles H Q Limited London · Operation of arts facilities IndependentCash flow filed | £25.8m | £397k | 1.5% | 37 |
| 25 | Rotamead Limited Battlesbridge · Non-specialised wholesale trade IndependentCash flow filed | £18.7m | £1.8m | 9.8% | 19 |
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Most profitable small businesses in the UK
Independent UK companies with 10–49 staff and revenue up to £15m, ranked by profit.
- Independent
- Revenue ≤ £15m
- Profit ≥ £1
- Employees 10–49
305 cos.
Fastest-growing companies in the UK
Independent, profitable UK companies with £1m+ revenue that grew sales 50% or more in a year.
- Independent
- Revenue ≥ £1m
- Profit ≥ £1
- Employees ≥ 5
279 cos.
Tiny teams, big profits
Trading businesses with fewer than 5 employees making at least £250k profit.
- Profit ≥ £250k
- Employees 1–4
652 cos.
Fast risers
Profitable companies under 5 years old growing revenue 30%+ a year.
- Profit ≥ £1
- Company age ≤ 5 yrs
- Revenue growth (YoY) 30%–400%
- No one-off 5× jumps