Data from Startups.co.uk, the UK’s leading independent, online resource for anyone starting a business, shows almost five new online businesses were started every day in the last two months (including weekends), a 60% increase on the same period in 2019.
Using the number of businesses signing up for long-term paid website subscriptions to hosts like Wix and Squarespace, Startups.co.uk reports that almost one business was started every working hour during the month.
Opportunistic entrepreneurs appear to be capitalising on the lockdown with Startups.co.uk also reporting a huge increase in traffic to their guides such as ‘selling alcohol online’ and ‘how to start a takeaway business from home’ increasing 78% and a whopping 870% respectively.
Perhaps spurred on by the increased demand for handmade colourful masks or home DIY projects, craft products also seem to be experiencing a market resurgence with a 27% increase in visits to ‘how to start an Etsy shop’ in April. Some of these new ventures may also be side-hustles with a 55% increase in ‘how to start a side-hustle’.
The other apparent trend for the 308 new registered online businesses is pivoting existing companies for lockdown. Startups.co.uk’s guide to moving your business online during Covid-19 received 760 sessions in April alone, suggesting businesses with a traditional model were also scrambling to get their e-commerce offering up and running last month.
Editor of Startups.co.uk, Bryn Glover said, “While there are many things to feel negative about during this strange time, it’s really heartening to hear that behind closed doors many Brits have used the situation to start something positive.
“This seems to be opportunistic thinking at its best – entrepreneurs working out the services we so desperately need during lockdown (alcohol and takeaways) and making it happen.”
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