The UK incorporated 758,751 companies in 2021, 154% more than the next nearest total, Australia. But is that a good thing ?

The Companies House Strategic Intelligence Assessment, published on the 24 October 2024, proudly states that the UK incorporates more businesses than any other country in the world noting "The UK is a popular place to register private limited companies. Given the relative size of the countries on the chart, the disparity in figures is even more significant. Registering in the UK has historically carried a prestige and kudos" and that GOV.UK "emphasises the speed of registering a company online, which usually takes no more than 24 hours" concluding that "it is highly likely that the low cost and ease of registering private limited companies also contributes to the UK’s desirability as a registration location".

But is there another way of viewing this ? Is it not entirely possible that the UK is a just a soft touch and has become a destination for fraudsters and that perhaps other countries are not so quick to just let any shady individual take advantage of their company registration systems ? If it looks too good to be true then maybe it isn't.