PAUL'S CUSTOMS LIMITED

Executive Summary

Paul’s Customs Limited is a micro-sized player within the UK painting services sector, distinguished by its niche specialization in hydrographic dipping. While this focus aligns with emerging demand for custom finishes, the company’s negative net assets and working capital deficits highlight financial challenges typical of early-stage operators in this industry. To enhance competitiveness, Paul’s Customs Limited will need to stabilize liquidity and leverage its specialized offering to capture a sustainable market position amid cost pressures and intense sector competition.

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Company Analysis

This analysis is opinion only and should not be interpreted as financial advice.

PAUL'S CUSTOMS LIMITED - Analysis Report

Company Number: 14124449

Analysis Date: 2025-07-20 15:38 UTC

  1. Industry Classification
    Paul’s Customs Limited operates within the SIC code 43341, classified as Painting. This sector typically comprises businesses offering painting and decorating services, including surface preparation and finishing for residential, commercial, or industrial properties. Key characteristics include a reliance on skilled labour, relatively low capital intensity compared to heavy manufacturing, and competition based primarily on service quality, reliability, and pricing. The industry often features a large number of micro and small enterprises, with modest turnover thresholds and relatively limited balance sheets.

  2. Relative Performance
    As a private limited company incorporated in 2022, Paul’s Customs Limited is a micro to small-sized enterprise by account category, given its turnover and balance sheet size implied by the exemption from audit and filing under the small companies regime. The company reported net current liabilities of £9,365 and a net asset deficit of £1,909 as of May 2024. This indicates a weak liquidity position and negative equity, common in early-stage or start-up businesses within the painting sector but concerning relative to industry norms. Typically, established painting service firms maintain positive net assets and neutral or positive working capital to sustain operations and respond to market demands effectively. The average employment of two staff members aligns with micro-business scale, consistent with sector norms for bespoke or niche painting service providers.

  3. Sector Trends Impact
    The painting and decorating industry in the UK has been influenced by several trends impacting a company like Paul’s Customs Limited. Rising materials costs, particularly for paints and coatings due to supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressures, have squeezed margins industry-wide. Additionally, increasing demand for specialized finishing services, such as hydrographic dipping featured on the company’s website, reflects a niche trend towards customization and premium surface treatments. However, competition remains intense, particularly from larger firms able to leverage economies of scale and from smaller operators competing aggressively on price. Regulatory focus on health and safety and environmental compliance also adds to operational costs and complexity. The company’s focus on hydrographic dipping positions it to capitalize on niche market growth but also requires specialized skills and marketing to differentiate from standard painting contractors.

  4. Competitive Positioning
    Paul’s Customs Limited occupies a niche within the broader painting sector by specializing in hydrographic dipping, a decorative technique that integrates custom finishes on various substrates. This specialization can confer competitive advantage by targeting a distinct customer segment seeking bespoke, high-end surface treatments. However, the company’s current financials reveal vulnerabilities: persistent net current liabilities and shareholders’ deficits suggest cash flow constraints and potential difficulty in scaling operations or investing in growth initiatives. Compared to typical sector players, which often maintain positive working capital and equity, Paul’s Customs Limited may face challenges in securing credit or attracting investment. Its small staff base and limited tangible assets further underscore its status as a small-scale boutique operator rather than a market leader. Strengths include a focused product offering and local market presence in Kent, but weaknesses relate to financial fragility and potential undercapitalization relative to competitors capable of broader service portfolios and larger project scopes.


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