Best areas to start a business in East Midlands
The top-ranked East Midlands local authority for each of 38 business types, by the Gera Business Location Score.
Where are the best areas to start a business in East Midlands?
In East Midlands, the strongest business-location opportunity by the Gera Business Location Score is a commercial transport garage in Boston (GBLS 92.8/100), with premises at £32/m²/yr. We rank 38 business types across East Midlands from 2025 UK government open data; re-dated annually.
Source:VOA Business Floorspace + ONS Business Counts + ONS ASHE (work geography) + ONS population estimates·As of 2025 (VOA 31 March 2025; ASHE 2025 provisional; Business Counts 2025; population mid-2024) · updated annual · last refreshed
Top East Midlands area by business type
| Business type | Best area | GBLS | Rent (£/m²/yr) | Local pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe | East Lindsey | 64.9/100 | £83 | £26,724 |
| Restaurant | Oadby and Wigston | 65.5/100 | £71 | £23,103 |
| Takeaway | Derbyshire Dales | 82.6/100 | £107 | £28,874 |
| Retail shop | East Lindsey | 66.1/100 | £86 | £26,724 |
| Convenience store | Oadby and Wigston | 65.8/100 | £105 | £23,103 |
| Hair & beauty salon | Mansfield | 63.3/100 | £73 | £26,761 |
| Office-based business | Oadby and Wigston | 65.1/100 | £82 | £23,103 |
| Financial / A2 office | Mansfield | 64/100 | £66 | £26,761 |
| Gym / fitness suite | Boston | 64.2/100 | £32 | £26,187 |
| Vehicle repair garage | Boston | 92.4/100 | £32 | £26,187 |
| Workshop / warehouse | Oadby and Wigston | 67.5/100 | £33 | £23,103 |
| Storage / store unit | Melton | 65.3/100 | £24 | £26,700 |
| Private clinic / health centre | Oadby and Wigston | 66.5/100 | £116 | £23,103 |
| Veterinary clinic | North West Leicestershire | 64/100 | £32 | £30,034 |
| Car showroom | Boston | 92.3/100 | £76 | £26,187 |
| Retail warehouse | East Lindsey | 76.4/100 | £86 | £26,724 |
| Betting shop | Mansfield | 64.1/100 | £77 | £26,761 |
| Garden centre | High Peak | 64.7/100 | £6 | £28,463 |
| Funeral home | North Northamptonshire | 70.4/100 | £67 | £31,027 |
| Post office | Bassetlaw | 63/100 | £57 | £26,888 |
| Drive-thru restaurant | East Lindsey | 69.4/100 | £329 | £26,724 |
| Builders merchant | Boston | 79.1/100 | £31 | £26,187 |
| Tyre & exhaust centre | Boston | 82.1/100 | £70 | £26,187 |
| Large food store | East Lindsey | 67/100 | £135 | £26,724 |
| Trade showroom | East Lindsey | 71.1/100 | £35 | £26,724 |
| Kennels & cattery | North Northamptonshire | 83.3/100 | £19 | £31,027 |
| Community day centre | Mansfield | 65.2/100 | £26 | £26,761 |
| Members / social club | Oadby and Wigston | 66.9/100 | £31 | £23,103 |
| Light-industrial business unit | High Peak | 82.5/100 | £16 | £28,463 |
| Commercial garage | Boston | 92.8/100 | £32 | £26,187 |
| Storage depot | North West Leicestershire | 70/100 | £11 | £30,034 |
| Pharmacy | Newark and Sherwood | 66.3/100 | £256 | £26,911 |
| Farm shop | Derbyshire Dales | 70.6/100 | £49 | £28,874 |
| Large distribution warehouse | Bassetlaw | 64.5/100 | £42 | £26,888 |
| Superstore / hypermarket | Mansfield | 59.4/100 | £140 | £26,761 |
| Sports clubhouse | North Northamptonshire | 75.7/100 | £21 | £31,027 |
| Golf course | North Northamptonshire | 77.9/100 | £95 | £31,027 |
| Dance school | Mansfield | 71.8/100 | £26 | £26,761 |
Full rankings by business type
Cafe in East MidlandsRestaurant in East MidlandsTakeaway in East MidlandsRetail shop in East MidlandsConvenience store in East MidlandsHair & beauty salon in East MidlandsOffice-based business in East MidlandsFinancial / A2 office in East MidlandsGym / fitness suite in East MidlandsVehicle repair garage in East MidlandsWorkshop / warehouse in East MidlandsStorage / store unit in East MidlandsPrivate clinic / health centre in East MidlandsVeterinary clinic in East MidlandsCar showroom in East MidlandsRetail warehouse in East MidlandsBetting shop in East MidlandsGarden centre in East MidlandsFuneral home in East MidlandsPost office in East MidlandsDrive-thru restaurant in East MidlandsBuilders merchant in East MidlandsTyre & exhaust centre in East MidlandsLarge food store in East MidlandsTrade showroom in East MidlandsKennels & cattery in East MidlandsCommunity day centre in East MidlandsMembers / social club in East MidlandsLight-industrial business unit in East MidlandsCommercial garage in East MidlandsStorage depot in East MidlandsPharmacy in East MidlandsFarm shop in East MidlandsLarge distribution warehouse in East MidlandsSuperstore / hypermarket in East MidlandsSports clubhouse in East MidlandsGolf course in East MidlandsDance school in East Midlands
Other regions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best business to start in East Midlands?
- By the Gera Business Location Score, the highest-scoring opportunity in East Midlands is a commercial transport garage in Boston at 92.8/100. The score balances premises affordability (VOA rateable value), local wages (ONS ASHE) and market density (ONS Business Counts). Your own budget and trade will shift the ranking — use the finder tool to filter.
- How is each area scored?
- Each local authority is scored 0–100 per business type: 45% premises affordability, 25% labour cost and 30% market density, all from real UK government open data joined on the ONS local-authority code. Full method on the methodology page.
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Contains public sector information published by Valuation Office Agency and Office for National Statistics and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: VOA Business Floorspace + ONS Business Counts + ONS ASHE (work geography) + ONS population estimates (2025 (VOA 31 March 2025; ASHE 2025 provisional; Business Counts 2025; population mid-2024), published December 2025).