Best areas to start a business in North East
The top-ranked North East local authority for each of 37 business types, by the Gera Business Location Score.
Where are the best areas to start a business in North East?
In North East, the strongest business-location opportunity by the Gera Business Location Score is a car showroom in Darlington (GBLS 83.9/100), with premises at £36/m²/yr. We rank 37 business types across North East 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 North East area by business type
| Business type | Best area | GBLS | Rent (£/m²/yr) | Local pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe | South Tyneside | 65.4/100 | £66 | £25,490 |
| Restaurant | South Tyneside | 65.3/100 | £63 | £25,490 |
| Takeaway | Northumberland | 71.3/100 | £83 | £27,769 |
| Retail shop | South Tyneside | 65.5/100 | £71 | £25,490 |
| Convenience store | County Durham | 64.7/100 | £83 | £29,393 |
| Hair & beauty salon | South Tyneside | 64/100 | £73 | £25,490 |
| Office-based business | South Tyneside | 65.4/100 | £61 | £25,490 |
| Financial / A2 office | South Tyneside | 64.7/100 | £65 | £25,490 |
| Gym / fitness suite | South Tyneside | 64.3/100 | £33 | £25,490 |
| Vehicle repair garage | Darlington | 82.8/100 | £27 | £29,692 |
| Workshop / warehouse | Hartlepool | 65.9/100 | £23 | £28,204 |
| Storage / store unit | County Durham | 63/100 | £24 | £29,393 |
| Private clinic / health centre | Sunderland | 65.4/100 | £54 | £28,214 |
| Veterinary clinic | Northumberland | 51.8/100 | £94 | £27,769 |
| Car showroom | Darlington | 83.9/100 | £36 | £29,692 |
| Retail warehouse | Darlington | 68.3/100 | £83 | £29,692 |
| Betting shop | County Durham | 64/100 | £66 | £29,393 |
| Garden centre | County Durham | 52.9/100 | £12 | £29,393 |
| Funeral home | South Tyneside | 57.6/100 | £48 | £25,490 |
| Post office | Northumberland | 61.2/100 | £64 | £27,769 |
| Drive-thru restaurant | Northumberland | 63/100 | £312 | £27,769 |
| Builders merchant | Gateshead | 70.8/100 | £35 | £28,507 |
| Tyre & exhaust centre | Northumberland | 72.3/100 | £44 | £27,769 |
| Large food store | South Tyneside | 62.3/100 | £141 | £25,490 |
| Trade showroom | South Tyneside | 65.1/100 | £53 | £25,490 |
| Kennels & cattery | Northumberland | 60.4/100 | £24 | £27,769 |
| Community day centre | Darlington | 66.1/100 | £18 | £29,692 |
| Members / social club | South Tyneside | 66.5/100 | £23 | £25,490 |
| Light-industrial business unit | Hartlepool | 71.4/100 | £39 | £28,204 |
| Commercial garage | Darlington | 82.2/100 | £32 | £29,692 |
| Storage depot | Northumberland | 57.6/100 | £21 | £27,769 |
| Pharmacy | Darlington | 66.6/100 | £241 | £29,692 |
| Large distribution warehouse | Gateshead | 61.5/100 | £33 | £28,507 |
| Superstore / hypermarket | Sunderland | 59.6/100 | £131 | £28,214 |
| Sports clubhouse | South Tyneside | 64.8/100 | £7 | £25,490 |
| Golf course | Gateshead | 67.7/100 | £53 | £28,507 |
| Dance school | Gateshead | 71.6/100 | £29 | £28,507 |
Full rankings by business type
Cafe in North EastRestaurant in North EastTakeaway in North EastRetail shop in North EastConvenience store in North EastHair & beauty salon in North EastOffice-based business in North EastFinancial / A2 office in North EastGym / fitness suite in North EastVehicle repair garage in North EastWorkshop / warehouse in North EastStorage / store unit in North EastPrivate clinic / health centre in North EastVeterinary clinic in North EastCar showroom in North EastRetail warehouse in North EastBetting shop in North EastGarden centre in North EastFuneral home in North EastPost office in North EastDrive-thru restaurant in North EastBuilders merchant in North EastTyre & exhaust centre in North EastLarge food store in North EastTrade showroom in North EastKennels & cattery in North EastCommunity day centre in North EastMembers / social club in North EastLight-industrial business unit in North EastCommercial garage in North EastStorage depot in North EastPharmacy in North EastLarge distribution warehouse in North EastSuperstore / hypermarket in North EastSports clubhouse in North EastGolf course in North EastDance school in North East
Other regions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best business to start in North East?
- By the Gera Business Location Score, the highest-scoring opportunity in North East is a car showroom in Darlington at 83.9/100. 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).