Best areas to start a business in North West
The top-ranked North West local authority for each of 38 business types, by the Gera Business Location Score.
Where are the best areas to start a business in North West?
In North West, the strongest business-location opportunity by the Gera Business Location Score is a commercial transport garage in Hyndburn (GBLS 86.7/100), with premises at £23/m²/yr. We rank 38 business types across North West 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 West area by business type
| Business type | Best area | GBLS | Rent (£/m²/yr) | Local pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe | Wyre | 65.4/100 | £58 | £27,657 |
| Restaurant | Blackpool | 65.1/100 | £72 | £27,064 |
| Takeaway | Westmorland and Furness | 76.4/100 | £90 | £32,683 |
| Retail shop | Hyndburn | 66/100 | £56 | £27,323 |
| Convenience store | Pendle | 66.5/100 | £81 | £28,099 |
| Hair & beauty salon | Hyndburn | 64.6/100 | £58 | £27,323 |
| Office-based business | Blackpool | 64.2/100 | £66 | £27,064 |
| Financial / A2 office | Hyndburn | 65.3/100 | £44 | £27,323 |
| Gym / fitness suite | Tameside | 65/100 | £21 | £27,115 |
| Vehicle repair garage | Pendle | 85/100 | £31 | £28,099 |
| Workshop / warehouse | Rossendale | 67/100 | £25 | £27,288 |
| Storage / store unit | Wyre | 65.2/100 | £22 | £27,657 |
| Private clinic / health centre | Hyndburn | 67.1/100 | £49 | £27,323 |
| Veterinary clinic | Cheshire East | 58.2/100 | £84 | £33,200 |
| Car showroom | Hyndburn | 86/100 | £62 | £27,323 |
| Retail warehouse | Blackburn with Darwen | 74.4/100 | £75 | £30,572 |
| Betting shop | Blackpool | 62.8/100 | £88 | £27,064 |
| Garden centre | Hyndburn | 61.4/100 | £9 | £27,323 |
| Funeral home | Blackburn with Darwen | 56.3/100 | £33 | £30,572 |
| Post office | Wirral | 62.5/100 | £46 | £28,840 |
| Drive-thru restaurant | Blackpool | 75.3/100 | £280 | £27,064 |
| Builders merchant | Preston | 74/100 | £31 | £32,655 |
| Tyre & exhaust centre | Oldham | 75.6/100 | £50 | £27,990 |
| Large food store | Blackpool | 63.8/100 | £145 | £27,064 |
| Trade showroom | Blackpool | 68.2/100 | £44 | £27,064 |
| Kennels & cattery | Stockport | 59.1/100 | £26 | £28,296 |
| Community day centre | Stockport | 66.6/100 | £24 | £28,296 |
| Members / social club | Rossendale | 66/100 | £21 | £27,288 |
| Light-industrial business unit | Stockport | 71.7/100 | £57 | £28,296 |
| Commercial garage | Hyndburn | 86.7/100 | £23 | £27,323 |
| Storage depot | West Lancashire | 62.9/100 | £17 | £28,909 |
| Pharmacy | Trafford | 73.1/100 | £327 | £31,516 |
| Farm shop | Wyre | 67/100 | £47 | £27,657 |
| Large distribution warehouse | Burnley | 62.5/100 | £29 | £27,128 |
| Superstore / hypermarket | Bolton | 58.6/100 | £158 | £27,696 |
| Sports clubhouse | Stockport | 57.9/100 | £20 | £28,296 |
| Golf course | Stockport | 70.2/100 | £61 | £28,296 |
| Dance school | Sefton | 70.1/100 | £35 | £27,006 |
Full rankings by business type
Cafe in North WestRestaurant in North WestTakeaway in North WestRetail shop in North WestConvenience store in North WestHair & beauty salon in North WestOffice-based business in North WestFinancial / A2 office in North WestGym / fitness suite in North WestVehicle repair garage in North WestWorkshop / warehouse in North WestStorage / store unit in North WestPrivate clinic / health centre in North WestVeterinary clinic in North WestCar showroom in North WestRetail warehouse in North WestBetting shop in North WestGarden centre in North WestFuneral home in North WestPost office in North WestDrive-thru restaurant in North WestBuilders merchant in North WestTyre & exhaust centre in North WestLarge food store in North WestTrade showroom in North WestKennels & cattery in North WestCommunity day centre in North WestMembers / social club in North WestLight-industrial business unit in North WestCommercial garage in North WestStorage depot in North WestPharmacy in North WestFarm shop in North WestLarge distribution warehouse in North WestSuperstore / hypermarket in North WestSports clubhouse in North WestGolf course in North WestDance school in North West
Other regions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best business to start in North West?
- By the Gera Business Location Score, the highest-scoring opportunity in North West is a commercial transport garage in Hyndburn at 86.7/100. 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).