Best areas to start a business in South East
The top-ranked South East local authority for each of 38 business types, by the Gera Business Location Score.
Where are the best areas to start a business in South East?
In South East, the strongest business-location opportunity by the Gera Business Location Score is a commercial transport garage in Chichester (GBLS 85.8/100), with premises at £51/m²/yr. We rank 38 business types across South 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 South East area by business type
| Business type | Best area | GBLS | Rent (£/m²/yr) | Local pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe | Thanet | 65.2/100 | £72 | £27,076 |
| Restaurant | Isle of Wight | 63.8/100 | £94 | £26,185 |
| Takeaway | Thanet | 74.6/100 | £79 | £27,076 |
| Retail shop | Isle of Wight | 64.9/100 | £92 | £26,185 |
| Convenience store | Isle of Wight | 64.7/100 | £101 | £26,185 |
| Hair & beauty salon | Rother | 62.1/100 | £88 | £27,732 |
| Office-based business | Isle of Wight | 64.5/100 | £70 | £26,185 |
| Financial / A2 office | Wealden | 62.2/100 | £87 | £27,639 |
| Gym / fitness suite | Rother | 61.9/100 | £49 | £27,732 |
| Vehicle repair garage | Rother | 82.8/100 | £47 | £27,732 |
| Workshop / warehouse | Isle of Wight | 63.4/100 | £46 | £26,185 |
| Storage / store unit | Cherwell | 61.5/100 | £25 | £33,207 |
| Private clinic / health centre | Eastbourne | 64.9/100 | £97 | £26,893 |
| Veterinary clinic | Horsham | 59.9/100 | £87 | £32,334 |
| Car showroom | Wealden | 85.3/100 | £123 | £27,639 |
| Retail warehouse | Winchester | 80.2/100 | £139 | £34,568 |
| Betting shop | Thanet | 63.9/100 | £83 | £27,076 |
| Garden centre | Winchester | 73/100 | £13 | £34,568 |
| Funeral home | Thanet | 64.8/100 | £39 | £27,076 |
| Post office | Thanet | 65/100 | £45 | £27,076 |
| Drive-thru restaurant | Thanet | 67.2/100 | £312 | £27,076 |
| Builders merchant | Chichester | 69.2/100 | £58 | £28,547 |
| Tyre & exhaust centre | Wealden | 79.5/100 | £64 | £27,639 |
| Large food store | Isle of Wight | 62.8/100 | £153 | £26,185 |
| Trade showroom | Isle of Wight | 66.9/100 | £53 | £26,185 |
| Kennels & cattery | Thanet | 63.6/100 | £23 | £27,076 |
| Community day centre | Eastbourne | 65.8/100 | £28 | £26,893 |
| Members / social club | Rother | 65.2/100 | £32 | £27,732 |
| Light-industrial business unit | Chichester | 73.6/100 | £95 | £28,547 |
| Commercial garage | Chichester | 85.8/100 | £51 | £28,547 |
| Storage depot | Tunbridge Wells | 57.1/100 | £16 | £30,296 |
| Pharmacy | New Forest | 65/100 | £305 | £30,071 |
| Farm shop | Isle of Wight | 61.3/100 | £62 | £26,185 |
| Large distribution warehouse | Medway | 49.4/100 | £70 | £30,784 |
| Superstore / hypermarket | Thanet | 59.1/100 | £145 | £27,076 |
| Sports clubhouse | Elmbridge | 71.9/100 | £15 | £30,000 |
| Golf course | Isle of Wight | 68.8/100 | £79 | £26,185 |
| Dance school | Thanet | 70.8/100 | £40 | £27,076 |
Full rankings by business type
Cafe in South EastRestaurant in South EastTakeaway in South EastRetail shop in South EastConvenience store in South EastHair & beauty salon in South EastOffice-based business in South EastFinancial / A2 office in South EastGym / fitness suite in South EastVehicle repair garage in South EastWorkshop / warehouse in South EastStorage / store unit in South EastPrivate clinic / health centre in South EastVeterinary clinic in South EastCar showroom in South EastRetail warehouse in South EastBetting shop in South EastGarden centre in South EastFuneral home in South EastPost office in South EastDrive-thru restaurant in South EastBuilders merchant in South EastTyre & exhaust centre in South EastLarge food store in South EastTrade showroom in South EastKennels & cattery in South EastCommunity day centre in South EastMembers / social club in South EastLight-industrial business unit in South EastCommercial garage in South EastStorage depot in South EastPharmacy in South EastFarm shop in South EastLarge distribution warehouse in South EastSuperstore / hypermarket in South EastSports clubhouse in South EastGolf course in South EastDance school in South East
Other regions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best business to start in South East?
- By the Gera Business Location Score, the highest-scoring opportunity in South East is a commercial transport garage in Chichester at 85.8/100. 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).