Best areas to start a business in South West
The top-ranked South 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 South West?
In South West, the strongest business-location opportunity by the Gera Business Location Score is a commercial transport garage in Torridge (GBLS 91.6/100), with premises at £25/m²/yr. We rank 38 business types across South 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 South West area by business type
| Business type | Best area | GBLS | Rent (£/m²/yr) | Local pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe | Forest of Dean | 65.9/100 | £66 | £25,387 |
| Restaurant | Forest of Dean | 64.7/100 | £76 | £25,387 |
| Takeaway | Cornwall | 74.2/100 | £142 | £27,006 |
| Retail shop | Torridge | 65.6/100 | £78 | £26,745 |
| Convenience store | Cotswold | 66.6/100 | £91 | £29,655 |
| Hair & beauty salon | Forest of Dean | 62.3/100 | £93 | £25,387 |
| Office-based business | Torridge | 65.2/100 | £57 | £26,745 |
| Financial / A2 office | Forest of Dean | 64.9/100 | £64 | £25,387 |
| Gym / fitness suite | Torridge | 62.9/100 | £41 | £26,745 |
| Vehicle repair garage | Torridge | 89.2/100 | £39 | £26,745 |
| Workshop / warehouse | Torridge | 66.2/100 | £30 | £26,745 |
| Storage / store unit | Torridge | 62.7/100 | £31 | £26,745 |
| Private clinic / health centre | Forest of Dean | 65/100 | £77 | £25,387 |
| Veterinary clinic | Cotswold | 62.8/100 | £128 | £29,655 |
| Car showroom | Mid Devon | 91/100 | £65 | £29,224 |
| Retail warehouse | Cotswold | 78.9/100 | £103 | £29,655 |
| Betting shop | Torbay | 58.3/100 | £124 | £28,066 |
| Garden centre | West Devon | 62.6/100 | £12 | £28,161 |
| Funeral home | East Devon | 51.6/100 | £62 | £31,874 |
| Post office | North Devon | 67.3/100 | £47 | £27,526 |
| Drive-thru restaurant | North Devon | 74.9/100 | £297 | £27,526 |
| Builders merchant | Cotswold | 75.6/100 | £62 | £29,655 |
| Tyre & exhaust centre | North Devon | 82.5/100 | £61 | £27,526 |
| Large food store | Cornwall | 62.5/100 | £165 | £27,006 |
| Trade showroom | Torridge | 69.7/100 | £27 | £26,745 |
| Kennels & cattery | Cotswold | 84.5/100 | £16 | £29,655 |
| Community day centre | Forest of Dean | 65.8/100 | £23 | £25,387 |
| Members / social club | Forest of Dean | 65.8/100 | £33 | £25,387 |
| Light-industrial business unit | South Hams | 83.3/100 | £65 | £28,329 |
| Commercial garage | Torridge | 91.6/100 | £25 | £26,745 |
| Storage depot | North Somerset | 68.6/100 | £9 | £28,749 |
| Pharmacy | Somerset | 55.2/100 | £345 | £29,152 |
| Farm shop | South Hams | 74.5/100 | £43 | £28,329 |
| Large distribution warehouse | Swindon | 58.5/100 | £58 | £32,933 |
| Superstore / hypermarket | South Hams | 59.4/100 | £170 | £28,329 |
| Sports clubhouse | Cotswold | 77.8/100 | £15 | £29,655 |
| Golf course | Cotswold | 69.8/100 | £116 | £29,655 |
| Dance school | Torbay | 68.7/100 | £34 | £28,066 |
Full rankings by business type
Cafe in South WestRestaurant in South WestTakeaway in South WestRetail shop in South WestConvenience store in South WestHair & beauty salon in South WestOffice-based business in South WestFinancial / A2 office in South WestGym / fitness suite in South WestVehicle repair garage in South WestWorkshop / warehouse in South WestStorage / store unit in South WestPrivate clinic / health centre in South WestVeterinary clinic in South WestCar showroom in South WestRetail warehouse in South WestBetting shop in South WestGarden centre in South WestFuneral home in South WestPost office in South WestDrive-thru restaurant in South WestBuilders merchant in South WestTyre & exhaust centre in South WestLarge food store in South WestTrade showroom in South WestKennels & cattery in South WestCommunity day centre in South WestMembers / social club in South WestLight-industrial business unit in South WestCommercial garage in South WestStorage depot in South WestPharmacy in South WestFarm shop in South WestLarge distribution warehouse in South WestSuperstore / hypermarket in South WestSports clubhouse in South WestGolf course in South WestDance school in South West
Other regions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best business to start in South West?
- By the Gera Business Location Score, the highest-scoring opportunity in South West is a commercial transport garage in Torridge at 91.6/100. 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).