Best areas to start a business in Yorkshire and The Humber
The top-ranked Yorkshire and The Humber local authority for each of 38 business types, by the Gera Business Location Score.
Where are the best areas to start a business in Yorkshire and The Humber?
In Yorkshire and The Humber, the strongest business-location opportunity by the Gera Business Location Score is a car showroom in North Lincolnshire (GBLS 90.1/100), with premises at £48/m²/yr. We rank 38 business types across Yorkshire and The Humber 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 Yorkshire and The Humber area by business type
| Business type | Best area | GBLS | Rent (£/m²/yr) | Local pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cafe | North East Lincolnshire | 65.1/100 | £66 | £26,631 |
| Restaurant | North Lincolnshire | 63.6/100 | £59 | £29,973 |
| Takeaway | North Yorkshire | 73.4/100 | £103 | £29,288 |
| Retail shop | North East Lincolnshire | 65.5/100 | £79 | £26,631 |
| Convenience store | North East Lincolnshire | 65.7/100 | £93 | £26,631 |
| Hair & beauty salon | North Lincolnshire | 62.6/100 | £69 | £29,973 |
| Office-based business | North East Lincolnshire | 64.9/100 | £60 | £26,631 |
| Financial / A2 office | North East Lincolnshire | 62.9/100 | £82 | £26,631 |
| Gym / fitness suite | North East Lincolnshire | 66.2/100 | £14 | £26,631 |
| Vehicle repair garage | North Lincolnshire | 88.9/100 | £30 | £29,973 |
| Workshop / warehouse | North East Lincolnshire | 65.8/100 | £30 | £26,631 |
| Storage / store unit | North East Lincolnshire | 64.8/100 | £24 | £26,631 |
| Private clinic / health centre | Kingston upon Hull, City of | 65.6/100 | £48 | £29,790 |
| Veterinary clinic | North Yorkshire | 60.1/100 | £73 | £29,288 |
| Car showroom | North Lincolnshire | 90.1/100 | £48 | £29,973 |
| Retail warehouse | North East Lincolnshire | 72.5/100 | £75 | £26,631 |
| Betting shop | North Lincolnshire | 62.7/100 | £79 | £29,973 |
| Garden centre | North Yorkshire | 58.4/100 | £14 | £29,288 |
| Funeral home | North East Lincolnshire | 62.9/100 | £32 | £26,631 |
| Post office | Kirklees | 64.7/100 | £44 | £28,821 |
| Drive-thru restaurant | North Yorkshire | 65.2/100 | £325 | £29,288 |
| Builders merchant | North Yorkshire | 72.6/100 | £48 | £29,288 |
| Tyre & exhaust centre | North Lincolnshire | 79.8/100 | £61 | £29,973 |
| Large food store | North East Lincolnshire | 63.9/100 | £141 | £26,631 |
| Trade showroom | North East Lincolnshire | 68.8/100 | £33 | £26,631 |
| Kennels & cattery | North Lincolnshire | 59.5/100 | £22 | £29,973 |
| Community day centre | Kirklees | 64.6/100 | £26 | £28,821 |
| Members / social club | North East Lincolnshire | 65.2/100 | £30 | £26,631 |
| Light-industrial business unit | Kirklees | 76.2/100 | £66 | £28,821 |
| Commercial garage | North Lincolnshire | 89.8/100 | £23 | £29,973 |
| Storage depot | Doncaster | 76.6/100 | £14 | £28,928 |
| Pharmacy | Kirklees | 70/100 | £251 | £28,821 |
| Farm shop | North Lincolnshire | 69.2/100 | £16 | £29,973 |
| Large distribution warehouse | North Lincolnshire | 74.3/100 | £30 | £29,973 |
| Superstore / hypermarket | North East Lincolnshire | 61.3/100 | £139 | £26,631 |
| Sports clubhouse | North Yorkshire | 54.1/100 | £27 | £29,288 |
| Golf course | North East Lincolnshire | 66.5/100 | £63 | £26,631 |
| Dance school | East Riding of Yorkshire | 70.6/100 | £32 | £29,355 |
Full rankings by business type
Cafe in Yorkshire and The HumberRestaurant in Yorkshire and The HumberTakeaway in Yorkshire and The HumberRetail shop in Yorkshire and The HumberConvenience store in Yorkshire and The HumberHair & beauty salon in Yorkshire and The HumberOffice-based business in Yorkshire and The HumberFinancial / A2 office in Yorkshire and The HumberGym / fitness suite in Yorkshire and The HumberVehicle repair garage in Yorkshire and The HumberWorkshop / warehouse in Yorkshire and The HumberStorage / store unit in Yorkshire and The HumberPrivate clinic / health centre in Yorkshire and The HumberVeterinary clinic in Yorkshire and The HumberCar showroom in Yorkshire and The HumberRetail warehouse in Yorkshire and The HumberBetting shop in Yorkshire and The HumberGarden centre in Yorkshire and The HumberFuneral home in Yorkshire and The HumberPost office in Yorkshire and The HumberDrive-thru restaurant in Yorkshire and The HumberBuilders merchant in Yorkshire and The HumberTyre & exhaust centre in Yorkshire and The HumberLarge food store in Yorkshire and The HumberTrade showroom in Yorkshire and The HumberKennels & cattery in Yorkshire and The HumberCommunity day centre in Yorkshire and The HumberMembers / social club in Yorkshire and The HumberLight-industrial business unit in Yorkshire and The HumberCommercial garage in Yorkshire and The HumberStorage depot in Yorkshire and The HumberPharmacy in Yorkshire and The HumberFarm shop in Yorkshire and The HumberLarge distribution warehouse in Yorkshire and The HumberSuperstore / hypermarket in Yorkshire and The HumberSports clubhouse in Yorkshire and The HumberGolf course in Yorkshire and The HumberDance school in Yorkshire and The Humber
Other regions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best business to start in Yorkshire and The Humber?
- By the Gera Business Location Score, the highest-scoring opportunity in Yorkshire and The Humber is a car showroom in North Lincolnshire at 90.1/100. 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.
Starting up in Yorkshire and The Humber? Get compliant from day one.
UK GDPR applies the moment you handle customer data; the EU AI Act applies if you use AI tools or sell into the EU. GeraCompliance sets it up in a fixed-scope sprint.
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).