From fitness studios to your favourite local coffee shop, in recent years, independent businesses have enjoyed a surge in attention as consumers become more mindful of supporting their local communities and recognising the environmental impact of their purchasing choices.
With more Brits leaving the conventional 9-5 behind to pursue their own ventures, SumUp has identified the top locations where small businesses are most likely to thrive. The study took into consideration the variety of business types in each city, measuring how many there are per 10,000 residents, highlighting where in the UK businesses are thriving.
The top 10 cities for independent businesses:
| Rank | City | Number of businesses per 10,000 people. |
| 1 | Manchester | 135.80 |
| 2 | Nottingham | 117.91 |
| 3 | Wolverhampton | 99.14 |
| 4 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 97.11 |
| 5 | Portsmouth | 96.64 |
| 6 | Edinburgh | 96.18 |
| 7 | Southampton | 92.87 |
| 8 | Liverpool | 88.26 |
| 9 | Bradford | 84.27 |
| 10 | Leeds | 82.64 |
Manchester ranks as the top city for independent businesses, currently home to an impressive 135.80 businesses per 10,000 residents. The city has a strong beauty and wellness scene and, outside of London, boasts the highest number of beauty industry businesses in the UK. Manchester currently hosts 647 skincare clinics, 642 lash and brow bars, and 617 nail salons, highlighting its status as a buzzing scene for beauty enthusiasts.
In second place, Nottingham presents itself as a perfect location for those looking to set up a business within the hospitality sector. With 1,642 restaurants, 57 bakeries, and 219 coffee shops listed on TripAdvisor, the city presents itself as a buzzing scene for foodies.
Wolverhampton ranks in third place, supported by its strong grooming sector, hosting the fourth-highest number of barbers in the UK, with 146 listed on Fresha. Other cities to highlight in the ranking include Edinburgh, which placed sixth and boasts a vibrant hospitality scene, home to 1,002 B&B’s, 2,042 restaurants, and 604 coffee shops listed on TripAdvisor. Liverpool, in eighth place, also stands out for its impressive 1,931 restaurants; meanwhile, Leeds takes 10th place, with a flourishing hair industry, home to 380 hairdressers and 145 barbers.
Corin Camenisch, Product Marketing Lead at SumUp, comments:
“We’re rooted in supporting independent businesses, and by understanding and spotlighting the best cities in the UK for businesses to thrive, we’re aiming to provide valuable insights to entrepreneurs. Whilst the sheer number of independent businesses in each city is a crucial part of our research, the quality of the businesses reflected by customer reviews is a powerful indicator of both success and satisfaction within each city.”
