Start-up support
Looking to start a business in Surrey?
We can provide help and support to turn your idea into a reality.
Get in touch for free advice and start-up support from our team of business experts.
Why start a business in Surrey?
From a fantastic location with excellent links to London and beyond to a highly-skilled workforce driving world-class innovation, there are many reasons to start a business here.
Our region accounts for 14% of all business births in the South East.
And with a business survival rate of nearly 90%, it’s clear we have all the ingredients for your business to be successful in Surrey.
Looking for help on getting started? Contact our team of experts who can provide helpful guides and advice when starting out.
Business Surrey support form
Nine steps to starting a business
1. Think of an idea
2. Research the market
3. Decide on your legal structure
4. Develop a business plan
5. Sort out legal affairs and permits
6. Secure finance and funding
7. Develop your brand and online presence
8. Market your business
9. Secure your first sales
Help and advice
Starting and growing a business is not easy. There are many issues that may crop up which you may not have thought about or dealt with before.
Some of the most common themes include:
- Marketing, promotion and sales
- Legal and regulatory support
- Access to funding
- Innovation and technology
- Going green
- Export and import
- Talent, recruitment and apprenticeships
- Leadership, management and transformation
The key thing to remember is that you are not alone and there’s lots of help out there. Sometimes you just need to ask – which is where Business Surrey comes in.
Contact us
How we can help
Business Surrey is committed to helping businesses in Surrey get the right kind of advice and support.
You can also find practical support and information in the Setting Up section of the Government’s website.
Business support directory
Find the expert support your business needs via our online directory of local, regional and national support.
Events and workshops
Connect and network with like-minded people. There are dozens of events and training sessions on our events page.
One-to-one support
Looking to fast-track your business growth? Get tailored free business advice from our expert Growth Hub team.
Meet the experts
Renée Canter | Enterprise Mentor
Renée Canter is the Enterprise Mentor at Business Surrey, helping businesses of all sizes get the support and advice they need to thrive. With a background in HR and an interest in skills and development she has worked in a variety of sectors – including self-employment.
Meet Renée
Sarah Joy | High Growth Enterprise Mentor
Sarah Joy is Business Surrey’s High Growth Enterprise Mentor, operating within the Growth Hub service. She brings decades of experience working directly with global brands and high-growth scale-ups.
Meet Sarah
Lucy Huddlestone | Enterprise and Triage Information Officer
Lucy Huddlestone brings over 15 years of experience in the publishing and media industries, with a career spanning advertising, bibliographic data services, and international business development.
Meet LucyUpcoming events
Real founder journeys to growth
In this final session of the series from The Business Academy explore real founder journeys and the strategies behind their finance and growth.
26 March 2026 @ 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
FSB Connect in Surrey Networked Women
Join us for the third in this three-month journey designed to help women in business flourish.
18 March 2026 @ 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Start-Up Overview
Kickstart your self-employment journey with our interactive Start-Up Overview workshop.
26 March 2026 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm