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.

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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

A woman and a man working for a Surrey start up sit behind a desk while looking at a computer screen. They are smiling as they talk.

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.

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.

Business support directory

Events and workshops

Connect and network with like-minded people. There are dozens of events and training sessions on our events page.

Events and workshops

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 Lucy

Upcoming events

See all events

IoD Surrey & Berkshire Directors social networking meetup

An evening of conversation at the fabulous Foxhills, hosted by the IoD Surrey & IoD Berkshire Chair, Jarmila Yu and IoD Surrey & IoD Berkshire Vice Chair, Kate Davis. We hold six member social meetup events a year, designed by directors for directors, and each one allows open networking so we can hear from members […]

7 July 2025 @ 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm