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Data from Venture Forward , an annual international research initiative by GoDaddy that analyses data from more than 2.3 million British microbusinesses , shows that 25.9 % of Britain ’ s microbusinesses are based rurally , up from 24.1 % in 2022 . This equates to 94,464 new start-ups over the past 12 months , suggesting that Britain ’ s countryside has become a hotbed for entrepreneurial talent .

GoDaddy ’ s figures also show that this trend is being driven predominantly by women . In 2022 , 33.1 % of rural entrepreneurs were female , which has jumped to 43.6 % in 2023 . Comparatively , 35 % of urban microbusiness owners are women .

With three-quarters ( 75 %) of these businesses also employing at least one other person , they potentially can support almost 2.5 million jobs .

Venture Forward data shows that rural entrepreneurs are also older than their city-based counterparts . A quarter ( 26 %) of urban microbusiness owners are over 50 , which jumps to two-fifths ( 39 %) for those running rural businesses .

Retail and consumer businesses are at the forefront of the countryside economy , accounting for 14 % of ventures . Entertainment and the arts is another major sector , accounting for 10 %, with IT and technology ( 8 %), professional and business services ( 7 %) and education ( 6 %) among other popular industries .

Reducing barriers to entry , facilitated by the increase in online tools and services , could also be playing a major role in the thriving countryside economy . Two in five ( 43 %) of rural businesses were started for less than £ 1,000 , with a further fifth ( 21 %) of entrepreneurs requiring less than £ 5,000 of capital to start trading .

Despite the encouraging growth of rural microbusinesses over the past 12 months , they are not immune to the cost of living pressures faced by many others . More than three-quarters ( 77 %) have seen their energy bills increase over the past year , with transport ( 44 %), raw materials ( 43 %), production ( 24 %) and staff ( 17 %) among other fixed costs that have risen .

In spite of rising costs , the vast majority ( 80 %) of rural entrepreneurs expect to grow in 2023 , with just 9 % predicting a fall in turnover .

Andrew Gradon , Head of GoDaddy UK & Ireland , said : “ This data demonstrates a sizeable shift we are seeing in Britain ’ s microbusiness community . While in the past , commerce and enterprise were associated with major urban hubs , advancements in technology and online tools mean businesses can be easily started from anywhere .

“ Venture Forward suggests that the countryside economy is in good health , generating billions for the economy and supporting millions of jobs . However , the cost of living crisis is an on-going concern and rural businesses have been hit by rising costs just like their urban counterparts have . As a company committed to helping everyday entrepreneurs thrive , GoDaddy is determined to support small business owners in rural areas .” �