Business rates in Cornwall: is your bill too high?
37,057 business properties in Cornwall have a 2026 rateable value. The middle one is £5,400. See how yours compares with similar properties nearby, free.
Typical values by property type
Medians across Cornwall. Price per m² is rateable value divided by floor area, where the Valuation Office publishes a summary valuation.
| Type | Properties | Median RV | Median £/m² | Middle half £/m² | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| shops | 4,941 | £9,200 | £142 | £100–£217 | More |
| offices | 2,990 | £5,700 | £115 | £93–£145 | More |
| workshops | 3,198 | £7,400 | £75 | £58–£96 | More |
| warehouses | 985 | £18,500 | £73 | £57–£93 | More |
| factories | 333 | £29,750 | £54 | £37–£70 | More |
| restaurants | 376 | £20,500 | £139 | £96–£213 | More |
| cafés | 483 | £10,750 | £137 | £98–£214 | More |
| pubs | 584 | £28,750 | — | — | More |
| hair salons | 260 | £5,100 | £135 | £99–£179 | More |
| vehicle repair workshops | 480 | £11,500 | £67 | £55–£83 | More |
| business units | 64 | £4,350 | £136 | £118–£141 | More |
| day nurseries | 121 | £16,500 | £85 | £68–£105 | More |
Questions about business rates in Cornwall
How are business rates worked out in Cornwall?
Your council multiplies your rateable value (set by the Valuation Office) by a multiplier, then takes off any reliefs. For 2026/27 in England the multipliers run from 38.2p (small retail, hospitality and leisure) to 50.8p (rateable values of £500,000+).
Is my business rates bill too high in Cornwall?
The quickest way to tell is to compare the price per m² the Valuation Office applied to your property with similar properties nearby. Our free check does that in seconds using the published 2026 list.
Can I challenge it myself?
Yes. You claim your property in a GOV.UK business rates valuation account, raise a Check, then Challenge within 4 months of the decision. Our evidence pack (£99) gives you the comparables and statement to upload.
Many no-win-no-fee rating agents charge 25% to 50% of what you save, sometimes for every year of the list.
Illustration: if a challenge cut a bill by £2,000 a year for three years, a 35% fee would be £2,100. Our RV under £51,000 pack is £99. Your result could be higher, lower or nothing.
- RV under £51,000
- £99
- RV £51,000–£149,999
- £199
- RV £150,000–£499,999
- £349
One-off, VAT included. You keep 100% of any saving.
Fee terms published by UK rating agents, surveyors and a trade-body partner service, checked October 2026. Some agents charge less (from 10%, sometimes capped) and some add upfront fees. Agents do the work for you, and RICS-regulated surveyors can be worth it for complex or high-value properties. Full comparison.
Aggregate statistics computed from the Valuation Office’s Rating List Downloads (2026 list) for non-domestic rating purposes. Individual properties are shown only through the free check. Not affiliated with the Valuation Office. Data notice