Business rates in Dorset: is your bill too high?
18,813 business properties in Dorset have a 2026 rateable value. The middle one is £7,600. See how yours compares with similar properties nearby, free.
Typical values by property type
Medians across Dorset. 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 | 2,867 | £10,250 | £147 | £110–£194 | More |
| offices | 2,040 | £6,200 | £120 | £96–£153 | More |
| workshops | 3,071 | £9,900 | £79 | £61–£100 | More |
| warehouses | 695 | £17,750 | £79 | £61–£102 | More |
| factories | 279 | £39,500 | £73 | £56–£88 | More |
| restaurants | 174 | £17,500 | £130 | £98–£177 | More |
| cafés | 151 | £11,000 | £119 | £87–£178 | More |
| pubs | 366 | £26,000 | — | — | More |
| hair salons | 97 | £7,000 | £140 | £115–£172 | More |
| vehicle repair workshops | 84 | £16,250 | £75 | £53–£94 | More |
| day nurseries | 74 | £13,250 | £88 | £76–£98 | More |
Questions about business rates in Dorset
How are business rates worked out in Dorset?
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 Dorset?
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