Business rates in Manchester: is your bill too high?
27,230 business properties in Manchester have a 2026 rateable value. The middle one is £9,500. See how yours compares with similar properties nearby, free.
Typical values by property type
Medians across Manchester. 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 | 4,628 | £12,125 | £179 | £123–£265 | More |
| offices | 8,251 | £10,500 | £201 | £150–£261 | More |
| workshops | 1,223 | £6,500 | £69 | £49–£97 | More |
| warehouses | 1,850 | £14,000 | £69 | £52–£86 | More |
| factories | 156 | £13,000 | £61 | £43–£74 | More |
| restaurants | 528 | £52,500 | £191 | £132–£278 | More |
| cafés | 202 | £21,375 | £182 | £134–£294 | More |
| pubs | 376 | £39,500 | — | — | More |
| hair salons | 184 | £9,300 | £182 | £137–£247 | More |
| vehicle repair workshops | 195 | £11,750 | £61 | £53–£80 | More |
| day nurseries | 100 | £28,000 | £90 | £71–£106 | More |
Towns in Manchester
Questions about business rates in Manchester
How are business rates worked out in Manchester?
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 Manchester?
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