Business rates in Preston: is your bill too high?
6,468 business properties in Preston have a 2026 rateable value. The middle one is £7,200. See how yours compares with similar properties nearby, free.
Typical values by property type
Medians across Preston. 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 | 1,303 | £7,500 | £114 | £83–£148 | More |
| offices | 1,227 | £7,100 | £99 | £81–£122 | More |
| workshops | 590 | £6,700 | £49 | £38–£57 | More |
| warehouses | 373 | £18,750 | £47 | £35–£62 | More |
| factories | 34 | £96,250 | £32 | £25–£43 | More |
| restaurants | 97 | £30,750 | £115 | £90–£164 | More |
| cafés | 47 | £9,700 | £118 | £86–£143 | More |
| pubs | 92 | £28,000 | — | — | More |
| hair salons | 107 | £5,900 | £125 | £87–£158 | More |
| vehicle repair workshops | 82 | £10,000 | £49 | £36–£72 | More |
| day nurseries | 44 | £21,000 | £80 | £69–£116 | More |
Towns in Preston
Questions about business rates in Preston
How are business rates worked out in Preston?
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 Preston?
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