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How to Start a Business in Dumfries And Galloway

If you are thinking about starting a business in Dumfries And Galloway or would like to grow your existing business, we would love to help you.

Start Your Own Business in Dumfries And Galloway contains resources and the information that will help give your venture the best chance of success. It also highlights organisations who offer friendly advice and the services that you are likely to need as a new startup or local business owner.

Grants | Networking groups | Business advice | Mentoring | Co-working spaces

Local help for startups

There is plenty of help for startups in Dumfries And Galloway but where can it be found?

Select classification:

Grants

Can you help start-ups in Dumfries And Galloway?

If so, your logo, company details and link to your site could be here!

If you are based in in Dumfries And Galloway or offer a product or service which could help existing local businesses and start-ups, we would love you to help you reach them. Our aim is to increase the chances of every new business's success by highlighting the help that is available in the area.

You are able to add a free listing or act as our recommended local partner for only £10 per year!

Local partners

We are happy to promote anyone who is prepared to offer friendly, honest, relevant support to local start-ups and existing businesses.

Our partners have been good enough to help us and are keen to help you too.

Free Startup Guide

Start & Grow Your Business in Dumfries & Galloway

Download the 2026 edition of our Free Start Your Own Business guide

An interactive step-by-step guide which also includes all of the most important subjects covered in an easy-to-read way with links to useful online articles and relevant contacts.

The idea of starting your own business can be incredibly exciting and who can blame you for being tempted?

However, the sad truth is that far too many new enterprises fail in the early stages. Our aim is to make sure that you don't become one of them.

This guide explains the key start-up subjects in simple English.

There is also plenty of help available in the area and much of it is free - please do make the most of it.

Key Contacts in Dumfries And Galloway

'You don't know what you don't know' is a phrase that is so applicable to starting a new business.

Dumfries And Galloway is a great place for start-ups but your chances of success are dramatically improved if you make the most of the support that is available locally. Click on logos to visit their websites.

Advice

My World of Work - Be Your Own Boss

Businesses come in all shapes and sizes. In Scotland, 99% of all private sector businesses are small to medium size enterprises – and they provide an estimated 1.1 million jobs*. What could you add to that mix?

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Advice

Visit Scotland - Supporting Your Business

Scottish tourism businesses and the fantastic work they do make up the lifeblood of our industry. The world-class standards of our accommodation providers, visitor attractions, visitor/experiences, restaurants and other businesses are why Scotland attracts so many new and returning visitors year after year.

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Advice

University of St Andrews

There are plenty of examples of successful entrepreneurs and ideas. You may find reading them sparks your own imagination and inspires you to seek out and build your own enterprise – whatever its size! Students have great ideas for ventures and with a bit of perseverance and support, turn them into successful ventures.

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Funding

Scottish Rural Network - Funding

Details of funding schemes for rural businesses in Scotland including the Scottish Rural Development Programme. Grants and support for economic, environmental and social measures to benefit rural Scotland are available through the Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP).

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Marketing

Business Directory Dumfries and Galloway

The Dumfries and Galloway Business Directory aims to provide a guide to companies in south west Scotland that have an Internet presence.

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Advice

South of Scotland Enterprise

South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) is the development agency for businesses and enterprising communities throughout Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders. We are here to help people and enterprises in the South to thrive, grow, and fulfil their best potential. Every enterprise is different, and SOSE support is tailored to your stage and situation. Services can include training, advice, specialist expertise, and funding (grants and loans).

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Networking

Dumfries & Galloway Chamber of Commerce

An independent locally run Chamber of Commerce working for business in Dumfries and Galloway Run by a Board of Directors Appointed by the members at the AGM Not for profit organisation Part of a network of Chambersscc logo with ubn175 Affiliated to Scottish Chambers of Commerce Working with Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce to deliver the BCC services In the UK through the British Chamber of Commerce Worldwide through the biggest business representation organisation in the world Hillhead House, The Crichton, Bankend Road, Dumfries, DG1 4UQ

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Advice

Dumfries and Galloway Council

Business support and advice Get guidance and help to start or run a business in Dumfries and Galloway. The Business Gateway service supports new start and existing businesses in Dumfries and Galloway by providing information, workshops and advice from experienced advisers.

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Property

Heathhall Business Centre

Heathhall Business Centre offers both Serviced Offices & Office Workspaces to rent and let in Dumfries at Heathhall Industrial Estate. Our Serviced Offices are available on a simple four weekly licence inclusive of all utilities. Alternatively as your office requirement changes we also offer larger office workspaces on longer term leases. All our office spaces to rent whether small or large come with free access to our new high speed broadband network allowing you to get trading from the first day you move in.

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Accountancy

Armstrong Watson

Supporting and advising business in South West Scotland. We work in Dumfries and throughout South West Scotland and beyond offering audit, cloud accounting, independent financial planning, strategic business advice, bespoke tax planning and accountancy solutions to owner-managed businesses across a range of business sectors including: Agriculture, Manufacturing, Hospitality & Tourism, Independent Retail and Professional Services. 51 Rae Street, Dumfries DG1 1JD

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Advice

Business Gateway Dumfries and Galloway

Business Gateway is a free service that provides one-to-one business support, training, and advice to entrepreneurs and small businesses in Dumfries and Galloway.We offer a range of services to help businesses start, grow, and succeed, including:1:1 local advice & supportSector specific training & eventsGet Digital programmes.Climate Resilience supportOnline resources & webinarsWe are a small team of advisors with deep experience of the challenges that businesses in D&G face.

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Funding

Delivering for Scotland - Start Up Loans

Delivering for Scotland website has details of the Government backed Start UP Loan scheme as it apples to Scotland.

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Networking

FSB West of Scotland

FSB West of Scotland is the local branch of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). It was formed in 1974 as the National Federation of Self Employed and represents the interests of small and medium-sized businesses locally and nationally. They offer a great package tailored to your needs if you are thinking about starting a business in the area. Contact: Hisashi Kuboyama Development Manager Hisashi.Kuboyama@fsb.org.uk

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Networking

Scottish Chambers of Commerce

SCC we are dedicated to promoting and protecting the interests of our member companies and to helping them rise to the challenge, seize the opportunity and succeed in the marketplace. By joining a Chamber of Commerce your company automatically becomes part of Scotlands largest business organisation, with access to an unrivalled range of services, support and advice to aid your development as a thriving member of the business community. Address: Scottish Chambers of Commerce, 30 George Square, Glasgow, G2 1EQ

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Advice

Digital Boost

Would you like you to know how your business could benefit from digital upskilling? Training, guides, tutorials, workshops, 1:1 advice and consultancy – all for free.

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Advice

Scottish Rural Network

The Scottish Rural Network website is your one-stop-shop for news, events and information about rural development. We can help you connect with other people, communities, organisations and businesses across rural Scotland and beyond.

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Funding

Business grants in Scotland: What do you need to know?

Small business grants in Scotland tend to either be funded by the Scottish or UK Government, as well as the European Union (EU). Generally, the funding is either available for any business across Scotland (or for businesses intending to be based in Scotland). Alternatively, some grants are only available to businesses working in certain sectors or specific locations.

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Start-up articles

100's of free startup articles

We have created a collection of 100s of startup articles to help anyone with whatever stage they are on with their business journey. Hundreds of thousands of people have gone before you and we can learn from what they got right and avoid the things that have been proved not to work so well.

You can see the full list of 'articles' at: How to start a business