Scotland, a part of the United Kingdom can be your perfect business destination. The sustainable economy of this country will help you in earning high profits. Here in this article, we list the best and most profitable business ideas in Scotland that can be started with little money.
Scotland provides you with excellent infrastructure along with a great location and a well-connected communication network. Hence you can think of various kinds of businesses to launch in Scotland.
In implementing your business idea in Scotland, you will get the advantage of funding from Scottish, UK, and European sources. Apart from that, there are various tax incentives for new businesses in Scotland.
There is a great supply of skilled manpower in Scotland. The cost of living is also not very high here. All these are plus points for you to start a business in Scotland.
25 Business Ideas in Scotland
1. Meat Processing
Scotland has a very good demand for meat. Hence meat processing can be a very profitable business idea in Scotland. If you can start a production cum processing unit of meat, it will be more profitable. Create a clean and healthy processing unit and an efficient sales team to sell your products at grocery stores, hotels, etc.
2. Restaurant and Bar
Good food and good whiskey are the special features of Scotland. That is why a restaurant and bar is a flourishing business idea in Scotland. The essential things to start this business are a good location, a cool ambiance, and of course, tasty and healthy food and top-grade drinks including whiskey. Well-planned marketing and publicity along with promotions are important for the growth of a restaurant-related business.
3. Open a Café/ Coffee Shop in Scotland
Café is a lucrative and sustainable business idea in Scotland. Open your coffee shop at a busy location and serve different varieties of coffee along with snacks. Taking a franchise can also be a safe and profitable option. You have to plan and invest in marketing and publicity for an independent café.
4. Fast Food Joint
Fast food has taken a leading position in the food market and the demand is increasing with time. If you operate with proper planning, fast food joints can make you rich within a short time. It is a great business idea and you can start independently or through the franchise. Both are profitable and sustainable.
Read: How to Start a Mobile Food Truck Business
5. Start a Bakery Business
Bakery businesses, especially cupcakes have a very good demand in Scotland. Start your bakery with a special emphasis on customized cupcakes. If you can show your excellence as a baker, this business idea in Scotland will give you comfortable and increasing income.
6. Bed and Breakfast
If you have one or more extra rooms in your house, utilize them for providing bed and breakfast service. Scotland is a favorite destination for students, tourists as well as professional visitors. This service is a sought-after one for each of them, giving you good returns. This is a perfect business idea in Scotland. You need to focus on the publicity of your service through digital media and social media.
7. App Development
Scotland is one of the best destinations for tech start-ups. App development business has a good demand here. If you are technologically skilled, you can start this business. Efficient networking, a website of your company, and digital marketing will help to flourish this business idea in Scotland.
8. Film and Video Production
Scotland is a great location for films and videos due to its picturesque location and natural beauty. It is also a technologically advanced country. Hence you can start a film and video production company as your business idea in Scotland and earn a high income. Not only feature films, but you can also make documentary films, ad films, TV programs, and other audio-visual presentations here.
9. Advertising Agency
Scotland is a busy business center, an advertising agency can be a lucrative business idea for you in this country. To run a successful ad agency, you need to know the creative as well as business aspects of advertising. You will also need an efficient marketing network for getting clients. A website of your agency is a must for publicity and propaganda.
10. Business Services
Several services are included in business services and Scotland has a demand for such services. You can start a business service-providing company as your business idea in Scotland and offer services like accounting services, preparation of project reports, IT management, HR services, etc.
11. Recruitment Agency
A recruitment agency is a profitable business idea in Scotland as there are many job seekers as well as business enterprises to hire them. As the owner of a recruitment agency, your responsibility will be to help the job seekers find their ideal jobs and also the recruiters in getting the right candidate. The website of your company and digital marketing are the key factors for the success of your business.
12. Software Development
Software development has a wide market and if you are a skilled software engineer, you can start a software development company. This is a good business idea in Scotland that will give you high profits. Developing customized software for your clients and getting them trained in using the software are your primary jobs. Strategic marketing and publicity are necessary for this business.
13. Digital Game Center
Digital games or video games have become an obsession for not only children but also people of various age groups. Open a digital game center at a prominent location and earn a high income. This is not only profitable but also a sustainable business idea in Scotland. Ads through posters, flyers, banners, hoardings along social media publicity will get you more clients.
14. E-Book Publishing
E-books are gaining more and more popularity with time. If you are a writer, you can write and publish e-books. Otherwise, you can take up the business of publishing e-books written by other authors. Research on the trends is necessary to be successful in this business. With the right marketing and digital publicity, you can earn a high income from this business idea in Scotland.
15. Fashion Design
Fashion design is a flourishing business now. If you are a fashion designer, you can start your boutique and earn high profits. The online boutique is also a very profitable option and will save you the costs of setting up a physical store. Good designs, reasonable prices, and both online and offline marketing will help you in growing this business idea in Scotland.
16. Babysitting
Scotland is a busy and prosperous country where the majority of couples go out for work. That is why a babysitting service is a sought-after one in this country. If you are a skilled babysitter, you can start this business. Your sense of responsibility and dedication are the primary requirements for this business idea in Scotland. If you can invest more, you can also start a daycare center for children with several babysitters and earn a high income. Local networking, personal contacts, and referrals are important for this business.
17. Car Servicing
Car servicing is a steady and sustainable business idea in Scotland. Start your car servicing center at a suitable location. Add mobile servicing facilities to your business model to get more business. Efficiency and promptness in your work are the keys to your success in this business. Personal networking and publicity are also important.
18. Travel Agency
Scotland is a favorite spot for tourists and is visited by thousands of local as well as international tourists every year. Therefore starting a travel agency can be a lucrative business idea in Scotland for you. To be a successful travel agent, you must have a good knowledge of the tourist spots, conducted tours, etc. Apart from that, you will need good contact with hotels, resorts, and transport providers to offer a hassle-free tour to your clients. A website of your company, online marketing, and social media publicity are very important for this business.
19. Solar Panel Manufacturing
Scotland puts a lot of emphasis on alternate sources of power. Hence opening a solar panel manufacturing company can be a profitable business idea in Scotland. Start your solar panel manufacturing company and also offer installation and servicing facilities to get more income from this business. Good contact and publicity will help you in this business.
20. Financial Consultancy
Financial experts have high prospects in Scotland. Hence, if you are a financial expert, you can start your financial consultancy as a business idea in Scotland. As a financial consultant, you will provide services like financial planning and reporting, investment planning, tax consultation and planning, business viability assessment, etc. Personal networking and strategic marketing will get you more business.
21. Tutoring
Tutoring is a very viable business idea in Scotland. If you have good academic records you can teach students of various standards. In the classroom or online both modes of teaching are very popular and accepted. You need to build your reputation as a good teacher through personal interactions and publicity.
22. Real Estate Agency
Real estates are always a good source of income. Hence real estate agency can be a lucrative business idea for you in Scotland. Start your real estate agency portal or an office and coordinate buying and selling and get paid by both parties. Online and offline marketing and publicity, along with your good contacts will get you more income.
23. Gardening
Maintaining gardens regularly is a good business idea in Scotland as there are large numbers of houses with gardens. You must have good knowledge of plants and their care to succeed in this business. After you establish your name as a good gardening service provider, you can hire more people to provide services to a greater number of clients.
24. Medical Transportation
Medical transportation is an essential as well as demanded service and a very profitable business idea in Scotland. This business includes several services like transportation of elderly patients, medical delivery services, Mobile clinics, air ambulance, etc. All of these are profitable business options. You will need an efficient marketing team and prompt services to succeed in this business.
25. Dog Sitting and Boarding
Every other household in Scotland has dogs. Hence services like dog sitting or dog boarding are very profitable business ideas in Scotland. You can start a dog sitting and boarding business with a team of caregivers to serve a greater number of clients. Good care and love for dogs are necessary for this business. You must have a website for your agency or boarding, good contact with vets and pet shops, and local publicity to grow your business.
Scotland is a prosperous country and a land of possibilities. Hence you will be able to achieve success in your business idea in Scotland.
Editorial Team at 99BusinessIdeas is a team of experts led by Rupak Chakrabarty with over 25 years of experience in starting and running small businesses. Started in 2010, 99BusinessIdeas is now one of the largest free small business resources in the industry.