Passport to Business: Where the World Wants to Set up a Business Abroad

Where the world wants to start a business 

As experts in business insurance, we know that in today's online world, starting and running a business from abroad has never been easier, and many business owners are taking the leap.
With 'entrepreneur visa' now attracting 72,000 global monthly searches, up 450% in the past year, interest in setting up abroad shows no signs of slowing down. 

To uncover where in the world people most want to set up a business, we analysed online search data from the past year across 249 global locations. From this, we have uncovered both where people want to start a business abroad and the locations driving the most search demand. 

Where the UK most wants to set up a business abroad 

The UK's demand to work abroad is clear, with searches for 'digital nomad' up 42%^{^} year-on-year. But which locations are most sought after for those looking to set up a business overseas? 

Where UK residents most want to set up a business abroad: 

Spain tops the list as the location UK residents most want to set up a business in. UK businesses providing services there must follow Spanish regulations, including local laws and sector-specific rules, according to UK government guidance. Popularity here is most likely driven by the fact that UK residents can fully own and set up a Spanish company (an SL) without needing to relocate, offering a straightforward way to establish a presence in the country before making the big move. For those who later want to relocate, Spain's Entrepreneur Visa or a self-employment residence permit are the routes designed specifically for those running their own business on Spanish soil. 

Saudi Arabia takes second place as the UK’s most in-demand destination for those looking to start a business abroad. The country has significantly opened up to foreign investors in recent years as part of its Vision 2030 economic diversification plan. Foreigners can now open a company with 100% ownership across most key sectors, a major shift from the past requirement of a local Saudi partner holding majority shares. Further, the UK's own Department for Business and Trade actively supports this route and has a presence in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Al Khobar. 

Qatar takes third place, offering a similarly start up-friendly environment. Qatar allows 100% foreign ownership in many sectors,backed by a stable, fast-growing economy, with free zones offering tax holidays and full profit repatriation. UK residents can set up in Qatar either through mainland registration (which usually needs a Qatari partner owning 51%) or specialised hubs like the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) and Qatar Free Zones, which often allow up to 100% foreign ownership.  

Ireland and Thailand round out the top five. Ireland's appeal for UK business owners likely comes down to its low 12.5% corporate tax rate on trading profits, its status as the only native English-speaking nation within the EU, short journeys to the UK, and full access to the EU single market post-Brexit. On the other hand, Thailand offers a lower cost of living and a growing digital nomad and expat community, though foreign ownership is more restricted here. Under Thailand's Foreign Business Act,a company is generally treated as "foreign" once 50% or more of its shares are held by non-Thais. Many entrepreneurs from overseas therefore set up through the Board of Investment (BOI) promotion scheme, which can grant up to 100% foreign ownership for approved, priority industries. 

The UK cities searching the most for setting up a business abroad  

We also analysed where these searches are concentrated to identify which UK cities show the strongest interest in setting up a business abroad. 

Greater London leads all UK cities in searches for starting a business abroad, likely a reflection of its large population and high concentration of business owners, with 59,330 searches recorded over the past year. The top destinations Londoners are researching to set up a business in are Ireland, Hong Kong, Malta, Cyprus, and the UAE. 

Outside of London, Birmingham ranks as the UK city with the most residents looking to set up a business abroad, with 1,540 searches made in the past year across all global locations. The most popular destinations for Birmingham residents are Spain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, which take equal first place. This is followed by Canada and China. 

Manchester takes a close second place as the UK city outside of London with the most residents looking to set up a business abroad, with 1,360 searches made in the past year for the relevant terms globally. The most popular destinations for Mancunians are Ireland, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. 

Leeds follows, with 970 annual searches for setting up a business abroad across all global locations. Further-afield destinations prove popular here too, with Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and Japan coming out on top. 

Scotland is also showing interest in setting up a business abroad, with Edinburgh coming in fourth place outside of London, recording 730 annual searches. Hong Kong, Malta, and Ireland are the top destinations searched for from the Scottish capital. 

Bristol rounds off the top five cities outside of London with the most interest in setting up overseas, with 640 searches made for setting up a business abroad. The Middle East proves most popular among Bristolians, with Qatar and Saudi Arabia taking the top two spots, followed by Kenya. 

Doing research before the move is essential 

With so many UK residents eyeing up a move abroad to set up a business, it's worth understanding the banking implications before you go. Knowing the rules and regulations to abide by, as well as which providers can actually support you once you've relocated, can save business owners from unexpected setbacks further down the line. 

Alicia Hempsted
Insurance Expert

Our expert says...

"If you're planning to relocate as a business owner or work as a digital nomad, it's worth checking your banking eligibility before you go. Some UK business banking products, including MoneySuperMarket's new Business Banking options, require UK residency. This means they are best suited to those who are setting up a business abroad, for example in Spain, whilst remaining UK-based, or are in the early stages of relocating. If people have already moved abroad, these options aren’t viable. 

Beyond the mainstream UK providers, not every bank will support opening or maintaining a business account without a UK-registered office address or permanent residential address. This is a common pitfall that expats fall into, and one that affects customers of high-street banks, in particular. 

Whilst there are limitations to setting up and opening a business bank account abroad, it’s still entirely possible. However, you should do thorough research before deciding upon a provider to ensure they suit your specific needs when opening a business account as a nomadic professional."

Where the world wants to set up a business 

We also explored searches on a global level to see where the world wants to set up a business abroad, based on the total number of searches made across all 249 destinations. 

The UK takes the top spot as the world's most searched place to set up a business, generating 18,510 searches in the past 12 months for 'starting a business in the UK' worldwide. For those coming from abroad, the UK likely stands out as a natural choice, combining the world’s quickest registration process with English-language ease and clear visa routes for entrepreneurs. ‘Starting a business in the UK’ has the most annual searches coming from the United States, India, Singapore, Pakistan, and Australia.  

Australia ranks second, with 13,080 searches made globally in the past year for setting up a business there. However, its visa pathways for business owners have tightened recently, with routes now geared more towards high-value talent and skilled migration than simple business-based visas. The UK, India, United States, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Singapore make up the top five countries searching for Australia as a start-up location. 

Canada is the world’s third most in-demand location to set up a business, showcasing 11,890 global searches for ‘starting a business in Canada’. Canada's stable economy and proximity to the US market likely make it an attractive base for entrepreneurs. Canada is most searched for by the United States, India, the UK, the UAE, and France. This is unsurprising, as Canada's multicultural, English and French-speaking population makes it a great location for multilingual entrepreneurs. 

The UAE follows closely behind, with 11,340 annual searches made for starting a business here. Dubai (the largest city in the UAE) is a popular choice for expats and entrepreneurs. Drawn in by its tax-friendly business environment and reputation as a global hub for trade and innovation, data shows 92% of the resident population comes from other countries. Searches for starting a business here are highest in the United States, India, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.  

New Zealand rounds off the top five most popular places the world wants to set up a business, generating 10,500 searches annually. For those coming from abroad, New Zealand's appeal likely stems from its high quality of life, strong work-life balance, and, according to the UK Government, its reputation as a safe, stable place to live and do business. The United States, the UK, Australia, the UAE, and India show the highest interest in setting up a business here. 

Where in America do people want to set up a business?  

We also dug into data on a state level to reveal which American states are most popular among global entrepreneurs for starting a business. 

The states the world most want to set up a business in:

Texas is the most popular state for people to set up a business in, with 12,320 global searches made in the past year for 'starting a business in Texas'. Outside of the US, the most searches for this term come from India, the UAE, and the UK, while within the US, New York, California, and Maryland lead the way. This spread of interest, from major East and West Coast states to leading markets in India, the UAE, and the UK, highlights just how globally appealing Texas has become as a place to start a business. 

Florida is the second most popular state for people thinking about starting a business, with 9,880 global searches made in the past 12 months for 'starting a business in Florida'. Within the US, New York, Alaska, and Texas make the most searches for this term, while outside the States, interest is highest in the UK, UAE, Canada, and Thailand. 

North Carolina rounds off the top three, with 8,300 global searches made in the past year for starting a business there. Nebraska, Florida, and New York make up the most searches within the US, while the UAE, Thailand, and Canada once again lead the interest from abroad. 

The states where residents are making the most searches for setting up a business abroad 

We also analysed where searches within the US are concentrated to reveal the states with the most entrepreneurs eager to set up abroad. 

Texas leads with the most searches for setting up a business abroad (17,990), with India, Japan, and the Philippines the top destinations outside America. California follows closely behind, with 17,070 searches. Residents here are most drawn to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Japan. Rounding off the top three is Florida, recording 15,460 annual searches for setting up a business abroad, with residents' interest centred on China, Spain, and Switzerland. 

Regardless of where people are planning to set up a business, it’s essential that they protect themselves with business insurance for where their business is based to safeguard against the unexpected as they navigate a new market. 

Methodology 

We analysed 249 locations, including cities, states, and countries across the globe, looking at the Google Search Volume for the search term ‘starting a business in [location]’ or ‘starting a business in the [location]’ for the past 12 months (June 2025-June 2026). Where locations were non-English speaking, we also gathered the search volume for the local language translation, as well as the English term to ensure we captured all relevant data. 

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