Dublin, Cork and Waterford named top three cities for independent businesses

Report considered the number of independent businesses in each location and their average review score, with Cork and Waterford taking second and third place respectively

Coming in second, Cork scored 9.5, with Waterford taking third place with a score of 8.2. Pic: Larry Cummins.

Dublin, Cork and Waterford have been named the top three cities in Ireland for independent businesses, according to a new report by global fintech firm, SumUp.

The study considered the number of independent businesses in each location and their average review score, with Dublin coming out on top with a total score of 11.5. Coming in second, Cork scored 9.5, with Waterford taking third place with a score of 8.2.

The study noted Dublin as "home to the highest number of independent businesses," hosting 177 beauty salons, 174 barber shops and 154 takeaways. However, the city received a modest score of 5.4 for the average review across all businesses.

In contrast, Cork scored high for the average reviews across all businesses. With a score of 6.4, the businesses thriving across the city were beauty salons, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars, followed by barber shops, with 4.68 out of 5 stars on average, and bakeries, with 4.59 out of 5 stars. 

Whilst Waterford ranked the lowest among the top five for the total number of independent businesses, with a score of just 1.25, SumUp said the city made up for quality, boasting the highest score for average reviews at 6.95. 

The report added that this was a common theme among the last two cities, with Galway and Limerick both hosting a small number of independent businesses but boasting consumer satisfaction.

Armagh failed to make the top five ranking, with only two independent convenience stores, eight bakeries and 10 coffee shops. Despite this, the report said Armagh could be an "ideal location" for budding entrepreneurs to enter the market with limited competition.

By understanding and spotlighting the best cities in Ireland for businesses to thrive, we’re aiming to provide valuable insights to entrepreneurs," said Corin Camenisch, Product Marketing Lead, at SumUp. "Whilst the number of independent businesses in each city is a crucial part of our research, the quality of the businesses is a powerful indicator of both success and satisfaction within each city.”