Running a business in Cornwall is a bit like the tide—sometimes it’s high, sometimes it’s low, and occasionally, it sweeps your deckchair away when you’re not looking. It’s a place full of opportunity, creativity, and community, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. If you’re thinking about starting a business here (or already knee-deep in the adventure), here’s what you need to know.

The Highs: Why We Wouldn’t Be Anywhere Else

1. The Cornwall Brand is Powerful

The rock at Perranporth with the St Pirans flag flying. In the foreground a bed of mussels on a rock. — *The iconic coastline and St Piran flag of Cornwall*

People love Cornwall. They dream about it when they’re stuck in traffic on the M25. It’s a place of wild coastlines, fresh air, and proper pasties (no crimping on top, thank you very much). They associate it with quality craftsmanship, a slower pace of life, and a deep connection to nature. If your business taps into that—whether it’s handmade products, a local service, or an experience tied to the landscape—you’re onto a winner.

2. Community Spirit is Strong

Quaint Mousehole harbour at low tide with boats moored and the cottages in the background. — *The community spirit in Cornwall is a wonderful thing*

There’s a real “we’re all in this together” mentality here. Cornwall is full of independent businesses lifting each other up—cafés showcasing local artists, restaurants serving produce from just up the road, and creatives sharing each other’s work on social media. There’s competition, sure, but there’s also camaraderie. If you’re willing to network and support others, you’ll find a strong business community ready to back you.

3. The Work-Life Balance Can Be Incredible

two surfers carrying their boards along a sandy Cornish beach with the waves crashing behind them. — *Make some calls. Fire out a few emails. Hit the surf.*

No one moves to Cornwall to sit in an office 80 hours a week. If you play your cards right, you can carve out a business that lets you enjoy where you live. Morning sea swims, lunchtime pasties on the cliffs, finishing early for a sunset surf—it’s all possible if you create a work structure that fits the lifestyle.

4. Tourism Brings Opportunity

Cornish holiday cottage in a harbour town. White building woth blue framed windows and shutters. — *Cornwall is known for its popularity as a tourist destination*

Over five million visitors flood into Cornwall every year, spending money on everything from food to experiences to locally made products. If your business can tap into the tourist market—whether that’s holiday accommodation, guided tours, a café, or an online shop with a Cornish angle—you’ve got a ready-made audience arriving every summer.

The Lows: It’s Not All Beach Days and Roskilly’s Ice Cream

1. Seasonal Highs and Lows Can Be Brutal

A hand holding an ice cream with the sea and harbour of st ives in the back ground slightly blurred. — *Embrace the high season and prepare for the lows in Cornwall*

Summer is a whirlwind. The roads are jammed, bookings are flying in, and it feels like there’s money to be made around every corner. Then winter arrives, and it’s like someone’s pulled the plug. Shops and restaurants cut their hours, the beaches empty out, and that once-bustling business can feel eerily quiet.

How to survive it:

Build an online presence that keeps working for you year-round.
Develop products or services that aren’t reliant on peak season.
Find ways to market to locals, not just visitors.
If you run a seasonal business, use the downtime wisely—plan, create content, and get your strategy in place for the next rush.

2. Everything is Just a Bit... Further Away

An outlined map of Cornwall in black and white. — *Even in this digital age, Cornwall is somewhat far from the hustle bustle of city living*

Need supplies? They might be on the other side of the Tamar. Need a meeting? It’s probably in Truro. Need a specialist service? That’ll be a three-hour round trip. Cornwall’s remoteness is part of its charm, but it also means longer delivery times, fewer networking opportunities, and more travel.

Solution?

Get to know local suppliers and businesses—you’ll be surprised how many solutions are right on your doorstep.
Embrace digital networking—online communities and virtual meetings can bridge the gap.
Plan ahead for stock and logistics—last-minute panic orders can take longer than expected to arrive.

3. Finding (and Keeping) Staff is Tricky

Black and white image of a cafe with menu upon blackboards and coffee machines visible and a server with her back to the camera. — *Great seasonal staff are worth their weight in gold. Look after the good ones!*

Cornwall has a smaller working-age population, and with high house prices and a seasonal economy, recruiting and retaining good staff can be a challenge. Many businesses rely on seasonal workers, which means training new people every year.

How to tackle it?

Look after your team. Offer training, fair wages, and, if possible, work that isn’t just seasonal.
Build a workplace culture that makes people want to stick around.
If you rely on seasonal staff, streamline your training process—create clear guides and systems to make the annual onboarding smoother.

4. The Weather Can Make or Break You

A windswept beach in the background with beach grass blowing in the foreground with wooden posts dotted along a path. Cliffs in background blurred. — *The weather in Cornwall. Friend and foe*

Cornwall is unpredictable. A heatwave? Fantastic for beach cafés, terrible for indoor attractions. A week of storms? Could mean cancelled bookings and empty shops. If your business relies on footfall, the weather is a wildcard you’ll have to contend with.

How to weatherproof your business?

If possible, create revenue streams that don’t rely solely on good weather.
Diversify—if you own a coastal café, can you offer cosy winter events to keep things ticking over?
Be adaptable—Cornish businesses that thrive are the ones that can pivot when needed.

Is It Worth It?

Absolutely. Running a business in Cornwall takes resilience, adaptability, and a healthy dose of creative thinking, but the rewards are huge. There’s a strong sense of community, a lifestyle that’s hard to beat, and a growing ecosystem of support for small businesses.

And I say that from experience.

An view from the outside of a cafe with wooden interior through a window. — *Running a business in Cornwall is a fantastic experience. It's challenging, but definitely worth it.*

My own journey started with Cornwall Adventures, a seasonal outdoor business teaching people how to fish, forage, and connect with the coast. Summer was always buzzing, but winter? A different story. The seasonal slump led me to create Tide & Ink, helping businesses build a strong online presence that keeps them visible (and profitable) all year round.

If you want your business to thrive—not just in summer, but all year long—having a strong online presence is key. A well-designed website, engaging content, and strategic SEO can help bring in customers, even when the beaches are empty and the summer crowds have disappeared.

So, whether you’re running a surf school, an artisan bakery, or a digital marketing business (hi!), Cornwall might be at the edge of the map, but it’s at the heart of creativity, innovation, and independent business. If you can navigate the challenges, there’s no better place to build something incredible.

Need help making your business work year-round?

Let’s chat. I’m here to help you weather the storm—literally and metaphorically. 🌊

The Highs and Lows of Running a Business in Cornwall