Portsmouth named one of the best cities to be your own boss in 2026

Working for yourself has become a normal option for many people across the UK. Some turn to self-employment for flexibility, others to earn more, build something of their own, or have more control over their schedule and income.

Rising living costs have also pushed people to look for different ways to make money, whether that means freelancing, running a small business, or working as a sole trader. But even with more people working independently, where you live and work can still make a big difference to how easy it is to succeed.

A new study by LEI Register ranked 60 UK cities to identify the best places for self-employed workers, combining earnings, broadband access, business activity, coworking availability and working patterns, using data from Ofcom, Indeed, CoWorker and the ONS. The results show a clear shift away from the usual suspects, with regional cities and smaller hubs often outperforming larger metros that come with higher costs and heavier competition.

Portsmouth takes 7th place overall, and it’s a city that really shines for anyone relying on strong infrastructure. Fast broadband covers 95.5 percent of properties, ranking among the highest in the top 10, which makes it easy for freelancers, remote workers, and digital businesses to stay productive. Average earnings of £59,184 are solid, and with 12.4 new business registrations per 100,000 residents, the city has a healthy level of entrepreneurial activity.

Self-employment in Portsmouth is active but not overcrowded, and coworking spaces stand at 8 per 100,000 residents, giving independent workers flexible options for office space or collaboration. The average working week of 36.9 hours is in line with other top cities, striking a balance between earning potential and personal time.

How Portsmouth compares with other top cities

In the 2026 ranking, Portsmouth sits behind Cardiff (1st), St Albans (2nd), Westminster (3rd), Dundee (4th), Preston (5th), and Brighton and Hove (6th), which all excel on earnings, self-employment rates, or creative community presence. Coventry (9th) and Southend-on-Sea (10th) perform strongly on broadband and digital readiness, while London (8th) dominates on scale and coworking availability. Portsmouth proves that excellent digital infrastructure combined with a manageable market and solid earnings makes it a top choice for self-employed professionals.

List of the best UK cities for self-employed workers: