Start HereFAQ
Straight answers,
no fluff.
Everything you might want to know about Start Here, before you sign up.
Who is Start Here for?
First-time shop, cafe and restaurant owners looking for a unit to rent in London — people who need to know whether a street is worth the rent before they sign a lease.
What is on the map?
Every vacant high-street unit we can verify as still available in London, shown as a red dot with its monthly rent. Free location snapshots include the address, property type, size, rent, rates, simple nearby business mix and the live agent listing.
Where does the data come from?
Listings come from live commercial property listings and are re-checked so let-agreed and withdrawn units drop off. Catchment population is ONS Census 2021. Competition counts come from mapped businesses trading within 400 m. Footfall is modelled from the density of shops and food venues within 200 m plus nearby stations and bus stops — it is an estimate, not a turnstile count, and we label it as such.
How is the opportunity score worked out?
It weighs how many passers-by you get per £1,000 of monthly rent and rates, the absolute footfall, how much of that flow is already served by nearby businesses, the resident catchment, and rent per square foot. Expensive and quiet is penalised. Every score shows the drivers behind it, so you can see why.
What does it cost?
The map and location snapshots are free. When you have a shortlist, £10 once unlocks saved properties, comparisons, opportunity scores, deeper competition, footfall and catchment analysis, tailored ideas and a clear decision verdict. There is no subscription.
Is the £10 really one payment?
Yes. It is a one-off charge for lifetime access to the decision tools, not a trial or an intro rate. There is nothing to cancel and the free map remains free.
Can I compare units?
Yes. Pick up to three and you get a side-by-side table that marks which unit wins on each measure — rent, footfall, catchment, competition — and a plain-English verdict on which comes out ahead.
Do you cover outside London?
Not yet. The tool is London-only so the listings, catchment and competition data stay accurate.
Is my data private?
Yes. We only store what's needed to run your account and your purchase. We never sell user data.