Cheshire & Warrington · Cheshire West and Chester Council
Small business helpin Chester.
A Roman walled city whose Rows, racecourse and visitor economy sit alongside a large professional-services and finance base. Competition for attention online is as fierce as it is on Eastgate Street.
We build the systems, AI tools and websites that take manual work out of Chester businesses, and keep a free guide to the support available locally.
Talk to us(01) Doing business in Chester
Chester, up close.
Chester's economy leans heavily on visitors. Hospitality, independent retail and attractions inside and around the city walls share the streets with large financial and professional services employers on the city's business parks.
Footfall swings with the racing calendar, the seasons and the weekend, so bookings, staffing and online reviews can change sharply from one week to the next.
- Websites
Bookings and deposits. Online booking with deposits for restaurants, salons and attractions, so race days and weekends fill without no-shows.
- Systems
Rotas for busy weeks. A rota and payroll tool that copes with seasonal staff, replacing monthly rota subscriptions.
- Marketing
Reviews that keep coming. Review requests sent at the right moment and an easy way to answer every one, so visitors choose you on Google.
(02) For Chester businesses
What we can build for you.
- 01Systems & automationEnquiries, quotes, bookings, invoices and follow-ups joined up and automated, so nothing falls through the gaps.Bespoke tools from £100
- 02AI tools & assistantsAI receptionists, enquiry handlers, review replies and chat assistants. We teach you and hand you the tools. No monthly fees.From £300 · no monthly fees
- 03Websites with tools built inHand-built sites with booking, forms, AI chat and local area pages, set up properly for Google.Complete websites from £299
- 04Marketing that runs itselfLocal SEO, social posting, review gathering and email. We teach you and hand you the tools. No monthly fees.From £400 · no monthly fees
(03) Local support
Business support for Chester.
Full directoryYour council
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Cheshire West and Chester CouncilLocal
Cheshire West and ChesterBusiness rates, licensing, planning and business support for Chester, Ellesmere Port, Northwich, Winsford and the surrounding villages.
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West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of CommerceLocal
Cheshire West and ChesterNetworking, export support and representation for businesses in west Cheshire and across the border.
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Chester BIDLocal
Cheshire West and ChesterChester's business improvement district, funding events, promotion and a cleaner, safer city centre.
Cheshire & Warrington
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Cheshire Community FoundationLocal
Cheshire & WarringtonGrants for charities, CICs and community groups across Cheshire and Warrington.
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Enterprise Cheshire and WarringtonLocal
Cheshire & WarringtonThe business-led partnership that took over from the Cheshire and Warrington LEP, including the sub-region's growth hub and business support. (Search for the current website.)
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Warrington & Cheshire Chamber of CommerceLocal
Cheshire & WarringtonMembership, networking and representation for businesses in Warrington and Cheshire.
National schemes worth knowing
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Start Up Loans
UK-wideGovernment-backed personal loans for business use, with free mentoring, for businesses trading for up to three years.
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Find a Grant (GOV.UK)
UK-wideThe government's searchable list of open grants, filterable by who can apply and what for.
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The reliefs available, including Small Business Rate Relief, and how to apply through your council.
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Acas
UK-wideFree, impartial advice for employers on contracts, hiring, disciplinaries and disputes.
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Data protection and GDPR guidance for small businesses, and the annual data protection fee.
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Membership for the self-employed and small firms, with legal and tax helplines, insurance and lobbying.
(04) Questions
Chester questions.
Do you work with businesses in Chester?+
Yes. Wizardtec builds systems, AI tools, websites and marketing for small businesses in Chester and across Cheshire West and Chester. We can meet in person or work online, whichever suits you.
Which council covers Chester?+
Chester is covered by Cheshire West and Chester Council, which handles business rates, licensing and planning. It is part of the Cheshire & Warrington sub-region.
Where can a Chester business get free support?+
Start with Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington and its growth hub, your council's business team and the national schemes listed on this page, such as Start Up Loans and Find a Grant.
Fix it this month.
Tell us what slows your Chester business down. You will get an honest view of what to fix first and a fixed price for fixing it.