The great exodus: Why UK founders and entrepreneurs are moving abroad

Across the UK’s entrepreneurial community, something big is stirring. What began as a slow drift of digital nomads and remote freelancers has become a full-blown wave of like-minded individuals looking to make a move. Founders, entrepreneurs, and even self-employees are no longer just toying with the idea of living abroad - they’re making concrete plans to do it.

From frustration to flight

The numbers tell a clear story. According to Touchdown’s 2025 Relocation Report, nearly four in ten (38%) UK entrepreneurs and self-employed professionals are already in the process of moving abroad or plan to do so within the next year. Within two years, that rises to 62%.

But why? 

Over the past 12-18 months, the prevailing narrative has been one of strain. Rising operating costs, shifting tax rules, and a sense of instability have combined to make the UK feel less predictable for anyone owning or trying to grow a business. Uncertainty around future policy - particularly on taxation and regulation - has intensified the feeling that long-term planning is becoming harder to sustain.

It’s not that ambition is leaving Britain - it’s that Britain has made ambition harder to sustain.

A matter of time? 

Political turnover, inconsistent fiscal planning, and a decade of policy flux have left many founders feeling fatigued.

The funding environment, too, has been squeezed. Venture capital and early-stage investment has grown more cautious, while global counterparts are offering faster access to capital and clearer incentives for scaling internationally.

Ultimately, it’s this combination of push and pull factors that explains the recent scale of relocation activity. 

The UK remains a world-class hub for ideas, but execution is increasingly happening elsewhere. Founders are not abandoning ambition, but they are searching for conditions that reward it.

A new definition of success

The pandemic acted as the catalyst. It taught professionals that business continuity no longer depends on geography. Remote work, digital infrastructure, and global networks have given entrepreneurs new freedom to decide not just how they work, but where they build their lives.

The prevailing mood now is one of rebalancing. Success is being measured as much by well-being and flexibility as by turnover or growth. For many, relocation represents a chance to protect both their business and quality of life.

What comes next

The next 12 months will be decisive. As intent turns to action, professional relocation is poised to become one of the most significant shifts in Britain’s entrepreneurial landscape in decades. 

For some, it’s about tax; for others, it’s lifestyle, opportunity, or simply the need to breathe easier. 

But collectively, it signals something bigger: a redefinition of what it means to build a business in a more uncertain world.

About Touchdown

We specialise in relocation, tax strategy, and business setup for entrepreneurs, business owners, retirees and expats landing in Portugal.

Join a growing, connected international community that is thriving in some of the fastest growing corners of the world. Portugal - now; Spain - soon; the rest of the world - to come.

If you’re considering moving to Portugal or already there, we recommend you book a free introduction call directly with our in-house legal team.