Founding partners wanted

Back the businesses that make a town

Independents Only is a search engine that lists only independent businesses: no chains, no franchises, and nobody can pay to rank. 45,995 independents are listed in Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire today. We launch on Small Business Saturday, 5 December 2026, and roll out across the UK from January 2027.

Get the sponsor pack

Fill in the short form below, or email hello@independentsonly.com. We reply within one working day.

Independents never have to pay. Every independent is listed free, forever. Sponsors and town partners pay so the shops and traders don't have to.

Packages

• Founding National Partner

  Three only, one per category. Named across the site and in all launch press.

• Indie Index, presented by you

  Your name on the town rankings of how independent each town's shops and hospitality are, and the press they create.

• Business of the Week sponsor

  Your name on every weekly pick and the share images the featured businesses post.

• County sponsor

  One per county. Named on the county page and every town page in it.

• Town partner

  “Backed by” on one town’s pages. Made for a town’s BID or council (one payment covers every trader) or a bigger local firm.

Founding rates are fixed for the first 12 months for partners who join before the UK roll-out.

Why sponsor now

• Your name on the launch. Founding partners are in the Small Business Saturday press, the first Indie Index and the national roll-out.
• An audience that chose local. Everyone searching here wants to spend with independents, and the owners they find are your customers too.
• Goodwill, not ads. You're credited the way a museum credits the company that backs an exhibition.

Our sponsor rules

1. Sponsors never affect listings or rankings. Not who's listed, not the order, not the Indie Index.
2. Every sponsor is clearly labelled. No tracking, no ad networks, and never in between search results.
3. No chains that compete with the businesses we list. Banks, payment firms and business tools that serve independents are welcome.
4. We can say no to any sponsor that doesn't fit what we stand for.

Why we exist · The Indie Index · Other ways to help