In the case of Pukekohe businesses, the council has set the differential at $2.03. This is because the former Franklin District Council did not charge a business differential and a $2.63 differential would have had a "significant and extreme" impact on those businesses, Mr Brown said.
The differential for urban businesses will be cut by 10c every year to reduce it to $1.63 after 10 years.
Auckland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Michael Barnett said the reduction in the business differential was a minor adjustment.
He said the council talked about achieving fairness and equity and easing ability to pay with its rating policies, but used business as a cash cow.
Orakei councillor and business advisory panel chairman Cameron Brewer said many businesses were being hurt with higher rates just when they did not need it.
Of the 24,000 businesses facing increases, 4410 were facing a rise of 50 per cent.
"We're only going to see more empty shops and empty commercial buildings," Mr Brewer said.
BUSINESS RATES
* Most businesses pay $2.63 for every $1 paid by households.
* Pukekohe businesses will pay $2.03.
* The $2.63 differential will be cut by 10c every year to $1.63 after 10 years.