A series of eleven specially designed benzotriazole monoazo dyes for use in surface enhanced resonance Raman scattering studies are reported. Unlike previous benzotriazole dyes produced for SERRS, these dyes have been synthesised to be trifunctional in nature. The presence of the benzotriazole moiety provides surface complexing properties, the azo linkage provides the colour and hence extra sensitivity and the nucleophilic amine group enables further functionalisation.