Florida cities lead startup ranking
Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Hialeah, St. Petersburg and Miami ranked in the top 10 for startups in a new WalletHub analysis of 100 large U.S. cities.
Florida cities are leading the nation as top locations to launch a business, with five landing in the top 10 of a new analysis that evaluated startup conditions across 100 large U.S. cities.
The study, by the personal finance site Wallethub, highlights Florida’s strong mix of business-friendly conditions, including lower taxes, growing populations and access to capital, which researchers say help new companies survive the critical early years.
“Starting a business can be very scary, considering one in every five startups doesn’t make it past the first year,” said Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst. “That’s why it’s especially important to live in a city that provides an environment where new businesses can thrive, with enough capital, workers and customers to keep it going long-term.”
Top-ranked Tampa stood out for its low corporate tax burden and high number of investors per capita, giving startups more financial flexibility. Orlando ranked highly for its fast-growing small business base and strong early-stage entrepreneurship activity, supported by a rising working-age population.
Jacksonville also showed strength, posting one of the highest entrepreneurial activity scores in the country, along with strong revenue growth among existing businesses.
Florida cities in the top 10 include:
- Tampa (No. 1)
- Orlando (No. 2)
- Jacksonville (No. 3)
- Hialeah (No. 4)
- St. Petersburg (No. 5)
- Miami (No. 10)
The report analyzed factors such as business environment, access to financing and operating costs, including labor and office space.
Source: Wallethub
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