10 Best American Cities for Startups
This small city received A+ grades on six out of the 11 categories measured in the survey, and received an A- or better in all but one category, training & networking, in which it received a B+. One Manchester business owner who runs a house cleaning service was quoted in the survey saying, “I find many agencies in New Hampshire to be helpful resources when trying to start/establish a business and continue operating.”
Flickr/PSNH
Not everything is bigger in Texas, and small businesses seem to thrive in this state. The owner of a local moving company was quoted saying, “I feel that doing business in this areas has been somewhat easy and rewarding.”
Flickr/CameliaTWU
This historic city is experiencing a bit of a renaissance, making it a destination for both hipster tourists and entrepreneurs. A local electrician was quoted in the study as saying, “Henrico/Richmond is a bustling area. There are so many people to network with.”
Flickr/Bill Dickinson
This lively city has seen its population grow along with its economy in recent years, thanks to a low cost of living and a thriving tech scene. The city ranked fourth on this list thanks to A+ scores on overall friendliness, ease of starting a business, and training and networking programs.
Flickr/Ed Schipol
The flourishing downtown here has a host of opportunities for small business owners. A local house cleaner was quoted in the survey as saying, “Getting into my own business was fast and easy to do.”
Flickr
The thriving scene in Music City has plenty of room for small record companies and restaurants to build a business. The city received A+ grades on overall friendliness and the ease of starting a business.
Kaldari/Wikimedia Commons
It may be known for oil but Houston is also a hotspot for tech startups. The city ranked sixth on a recent Brookings list of the hottest metro areas for advanced industries. One local graphic designer was quoted as saying, “There’s plenty of work to do, and the government usually stays out of the way (until tax time, of course.)”
Among the budding businesses here, you’ll find a host of microbrewers and service-related businesses that benefit from the city’s proximity to Denver. The city received an A+ for its training and networking programs.
The thriving startup scene in Boulder gets help from a variety of incubators and investors that call the city home. It received an A+ grade for the ease of starting a business.
Hustvedt/Wikimedia Commons
Like other Texas cities on the list, San Antonio benefits from a friendly regulatory environment for startups and a positive outlook for population and economic growth. One self-employed editor told the survey, “Texas, especially San Antonio, offers a plethora of resources to help us be successful.”
Muhgcee/Wikimedia Commons