Looking to launch your next venture in a business-friendly climate? If you’re lucky enough to live near one of the following communities, you’re in luck. If not, consider whether a move will give your business the best odds possible of succeeding. Here are the 25 cities worth moving to if you want to launch a startup:

1. So You Want To
Launch a Business?
These 25 Cities Are Worth Moving To

2. Frank Underwood, House of Cards
“It’s all about location,
location, location.”

3. If you already live near one of the
following communities, you’re in luck.

4. oklahoma city
oklahoma
1

5. • A strong small-business-lending environment
• A lower cost of living
• Apartment Guide listed Oklahoma City on its
list of “10 affordable Cities where luxury
apartments are within your reach"
1
oklahoma city
oklahoma

6. 2
Boulder
Colorado

7. • Boulder has become a hub for tech startups
• American Electronics Association reports that
Boulder has the highest concentration of
software engineers per capita in the nation
2
Boulder
Colorado

8. Minneapolis
Minnesota
3

9. • Fourth highest concentration of small
businesses in the nation
• Highly-educated labor force of 1.6 million people
• 15th lowest business-tax rate in the nation
Minneapolis
Minnesota
3

10. Miami
Florida
4

11. • Several business incubators located in the city
• There are great events, such as the annual
Startup Weekend Miami
4
Miami
Florida

12. Cambridge
Massachusetts
5

13. • Home of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge attracts significant
talent and educated workers
• In 2013, the Boston area was second in being the top
market for venture capital in biotechnology, with $933.5
million raised in 84 deals
5
Cambridge
Massachusetts

14. Omaha
Nebraska
6

15. • This Midwest city has dubbed itself “Silicon Prairie”
• The Nebraska Advantage tax-incentive package
enhances the city’s business climate and makes it a
great place to start and grow a business.
6
Omaha
Nebraska

16. 7
Des Moines
Iowa

17. • Currently, the fastest-growing industries in Des Moines
include scientific research and development,
manufacturing, consulting and computer-systems design
• This city has a host of resources for small businesses that
rival many of its larger competitors
7
Des Moines
Iowa

18. Raleigh
North Carolina
8

19. • Emphasis on technology, medical care and
clean technology
• Raleigh is widely-recognized as a major U.S.
center for high-tech and biotech research
8
Raleigh
North Carolina

20. Nashville
Tennessee
9

21. • Tennessee has no state tax
• The Incubation Center at Tennessee State University
offers support for startups for up to five years
9
Nashville
Tennessee

22. 10
Atlanta
Georgia

23. • African-American-owned firms represented
30.9 percent of businesses in Atlanta
• Women-owned firms represented 33.4 percent
10
Atlanta
Georgia

24. Austin
Texas
11

25. • No state individual or corporate income taxes
• Austin ranked as the healthiest small-business
climate in the south in 2010, 2011 and 2012
11
Austin
Texas

26. Seattle
Washington
12

27. • Home of Microsoft, Amazon and Starbucks
• In 2012 Seattle saw 4,200 business startups,
compared to 3,600 business closures
12
Seattle
Washington

28. SaltLakeCity
Utah
13

29. • Very favorable corporate and property tax
incentives
• The University of Utah offers growing
businesses many resources, from support
in getting funding to finding office space
13
SaltLakeCity
Utah

30. Denver
Colorado
14

31. • A 2013 study ranked Denver as the best
place to work for a small business
• 97 percent of employers in Colorado are
classified as small businesses
14
Denver
Colorado

32. Memphis
Tennessee
15

33. • The cost of starting a business is low compared
to other major cities
• As of 2007, there were more than 76,000 small
businesses in Tennessee's Shelby County alone
15
Memphis
Tennessee

34. 16
Indianapolis
Indiana

35. • Indianapolis has a great business-tax climate
• Cost of living is 6.7 percent below the
national average
16
Indianapolis
Indiana

36. 17
Boca Raton
Florida

37. • Surprisingly large number of tech startups
• The city provides incentives to small business
that relocate or expand to Boca Raton
17
Boca Raton
Florida

38. Bellevue
Washington
18

39. • The city attracts droves of top tech talent
• This city boasts a high number of patents per
capita
• Established companies provide great mentorship
opportunities
18
Bellevue
Washington

40. Rockville
Maryland
19

41. • More than 58 percent of residents have a
bachelor’s degree, and 32.4 percent have a
graduate or professional degree
• It’s a great place to start a biotech or
education-focused company.
19
Rockville
Maryland

42. New York
New York
20

43. • New York is a good alternative to the Bay Area
• In 2014, New York City SCORE helped more
than 5,000 entrepreneurs and small-business
owners with free business mentoring,
workshops and more
20
New York
New York

44. 21
Columbus
Ohio

45. • There’s a thriving small-business community, and a
small-business-builder program to help you get started
• Small businesses are responsible for having created
almost 45,000 new jobs in Ohio in 2011
21
Columbus
Ohio

46. Tulsa
Oklahoma
22

47. • Small businesses create two-thirds of all the
new jobs in this region
• A cost of living 12 percent below the national
average and a strong business community
make Tulsa a great place for startups
22
Tulsa
Oklahoma

48. Santa Monica
California
23

49. • More than 23,000 small businesses
• 32 percent of them owned by women
• Technology and digital-media companies rival
media and movies in this area near Los Angeles
23
Santa Monica
California

50. IrviNe
California
24

51. 24
IrviNe
California
• Irvine boasts a diverse population, a
highly educated workforce and
abundant office space
• Recruitment is a breeze when you’ve
got 281 days of sun a year

52. San Francisco
California
25

53. • San Francisco comes with a combination of universities,
venture capital and established tech giants that can’t be
beat
• Check out the annual Small Business Week San Francisco,
which allows entrepreneurs to connect with more than
4,000 members of the small-business community
25
San Francisco
California

54. Pick a city and pack your bags! It’s time
get started on your small business!
Visit wheniwork.com for insightful
content on starting your small business.
via entrepreneur.com