Operating a successful small business requires time, skill and strategic placement for the storefront location. Picking the right city for a company might seem challenging, but certain locations are optimal places to launch a brand.
There are many factors to consider that could benefit smaller operations and offer numerous advantages. Here are 12 cities that would make ideal destinations for businesses of all types.
1. Minneapolis, Minnesota
The latest research shows that 31.7 million small businesses in the U.S. are competing to open in great locations — especially Minneapolis. It’s one of the top places entrepreneurs consider when opening a company because the city’s residents embrace unique shops.
Operations like self-service bike stores and food truck hubs are just the start of the businesses locals anticipate moving to the area
2. Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is an excellent place for anyone considering relocating their business. It’s a large metropolis with updated infrastructure, so customers can use the public transport system to reach stores even in the city’s heart.
Employers also benefit from Boston’s universities, which encourage young graduates from places like Harvard and Boston University to stay in the area by getting local jobs. Finding top-tier talent won’t be an issue, especially given the city’s ability to grow with its population.
3. Detroit, Michigan
People often think of car manufacturers when they picture Detroit, but it’s an ideal potential home for any company. Small-business owners benefit from the numerous airports around the city and the nonexistent local sales tax.
Workers also move there for jobs due to the continual growth, as Detroit is pretty sizeable. In fact, over four million people call Detroit and its surrounding area home.
4. Columbus, Ohio
Small-business owners don’t have to compete for downtown space to access potential customers in Columbus. 2021 research shows that there were just over 4,000 people per square mile in the city, making it easier to find a great location.
Columbus is also becoming one of the most popular midwestern sites for people wanting a balance between rural neighborhoods and urban amenities. It offers residents and business owners the best of both worlds.
5. Seattle, Washington
The Emerald City is a promising location for small-business owners looking to relocate. Residents love being in a place that’s proud of its local culture and unique brands. It’s a suitable home for companies that know how to repair bikes, which is a popular transportation method around the city. It could also be a place of future growth for anyone offering a place for people to escape the cold, rainy weather.
6. Nashville, Tennessee
Entrepreneurs don’t need to love country music to see why so many people move to Nashville. The state has no income tax, which attracts many job-seekers.
Relocated small businesses would quickly find new employees while also benefiting from the numerous rental conference rooms in the Music City Center, the public transportation system and the seemingly endless networking events the city hosts each year.
7. San Jose, California
The skyrocketing cost of living in Los Angeles and San Francisco encourages people to move to San Jose. Where people go, businesses must follow. Entrepreneurs can consider relocating there to fulfill consumer needs before other brands jump on the opportunity.
They’ll benefit from the increasing population, plus the Foreign Trade Zone that reduces or eliminates customs duties when local businesses order imported goods.
8. Denver, Colorado
One of the most impressive things about Denver is that economic experts predict a full recovery by 2023 after the pandemic hurt local businesses. People are moving to the area en masse because it supports a healthy work-life balance, offers many things to do and features new opportunities for employment with the many businesses opening around the city.
Small-business owners don’t have to compete for downtown space to access potential customers in Columbus.
9. Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is one of the biggest cities in North Carolina and the East Coast. People visit from national and global locations because it’s a financial hub, generating over $100 million in capital investment in 2022’s third quarter alone.
People know they’ll have diverse businesses to support their careers and lifestyles in Charlotte. Business owners support a thriving population there, so people give back to new companies in the area in many ways. Residents quickly take jobs and support the local economy, fostering long-term business growth for new and old storefronts.
10. Reno, Nevada
It’s challenging to consider relocating a company when additional financial support is the only way to make a move successful. Anyone in this predicament can consider Reno as their next professional home.
The city has year-round grants and free coaching programs that save space for women and minority business owners. The nonexistent state income tax also applies to corporate income, making Reno a tempting consideration.
11. Tulsa, Oklahoma
It won’t be challenging to relocate to Tulsa and find employees ready to work. Since post-pandemic worker shortages affect every industry, small-business owners can count on moving to where people feel supported. Tulsa offers numerous tax credits for people with university degrees.
The city also has a jobs program that provides quarterly payments to qualifying small-business owners. Easing operating and price of living costs with state-run programs makes Tulsa a top contender for companies looking to relocate.
12. Albuquerque, New Mexico
New Mexico has state programs to fund small businesses of all types, so moving to the growing city of Albuquerque could be a smart move for companies of all sizes. There are also programs designed specifically for business owners from minority communities to provide them with the finances and tools necessary to thrive as entrepreneurs.
Albuquerque also offers an incredible benefit for people who can’t step away from their business for more than a day. The city’s licensing process only takes 24 hours to apply and obtain the paperwork needed to start operating. Anyone can get back up and running after a move if they have the information they need to register for state and federal tax IDs.
Relocate to the Best City
Finding the best possible city for a business is a personal, complicated decision. There are many factors to consider when determining an ideal locale. However, reviewing the top cities in the U.S. for small companies can make it easier. These places offer unique incentives and various benefits, which make it easier to find a new professional home, settle in and get to work.
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