Best Large Cities to Start a Business (2025)

WalletHub Apr 21, 2025

Americans are born with an entrepreneurial streak. It’s in our DNA. From the Gold Rush to the Industrial Revolution to the Internet Age, intense periods of innovation have molded our economy and sparked important societal advancements. That said, the past few years have been some of the toughest ones ever for business owners in the U.S. due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Great Resignation and high inflation.

In order to help aspiring entrepreneurs — from restaurant owners to high-tech movers and shakers — maximize their chances for long-term prosperity in the current difficult economic situation, WalletHub compared the relative startup opportunities that exist in 100 U.S. cities. We did so using 19 key metrics, ranging from the five-year business-survival rate to labor costs to office-space affordability.

For a breakdown of smaller markets, check out WalletHub’s Best Small Cities to Start a Business ranking.

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