Business Friendly Dallas
Entrepreneur-friendly Dallas crowned one of the best cities for small business
If you want to start a business, look no further than your own backyard. Small business owners rated Dallas one of the best environments for entrepreneurs, in a new survey from Thumbtack.
Thumbtack, an online service that matches up small businesses and customers, surveyed almost 18,000 people, asking them to rate state and city governments across 12 key metrics. Dallas scored the No. 2 spot on Thumbtack's list.
Dallas earned A+ grades from small business owners in every regulation measured, including licensing, tax and labor rules. Its only "bad" grade was a B+ in the category "ease of hiring."
This is the fourth year in a row that Dallas has garnered an A or higher. Its lowest score ever was in training and network programs in 2014 (C). This year the city pulled it up to an A-.
Texas did well overall, said Thumbtack's chief economist Jon Lieber in a press release.
"This year, five of our top twelve cities were in Texas, and Dallas' outstanding business environment led the pack as the friendliest city in Texas,” Lieber said.
Dallas isn't the only Lone Star gem getting props for its dedication to fostering small business. Texas was ranked the No. 1 state for small businesses, with four other Texas towns claiming high spots on the list. Austin came in at No. 4, followed by Houston at No. 7, San Antonio at No. 10 and Fort Worth at No. 12.