News Summary
The Greater Phoenix area has made its mark in WalletHub’s latest rankings, with six cities including Scottsdale and Chandler listed among the top 25 best U.S. cities to start a business. Scottsdale leads Arizona at 14th place, followed by Chandler at 17th, and Glendale at 18th. The report highlights the favorable business environment, access to resources, and costs as key factors, setting a bright outlook for entrepreneurs in this sunny region.
Greater Phoenix Cities Shine in WalletHub’s Rankings for Best U.S. Cities to Start a Business
When it comes to entrepreneurship, the Greater Phoenix area is definitely making waves! With a recent ranking from WalletHub showcasing its merits as a top place to begin a business, this vibrant region is getting quite the spotlight.
In WalletHub’s assessment of 100 large U.S. cities, Greater Phoenix stood out by capturing an impressive six spots within the top 25. This speaks volumes about the opportunities available for new business ventures in this sunny part of Arizona!
The Standouts
Leading the pack for Arizona cities was Scottsdale, clinching an impressive 14th place overall. Not far behind, Chandler landed the 17th spot, followed closely by Glendale in 18th, Mesa at 20th, Phoenix itself in 21st, and Gilbert rounding up the pack at 24th place. It’s clear that these cities are buzzing with potential for entrepreneurs and small business owners!
Interestingly, Tucson doesn’t quite measure up to its Greater Phoenix counterparts, landing at 50th place as the lowest-ranked Arizona city on the list. This is a significant gap, making one wonder what Tucson can learn from its neighboring cities.
Decoding the Rankings
WalletHub based its rankings on a thorough analysis of three critical factors: business environment, access to resources, and business costs. These elements are essential for anyone looking to kickstart a business, providing insight into the overall landscape of entrepreneurship in each city.
In terms of these metrics, Scottsdale excelled in access to resources, ranking a stellar fifth, and also performed admirably in business environment at 12th. However, it faced some challenges in business costs, where it fell to 78th place. Meanwhile, Phoenix showed a mixed bag, landing 25th in business environment but 40th in business costs and a modest 52nd in access to resources. Tucson, while boasting a great score for business costs by landing 10th, faltered significantly by ranking 81st for access to resources.
Top Competitors
On a national scale, it’s worth mentioning that four out of the five cities dominating the top of WalletHub’s list were nestled in sunny Florida! Orlando took the gold medal by snagging the first spot, with Tampa following closely in second, Jacksonville fourth, and Miami in fifth. The only city that broke Florida’s stronghold on the top five was Austin, Texas, claiming third place.
On the flip side, Washington, D.C. found itself comfortably at the bottom of the list, proving that it might have its charm, but it’s far from being the place to unlock your entrepreneurial dreams.
A Bright Future
Scottsdale’s reputation for being a fantastic area to live and work continues to hold strong. This isn’t its first recognition either; it was rated the eighth happiest city in the U.S. in 2025 and got praised for having the third-best credit scores nationally. The upward trajectory in rankings sparks optimism for potential business prospects in the Greater Phoenix area!
With an array of resources and a supportive business environment, along with a warm climate to soak in, it seems like there’s never been a better time to consider launching a business in Greater Phoenix. Here’s hoping local entrepreneurs take full advantage of the conducive environment provided by these fantastic cities!
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- KTAR News: Best Places to Start a Business in Arizona
- ABC15: 23 Arizona Small Cities Rank Among Best in US to Start a Business
- ABC15: Phoenix a Top 10 City for Headquarters
- ABC15: Phoenix Remains One of the World’s Top Cities
- ABC15: Arizona Locales in Top 15 for Best Place to Live
- Wikipedia: Startup Company
- Google Search: Entrepreneurship
- Google Scholar: Business Development
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Entrepreneurship
- Google News: Business News
