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The 10 best small cities in America to start a business right now

The 10 best small cities in America to start a business right now

Business-friendly smaller cities can offer cheaper overhead and good community relations that keep you afloat

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A majority of Americans dream of being their own boss, but building a small business from the ground up is anything but easy. That’s why WalletHub set out to find the best small U.S. cities to start a company.

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“The benefits of starting a business in a small city include lower overhead costs, stronger relationships with customers and the potential to become a big fish in a little pond,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.

Still, not every small city will set you up for success. “Entrepreneurs who want to build a large professional network aren’t likely to make as many connections in a town with fewer residents,” Lupo said. “Other restrictions might include limited industry options, a less diverse customer base, and difficulty attracting and keeping top talent.”

To create its list, WalletHub looked at the business-friendliness of more than 1,300 small-sized cities, analyzing them by their costs, business environment, and access to resources. It considered factors like startups per capita, average growth in business revenue, financing accessibility, working-age population growth, and labor costs.

Continue reading to see which small cities were ranked the best 10 to launch your dream business.

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#10: LaGrange, Georgia

#10: LaGrange, Georgia

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#9: Greenville, South Carolina

#9: Greenville, South Carolina

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#8: Redmond, Oregon

#8: Redmond, Oregon

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#7: Bend, Oregon

#7: Bend, Oregon

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#6: Holland, Michigan

#6: Holland, Michigan

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#5: Bozeman, Montana

#5: Bozeman, Montana

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#4: Washington, Utah

#4: Washington, Utah

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#3: Cedar City, Utah

#3: Cedar City, Utah

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#2: Fort Myers, Florida

#2: Fort Myers, Florida

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#1: St George, Utah

#1: St George, Utah

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