Study: Florida tops list of best states for entrepreneurship in 2026

Several states in the Sunbelt region top a study that ranks the best — and worst — states to start a business in 2026.

Personal finance company WalletHub compared the 50 states across 25 key indicators of startup success to determine the best states to launch and grow a business. Florida topped the list for 2026 (the top and bottom 10 can be found at end of article), with the third-most startups per capita and the highest percentage of adults who engage in entrepreneurship. The number of small businesses in the Sunshine State grew by nearly 16% between 2017 and 2023, the fifth-highest percentage in the country.

Florida was followed in the WalletHub rankings by Utah, partly due to it being the second-easiest state for securing financing for business loans. Utah also has the fifth-largest year over year employment growth in the country at over 3%. Rounding out the top five were Texas, which has the 10th-highest entrepreneurship rate in the country, Oklahoma and Idaho.

“Around half of all new businesses don’t survive five years, so the idea of becoming a business owner can be daunting, especially with the current high cost of living,” said Chip Lupo, analyst at WalletHub. “That’s why it’s crucial to establish your business in a state that will maximize your chances of success. The best states have low corporate tax rates, strong economies, an abundance of reliable workers, easy access to financing and affordable real estate.”