Study: The top mid-sized cities for small business growth include...
Cities across Florida and Texas are the best places for small business growth, according to a new report.
Mobile-first frontline management app Blink ranked Orlando as the best mid-sized American city for small businesses, based on its recent population growth and its entertainment and hospitality industries. McKinney and Frisco, Texas, came in second and third, respectively, based on booming population increases.
Tampa, Fla.; Garland, Texas; Arlington, Texas; Boise, Idaho; Glendale, Ariz.; Scottsdale, Ariz.; and Plan, Texas rounded out the top 10.
“For businesses, understanding where people spend time and engage with their communities is becoming increasingly important,” said Lauren Burns, chief operating officer at Blink. “By identifying the cities where residents are actively exploring, businesses can make more informed decisions about where to invest and grow.”
Details from Blink on its the top five rankings are below:
1. Orlando, Fla.
“Orlando takes the top spot with a score of 46.8, thanks to its blend of rapid growth, thriving tourism, and a steady stream of new businesses. The city added 7,464 residents in just one year and generated one of the highest small-business search volumes in the rankings, at 8,140. Retail and hospitality continue to flourish, with thousands of new businesses opening across both sectors. Orlando's appeal extends well beyond its theme parks, too, with 25,800 searches for things to do in the city. For entrepreneurs, that means access to a large, active audience of locals and visitors looking to shop, dine and explore.”
2. McKinney, Texas
“McKinney may have one of the smaller populations in the top 10, but it's growing faster than almost anyone else. The city added 11,664 residents between 2023 and 2024 – the largest population increase in the rankings – and continues to see strong growth in both retail and hospitality. That momentum is helping transform McKinney into one of the most exciting business destinations in North Texas. With more than 3,000 searches for both local businesses and things to do, it's clear that people are increasingly paying attention to what the city has to offer.”
3. Frisco, Texas
“Once overshadowed by neighboring Dallas, Frisco has quickly carved out a name for itself as one of Texas's fastest-growing business hubs. The city earned a score of 41.7 after adding more than 8,200 new businesses in a single year and posting strong employment growth across retail and hospitality. Interest in the city is growing alongside its business community, with searches for things to do in Frisco reaching 3,700. As more residents and visitors discover the city's shopping, dining, and entertainment options, Frisco continues to strengthen its appeal for entrepreneurs.”
4. Tampa, Fla.
“Tampa combines the advantages of a large city with the energy of a growing small business scene. Home to more than 427,000 residents, the city welcomed nearly 4,800 new people in the past year while generating more than 7,000 searches for small businesses. Tampa's downtown also attracts plenty of attention, with nearly 16,000 searches for things to do. Supported by a healthy mix of population growth, tourism, and local engagement, Tampa remains one of Florida's strongest cities for retail and hospitality businesses.”
5. Garland, Texas
“Garland rounds out the top five with a score of 38.5, driven by strong business expansion and steady population growth. The city added more than 4,100 residents over the past year and achieved an impressive average employment growth rate of 10.3% across retail and hospitality. At the same time, thousands of searches for local businesses and downtown activities show that people are actively exploring what Garland has to offer. These trends suggest the city is becoming an increasingly attractive place for both business owners and customers.”
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“From retail to hospitality, mid-sized cities are a good sweet spot due to affordability and space,” added Burns.
Methodology
To determine which U.S. cities have the most booming main streets, Blink analyzed the 200 most populous mid-sized cities (populations of 500,000 or less) using a weighted index combining key indicators: Small business density, workforce growth, small business births, search volumes, population growth and walkability score.
