In a recent ranking, the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area was ranked #5 in the country for large U.S. metros with the most new businesses. Smartest Dollar analyzed new business applications across America to determine the areas with the most new businesses per capita.
Smartest Dollar noted, “Startup firms are a consistent driver of new job creation, especially during recessions,” and that "new businesses could be a key force to help stabilize the economy in the next couple of years."
“Startup firms are a consistent driver of new job creation, especially during recessions.”
U.S. Census data showed that in the region:
- New business applications per 1k residents were: 25.22
- Total new business applications (2021) were: 80,089
- 1-year change in new business applications was up: +27.4%
- 2-year change in new business applications was up: +63.2%
The report noted that "Among metro areas, Florida’s cities stand out as the nation’s leaders in new business formation," citing Florida's "fast-growing population, low taxes, and other business-friendly attributes."