Cyber Monday Sale! 50% Off All Access

The 10 Most and Least Expensive Cities to Start a Business Looking for the perfect location to launch your new business? Check out these lists.

By Rose Leadem

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

DenisTangneyJr | Getty Images
Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Launching a startup doesn't have to cost a fortune.

In a recent study by SmartAssets, 80 cities across the U.S. were surveyed to uncover the least expensive places to start a business -- taking into account first-year costs, legal and accounting fees, payroll and overhead expenses. The numbers were estimated based on a company of five employees in a 1,000 square-foot office space. The study also looks at the most expensive cities for a new business, which no surprise include San Francisco, Washington D.C. and New York.

Forget Silicon Valley, your best bet is to start small. Cities such as Chattanooga, Tenn., Wichita, Kan., and Knoxville, Tenn., are featured in the five least expensive places to launch. With lower rental prices, taxes and corporation costs, these tight-knit communities are a safe bet to jumpstart your new business' success. And as ideal as those big cities sound, they'll be sure to put a dent in your bottom line.

So if you're in search for the perfect location to launch your next venture, here's a list of the least and most expensive cities to start a business.


Rose Leadem is a freelance writer for Entrepreneur.com. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Marketing

How to Beat the Post-Holiday Sales Slump and Crush Your Q1 Goals

Overcome the post-holiday sales slump and keep the momentum strong with these key tips.

Business News

'I Stand By My Decisions': A CEO Is Going Viral For Firing Almost All of the Company's Employees — Here's Why

The Musicians Club CEO Baldvin Oddsson fired 99 workers at once over Slack for missing a morning meeting. But there's a catch.

Franchise

Subway's CEO Steps Down Amid a Major Transition for the Sandwich Giant

John Chidsey will step down at the end of 2024, marking the close of a transformative five-year tenure.

Real Estate

Why Real Estate Should Be a Key Part of Your Wealth-Building Strategy in 2025 and Beyond

Real estate remains a strong choice for building wealth in 2025 and beyond, from its ability to generate passive income to offering long-term appreciation and acting as a hedge against inflation.

Making a Change

Get Babbel at Our Unbeatable Price This Cyber Monday

Learn up to 14 new languages with lifetime access.

Business News

'If It Seems Too Good to Be True It Probably Is': $18 Million Worth of 'Great Deals' Confiscated By Border Cops

A shipment of 3,000 fake Gibson guitars from Asia was seized at the Los Angeles-Long Beach Seaport.