http://money.cnn.com/smallbusiness/best_place … ot/34.html
Peak performance: Billings, Mont.
MSA: Billings, MT
Best places ranking: #1 among small metro areas
Population: 152,005
The biggest city in Montana, Billings is still a small town in size and spirit. It's the largest urban area between Fargo, N.D., and Spokane, and it serves as the regional hub for more than half a million people. But with a population of a little more than 100,000 (150,000, if you count the suburbs), Billings remains the sort of place where the average commute time is a mere 16 minutes and business proprietors are on a first-name basis with their UPS delivery guy.
Major local industries are agriculture, energy, transportation, healthcare and education. An eclectic mix of businesses call Billings home, including three oil refineries, First Interstate Bank and Kampgrounds of America, which operates campsites throughout the U.S.
The city's business climate is best described as temperate. Unemployment is rising but remains well below the national average. The national real estate bubble skipped Billings -- today, Montana's foreclosure rate is the fourth-lowest in the country.
Billings is not complaint-free, however. Some argue that Montana's lack of a state sales tax places an excessive burden on property owners. Others point to Montana's general isolation and wish that there were more price competition among the airlines serving Billings Logan International Airport. Helaine Olen
One other quick note about this cnn research:
San Jose workers have the highest average hourly wage in the lists @ $30.92
Peak performance: Billings, Mont.
MSA: Billings, MT
Best places ranking: #1 among small metro areas
Population: 152,005
The biggest city in Montana, Billings is still a small town in size and spirit. It's the largest urban area between Fargo, N.D., and Spokane, and it serves as the regional hub for more than half a million people. But with a population of a little more than 100,000 (150,000, if you count the suburbs), Billings remains the sort of place where the average commute time is a mere 16 minutes and business proprietors are on a first-name basis with their UPS delivery guy.
Major local industries are agriculture, energy, transportation, healthcare and education. An eclectic mix of businesses call Billings home, including three oil refineries, First Interstate Bank and Kampgrounds of America, which operates campsites throughout the U.S.
The city's business climate is best described as temperate. Unemployment is rising but remains well below the national average. The national real estate bubble skipped Billings -- today, Montana's foreclosure rate is the fourth-lowest in the country.
Billings is not complaint-free, however. Some argue that Montana's lack of a state sales tax places an excessive burden on property owners. Others point to Montana's general isolation and wish that there were more price competition among the airlines serving Billings Logan International Airport. Helaine Olen
Billings Business Statistics
Business Climate City stats Average for all small metro areas
Employer establishments with 1-49 employees
(2007) 5,687 3,516
Small business growth rate
(2004-2007) 6.2% 4.1%
State business tax climate ranking
(out of 50 states) 6 N/A
Percentage of population with bachelor's degree
(ages 25-34) 28.5% 23.5%
Violent crime
(rate per 100,000 inhabitants, 2007) 224.5 385.1
Property crime
(rate per 100,000 inhabitants, 2007) 3,465 3,395.2
Demand City stats Average for all small metro areas
Population growth
(2003-2008) 6.5% 4.93%
Per-capita income
(2007) $37,968 $31,933
Per-capita income growth
(2002-2007) 32.8% 23.6%
GDP (in millions)
(2006) $5,980 $4,952
GDP growth
(2001-2006) 40% 33%
One other quick note about this cnn research:
San Jose workers have the highest average hourly wage in the lists @ $30.92
i gotta push bozeman over billings. this article came out in entrepreneur magazine this month:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepre … 418-6.html
http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepre … 418-6.html
I gotta disagree with that assessment. NYC is far better for start ups. And there's one reason... more capital investors in NYC. Easier to get funding you need to start up.
Yeah... but then you'd be in NYC and who wants that? :P
all the capital in the world won't help you if the location sucks
> I gotta disagree with that assessment. NYC is far better for start ups. And there's one reason... more capital investors in NYC. Easier to get funding you need to start up.
"#1 among small metro areas".
"#1 among small metro areas".
it might be easier to get capital in nyc. but you'll need more capital for rent.
study showed that vc/pe portfoliocos that were closer to their investors had lower returns than those that were further
what about failure rates?