Downtown Fresno file photo

The City of Fresno is one of the best cities in the nation to start a small business according to a new report.

WalletHub, a free credit score app, ranked Fresno 42 out of 100 cities across the U.S. in its’ 2025 Best Large Cities to Start a Business report.

Fresno ranked 41 for the best business environment, 71 for access to resources, and 56 for business costs rank.

According to the report, the past few years have been some of the toughest ones ever for business owners in the U.S. due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Great Resignation and high inflation.

The report listed Orlando, FL, as the best city to start a business.

Toledo, OH, has the lowest average annual rent for office space, which is 6.7 times cheaper than San Francisco, the city with the highest.

Cleveland has the lowest labor costs for the median annual income, which is 4.5 times lower than in Fremont, CA, the city with the highest.

Miami and Hialeah, Florida have the most startups per 100,000 per resident.

WalletHub compared 100 cities across the country to determine the best cities for launching a business — business environment, access to resources, and business costs.

“Starting a business can be very scary, considering one in every five startups doesn’t make it past the first year. That’s why it’s especially important to live in a city that provides an environment where new businesses can thrive, with enough capital, workers and customers to keep it going long-term.”