Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Ranked No. 4 Among ‘Most Entrepreneurial Cities of 2018’

By Ryan Hunt

Posted on February 28, 2018, February 28, 2018

It's no secret Arlington continues to provide a business-friendly climate and an environment for cultivating entrepreneurship. That environment is being recognized on a national scale this month as the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area is ranked 4th in the nation for entrepreneurs by FitSmallBusiness.com.

FitSmallBusiness.com looked at 40 of the biggest metropolitan areas in the country and compiled data from sources such as the United States Census Bureau, Kauffman Foundation, and National Venture Capital Association. The site then analyzed the data for each city to put together a definitive ranking of the most entrepreneurial cities in the U.S.

A major reason for Arlington's entrepreneurial success is the One Start Development Center, located on the 2nd floor of Arlington City Hall at 101 W. Abram Street, a one-stop shop that has been helping entrepreneurs since 2007. In 15 minutes, a developer or small business can get answers to questions related to permits, site research and zoning requirements, all without setting up an appointment.

"It's a wonderful amenity," said Gincy Thoppil, the City of Arlington's interim director of Community Development and Planning. "It's an honor to be recognized for the environment we continue to foster for our small business community here in Arlington."

The One Start Development is featured on an episode of On the Clock for MyArlingtonTV, a show that gives residents an inside look at the hard work city employees do every day to make Arlington a better community to live, learn, work and play.

The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area grabbed the fourth spot after posting top 10 finishes in six categories. The region was the most tax-friendly out of the 15 metro areas, and it ranked seventh in startup density. In addition, the area also touts an 85.18 percent in opportunity share of new entrepreneurs, meaning that around 85 out of 100 new businesses were driven by opportunity rather than by necessity.