Report: Kansas City is ‘meh’ for millennial entrepreneurs
September 30, 2015 | Bobby Burch
A recent survey found that young entrepreneurs view Kansas City as a rather pedestrian locale to launch a business.
Millennial entrepreneurs ranked Kansas City as the 30th best city to start a business, according to a Thumbtack survey of about 3,700 entrepreneurs aged 34 and under. Thumbtack, which created a marketplace that connects professional service providers with customers, asked millennial entrepreneurs questions about the friendliness of local tax laws, licensing rules, the regulatory environment, training and networking opportunities and more.
Despite facing a sluggish economy after the Great Recession, millennial entrepreneurs have been launching a high number of startups and are looking for the best environments to do so.
In 2011, entrepreneurs age 20 to 34 were on average creating about 160,000 businesses each month, according to a study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. 27 percent of millennials in 2011 identified as self-employed.
Birmingham, Alabama earned the top ranking, followed by Boise, Idaho, Boulder, Colo., and Nashville, Tenn., respectively. Omaha earned a No. 12 ranking in the survey while St. Louis ranked as the 81st best place for millennial entrepreneurs. The survey evaluated 95 cities in total.

2015 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Mahomes-era Chiefs prove a game-changer for small biz, community alike, says Tom’s Town owner
Editor’s note: The following is part of a multi-story feature profiling Kansas City small businesses reaping wins thanks to the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2023 Super Bowl bid. Click here to read more from this limited series. Time and time again, the Chiefs organization and team show how they are truly ingrained in the local community,…
Travis Kelce’s Super Bowl catchphrases score big for KC merch makers, driving business into the end zone
Editor’s note: The following is part of a multi-story feature profiling Kansas City small businesses reaping wins thanks to the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2023 Super Bowl bid. Click here to read more from this limited series. When the Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce opens his mouth, fans roar, social media lights up, and makers across…
Strength in numbers: Chamber’s Superstars bench surges to 2,500 KC small businesses
Editor’s note: The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is a non-financial partner of Startland News, which serves as the media partner for the Small Business Superstars program. A new round of nominations and submissions have brought the KC Chamber’s roster of Small Business Superstars to more than double its initial size — further amplifying…
They’re plating my jam! How a homecoming dance inspired this teen’s charcuterie business with family on board
Curating colorful boards of meats, cheeses, nuts and fruits always came natural to Bella Messmer, she shared; it wasn’t until after she started her charcuterie business that she learned that passion was passed down from her grandmother. “In the ’70s, Bella’s grandmother would host these lavish parties among other Miami socialites, and she would make…
