Report: Kansas City is the best locale for Millennial entrepreneurs

June 1, 2018  |  Startland Staff

Overflowing with business resources, an affordable cost of living and a collaborative community of creatives, Kansas City recently was named the top U.S. destination for Millennial entrepreneurs.

Thumbtack.com — a platform for customers to find various contract professionals in their area — named Kansas City, Missouri, as the best city for entrepreneurs born between 1980 and the mid-1990s. Thumbtack reports that Kansas City beat out Seattle, San Antonio, Minneapolis and Nashville to be the top destination for Millennials entrepreneurs.

Thumbtack’s lead economist, Lucas Puente, surveyed 4,000 professionals between the ages of 18 and 35 from across the U.S., including electricians, music teachers, wedding planners, wellness professionals and more. The survey asked about the policies of their states and cities toward small business, as well as what it’s like to start and run a small business in their community.

In addition to popular areas for Millennial entrepreneurs, Thumbtack analyzed other entrepreneurial trends displayed by the age group, including professions, motivations and workspace preferences.

Creative work dominates Millennial entrepreneurs’ professions, according to the survey. Makeup artists, hair stylists, photographers and videographers lead the pack, Thumbtack reports.

Millennial entrepreneurs also don’t need a conventional workspace, the survey found.

“Only 11 percent of Millennials report working from an office, while 27 percent work from home,” Thumbtack wrote. “Twenty-seven percent use public spaces like coffee shops or libraries and 12 percent use coworking spaces. And for Millennials in occupations that don’t require a desk at all? They reported working from dance studios, flower shops, tennis courts and swimming pools. Teaching, coaching, and making their products by hand.”

For more information on trends in Millennial entrepreneurship, check out Thumbtack’s report here.

Tagged , ,
Featured Business
    Featured Founder
      [adinserter block="4"]

      2018 Startups to Watch

        stats here

        Related Posts on Startland News

        ECJC carves out early-stage startup track for its popular mentoring program: GMS-Tech

        By Tommy Felts | October 16, 2025

        After a decade boosting Kansas City founders, Growth Mentoring Service at ECJC is expanding to target assistance specifically toward the region’s early-stage technology startups — using the same proven approach: high-impact, team-based mentoring from top-tier business leaders who’ve already been through it. “We have all these amazing volunteer mentors with deep expertise as either technologists…

        Get tickets to the Starty Party: MidxMidwest opens doors to SXSW-flavored startup-investor summit

        By Tommy Felts | October 16, 2025

        Polsinelli-powered celebration at Knuckleheads puts homegrown headliner, community collaboration on stage A trio of innovation-infused collaborators are taking over Knuckleheads — an East Bottoms landmark that perfectly captures the region’s grit, creativity and unmistakable live music vibe, organizers said — for a new community event to help launch MidxMidwest 2025. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.…

        Spaceman drops tracks: Kansas teen raps a midwest mixtape, says he’s ready to launch

        By Tommy Felts | October 15, 2025

        Give Trip Thomas a phone, and the Olathe Northwest High School senior will get his peers talking. Rapping under the name Spaceman, Thomas is staying grounded as he finds his voice through music, he said, and it sounds a lot like resilience. “Music was my therapy,” said Thomas, who started writing from his bedroom at…

        If this Cosmo Burger cousin seems like Topgolf with darts, that’s the (steel-tipped) point

        By Tommy Felts | October 15, 2025

        Arrow Dart Club sinks into Crossroads with 10 throwing lanes, elevated Kansas City culinary team A new, multi-level Crossroads entertainment venue combines the nostalgia of basement darts with tech-driven scoring, elevated eats, and a subterranean wine bar. It’s an experience that feels familiar, but hits a whole new target, said owners Atit and Jugal Patel.…