Jacksonville is good for business.
The city landed at the No. 12 spot on a new national ranking of U.S. cities where businesses are most likely to survive and thrive long-term, according to data from Squarespace, a business management platform.
The study analyzed 19 industries across the 50 largest metro areas in the country, looking at 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year business survival rates, along with overall average lifespan, entry rates and exit rates, to determine which cities offer the best odds for entrepreneurs building something meant to last. Here's what it found:
How long do businesses in Jacksonville typically last?
Jacksonville businesses are opening — and staying open — at a healthy clip. The metro area boasted a business entry rate of 12.5%, outpacing its exit rate of 10.3%. That gap produces
a net growth rate of 2.2%, meaning new businesses are entering the local economy faster than existing ones are closing. In the study's overall scoring, Jacksonville earned a total score of 49.86, good enough for the No. 12 spot nationally.
Which U.S. city has the longest business lifespans?
Hartford, Connecticut, topped the list as the No. 1 city for business longevity, with a 13.1% entry rate, an 8.4% exit rate and a net growth rate of 4.7% — the widest margin of any city studied.
Austin, Texas, ranked at No. 2 and Nashville, Tennessee, ranked at No. 3, rounded out the top of the list. Both cities benefit from strong business entry rates paired with comparatively modest exit rates.
How does Jacksonville compare to other Florida cities?
Jacksonville is one of four Florida metros to crack the top 20, but it isn't the highest-ranked in the state.
Orlando came in at No. 11 with a net growth rate of 2.7%, just ahead of Jacksonville. Tampa followed at No. 14 with 2.1% net growth, and Miami rounded out the state's showing at No. 19 with 2.2% net growth. Jacksonville's exit rate of 10.3% is notably lower than Tampa's 10.97%, Orlando's 11.5% and Miami's 11.36%, suggesting Jacksonville businesses may hold on a bit longer once they open, even if fewer new ones launch relative to Orlando.
Which 20 U.S. cities have the longest business lifespans?
The full ranking from 1-20, with each city's entry rate, exit rate and net growth rate, include:
- Hartford, Connecticut — Entry rate 13.11%, exit rate 8.42%, net growth 4.69%. Total score: 88.3.
- Austin, Texas — Entry rate 14.04%, exit rate 9.96%, net growth 4.07%. Total score: 75.25.
- Nashville, Tennessee — Entry rate 12.26%, exit rate 9.03%, net growth 3.23%. Total score: 67.61.
- Raleigh, North Carolina — Entry rate 12.19%, exit rate 9.50%, net growth 2.69%. Total score: 59.11.
- San Antonio, Texas — Entry rate 11.83%, exit rate 9.36%, net growth 2.48%. Total score: 56.91.
- Dallas, Texas — Entry rate 12.51%, exit rate 9.90%, net growth 2.61%. Total score: 56.83.
- Houston, Texas — Entry rate 12.39%, exit rate 9.91%, net growth 2.48%. Total score: 55.11.
- Grand Rapids, Michigan — Entry rate 9.11%, exit rate 7.36%, net growth 1.74%. Total score: 54.32.
- Fresno, California — Entry rate 11.48%, exit rate 9.30%, net growth 2.18%. Total score: 53.32.
- Phoenix, Arizona — Entry rate 13.13%, exit rate 10.64%, net growth 2.49%. Total score: 52.81.
- Orlando, Florida — Entry rate 14.14%, exit rate 11.49%, net growth 2.65%. Total score: 51.96.
- Jacksonville, Florida — Entry rate 12.45%, exit rate 10.28%, net growth 2.17%. Total score: 49.86.
- Columbus, Ohio — Entry rate 10.12%, exit rate 8.61%, net growth 1.51%. Total score: 47.18.
- Tampa, Florida — Entry rate 13.09%, exit rate 10.97%, net growth 2.11%. Total score: 46.82.
- Sacramento, California — Entry rate 11.91%, exit rate 10.05%, net growth 1.86%. Total score: 46.75.
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — Entry rate 11.00%, exit rate 9.34%, net growth 1.65%. Total score: 46.49.
- Charlotte, North Carolina — Entry rate 11.55%, exit rate 9.80%, net growth 1.75%. Total score: 46.14.
- Indianapolis, Indiana — Entry rate 11.05%, exit rate 9.41%, net growth 1.64%. Total score: 46.12.
- Miami, Florida — Entry rate 13.52%, exit rate 11.36%, net growth 2.16%. Total score: 46.1.
- Riverside, California — Entry rate 12.63%, exit rate 10.66%, net growth 1.97%. Total score: 46.04.
What does "business entry rate" and "exit rate" mean?
The entry rate measures the share of new businesses opening in a metro area relative to the total number of existing businesses, while the exit rate tracks the share of businesses closing over the same period. When entry consistently outpaces exit — as it does in Jacksonville — it signals a local economy where new ventures are being formed and where ventures are surviving long enough to build up a track record rather than shutting down quickly.
How are cities ranked for business success?
Researchers pulled business survival data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Business Employment Dynamics reports, tracking what share of establishments in each of 19 industries were still operating 1, 3, 5 and 10 years after opening.
They paired that with establishment entry and exit rates from the U.S. Census Bureau's Business Dynamics Statistics for the 50 largest metropolitan statistical areas and then built a weighted index to score and rank each city.
The data is dated to June 2026.
Why are businesses good for Jacksonville?
A city's business entry and exit rates are widely used by economists and site-selection consultants as a proxy for local economic health.
A rising net growth rate — the gap between how many businesses open versus close — typically reflects easier access to capital, a growing customer base and a regulatory environment that doesn't push young companies out before they get established.
Jacksonville's net growth rate places it ahead of larger Florida markets like Tampa and Miami on that measure, even though those cities have bigger populations and higher raw entry rates.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville ranks as a top spot in U.S. for business longevity
