Best Cities for Hispanic Entrepreneurs (2026)

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial WriterSep 3, 2025

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial Writer
Sep 3, 2025

Expect the Hispanic and Latino community’s contributions to the U.S. economy to be nothing short of monumental in the coming decades. Not only is this demographic expected to make up 28% of the U.S. population by 2060 — translating into large buying power. In addition, nearly one in four new businesses is Hispanic-owned.

The timing, therefore, could not be more appropriate for Hispanic entrepreneurs to make their business ideas a reality. But what places have the best conditions for a Hispanic-owned enterprise? To answer that question, WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities across 23 key indicators of business friendliness toward Hispanic entrepreneurs. Our data set of 23 key metrics ranges from the Hispanic entrepreneurship rate to Hispanic income growth to the share of Hispanic-owned businesses.

“In the top cities for Hispanic entrepreneurs, as many as 30% of businesses are owned by Hispanic people. While these cities also tend to have large Hispanic populations overall, the high entrepreneurship rates indicate that they offer business-friendly conditions. In the top cities, Hispanic entrepreneurs can enjoy low corporate tax rates and good opportunities for growth. Plus, a large Hispanic population can be especially helpful for entrepreneurs who want to cater to that demographic.”

Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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Best Cities for Hispanic Entrepreneurs

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Hispanic Business-Friendliness Rank	Hispanic Purchasing Power Rank
1	Orlando, FL	66.44	2	52
2	Pembroke Pines, FL	64.06	4	43
3	Fort Lauderdale, FL	63.83	3	71
4	Dover, DE	62.94	34	1
5	Miami, FL	62.88	1	135
6	Cape Coral, FL	61.51	9	31
7	Hialeah, FL	61.32	5	108
8	Port St. Lucie, FL	60.95	7	70
9	Albuquerque, NM	59.37	8	89
10	South Burlington, VT	58.91	122	2
11	Tampa, FL	58.88	6	130
12	Laredo, TX	58.80	19	19
13	Boise, ID	58.22	17	33
14	Tallahassee, FL	58.01	23	15
15	Jacksonville, FL	57.87	14	61
16	Nampa, ID	57.60	20	28
17	St. Petersburg, FL	57.45	11	81
18	Oklahoma City, OK	57.35	16	63
19	Missoula, MT	56.61	37	17
20	Corpus Christi, TX	56.41	13	96
21	Tulsa, OK	56.14	12	117
22	Las Cruces, NM	55.67	10	123
23	Aurora, CO	55.33	26	42
24	Atlanta, GA	55.30	54	12
25	Santa Clarita, CA	55.25	30	39
26	Denver, CO	55.22	15	118
27	Rapid City, SD	55.15	64	7
28	Amarillo, TX	55.06	21	67
29	West Valley City, UT	55.05	22	65
30	Mesa, AZ	54.57	38	41
31	Gilbert, AZ	54.22	87	5
32	Chandler, AZ	53.64	79	9
33	El Paso, TX	53.40	32	77
34	Riverside, CA	53.27	24	92
35	Richmond, VA	53.20	89	11
36	Austin, TX	53.03	45	68
37	Fort Worth, TX	52.84	55	35
38	Cheyenne, WY	52.81	42	75
39	Aurora, IL	52.75	31	91
40	San Antonio, TX	52.72	27	102
41	Arlington, TX	52.59	48	46
42	Santa Ana, CA	52.57	33	93
43	Moreno Valley, CA	52.05	49	59
44	Overland Park, KS	52.02	127	3
45	Ontario, CA	51.88	28	122
46	Grand Prairie, TX	51.88	52	53
47	Salt Lake City, UT	51.65	25	128
48	Mobile, AL	51.54	124	10
49	Scottsdale, AZ	51.53	86	27
50	Bakersfield, CA	51.44	43	111
51	New Orleans, LA	51.42	143	4
52	Madison, WI	51.31	97	22
53	Fontana, CA	51.31	61	56
54	St. Louis, MO	51.24	116	13
55	Raleigh, NC	50.95	58	74
56	Tucson, AZ	50.94	18	153
57	Brownsville, TX	50.89	66	60
58	Augusta, GA	50.87	119	18
59	Charlotte, NC	50.74	71	51
60	Nashville, TN	50.73	105	26
61	Montgomery, AL	50.45	149	8
62	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	50.31	60	82
63	Columbus, GA	50.31	102	34
64	Irving, TX	50.30	56	87
65	Little Rock, AR	50.29	85	50
66	Peoria, AZ	50.22	81	49
67	Dallas, TX	50.11	53	95
68	Omaha, NE	50.09	88	47
69	Jackson, MS	50.03	68	80
70	Chesapeake, VA	50.03	154	6
71	Colorado Springs, CO	49.96	47	120
72	San Bernardino, CA	49.84	57	100
73	Durham, NC	49.79	84	58
74	Louisville, KY	49.58	140	16
75	Chicago, IL	49.52	44	139
76	Anaheim, CA	49.37	35	145
77	Oxnard, CA	49.36	50	121
78	Greensboro, NC	49.35	112	37
79	Columbus, OH	49.30	110	44
80	Indianapolis, IN	49.22	127	23
81	Fargo, ND	49.20	83	79
82	Kansas City, MO	49.10	101	54
83	Henderson, NV	49.09	95	66
84	Las Vegas, NV	48.89	46	140
85	Oceanside, CA	48.83	65	115
86	Springfield, MO	48.75	118	48
87	Shreveport, LA	48.72	147	20
88	Casper, WY	48.67	69	113
89	Plano, TX	48.53	146	24
90	Washington, DC	48.51	137	30
91	Sioux Falls, SD	48.33	51	133
92	North Las Vegas, NV	48.33	107	72
93	Portland, OR	48.21	63	127
94	Charleston, SC	48.13	91	90
95	Huntington Beach, CA	48.12	78	104
96	Charleston, WV	48.03	130	38
97	Long Beach, CA	47.79	29	162
98	Huntsville, AL	47.75	153	29
99	Des Moines, IA	47.74	111	76
100	Fremont, CA	47.73	80	114
101	Phoenix, AZ	47.72	90	105
102	Glendale, AZ	47.67	92	103
103	Spokane, WA	47.53	167	14
104	Reno, NV	47.40	98	99
105	Salem, OR	47.40	82	119
106	Billings, MT	47.33	41	159
107	Irvine, CA	47.26	104	94
108	Houston, TX	47.20	59	142
109	Lincoln, NE	47.19	99	109
110	Garland, TX	47.09	131	57
111	Wichita, KS	47.08	100	112
112	Tempe, AZ	47.03	109	98
113	Birmingham, AL	46.91	108	110
114	Fort Smith, AR	46.84	36	158
115	Tacoma, WA	46.81	135	64
116	Gulfport, MS	46.71	77	131
117	Virginia Beach, VA	46.70	152	45
118	Portland, ME	46.60	74	136
119	Lexington-Fayette, KY	46.57	168	32
120	Nashua, NH	46.49	138	69
121	Cedar Rapids, IA	46.41	132	78
122	Chula Vista, CA	46.33	73	141
123	Columbia, MD	45.81	174	21
124	Newport News, VA	45.71	158	62
125	Lubbock, TX	45.71	106	129
126	Pittsburgh, PA	45.70	142	84
127	Santa Rosa, CA	45.68	96	134
128	Cincinnati, OH	45.67	123	106
129	Grand Rapids, MI	45.66	70	148
130	Anchorage, AK	45.61	76	144
131	Garden Grove, CA	45.53	103	132
132	Minneapolis, MN	45.37	162	55
133	San Diego, CA	45.17	75	150
134	Sacramento, CA	45.05	129	116
135	Memphis, TN	45.04	172	36
136	Norfolk, VA	45.02	148	86
137	Chattanooga, TN	45.01	171	40
138	Winston-Salem, NC	44.87	121	124
139	Columbia, SC	44.75	161	83
140	Oakland, CA	44.47	115	137
141	Los Angeles, CA	44.44	40	169
142	Fresno, CA	44.25	62	163
142	Modesto, CA	44.25	93	151
144	Warwick, RI	44.08	155	107
145	Stockton, CA	44.02	113	143
146	Burlington, VT	43.97	177	85
147	Baltimore, MD	43.91	170	73
148	Vancouver, WA	43.89	139	126
149	Seattle, WA	43.81	165	88
150	San Jose, CA	43.53	114	146
151	St. Paul, MN	43.41	163	101
152	Fort Wayne, IN	43.27	166	97
153	San Francisco, CA	42.72	120	152
154	Knoxville, TN	42.59	182	25
155	Baton Rouge, LA	42.51	126	147
156	Juneau, AK	42.50	39	173
157	Yonkers, NY	42.38	117	156
158	Glendale, CA	41.56	94	167
159	Manchester, NH	41.43	134	155
160	Milwaukee, WI	41.32	164	138
161	Fayetteville, NC	40.78	157	149
162	Pearl City, HI	40.71	151	154
163	Jersey City, NJ	40.46	141	160
164	Lewiston, ME	40.43	175	125
165	Wilmington, DE	39.72	159	157
166	Bridgeport, CT	39.27	144	165
167	New Haven, CT	37.57	133	170
168	Toledo, OH	37.37	125	172
169	Providence, RI	37.27	169	164
170	New York, NY	36.80	67	181
171	Honolulu, HI	36.61	160	168
172	Newark, NJ	36.54	136	175
173	Philadelphia, PA	36.07	156	171
174	Akron, OH	36.06	179	161
175	Detroit, MI	35.56	150	177
176	Worcester, MA	34.99	178	166
177	Boston, MA	33.88	145	179
178	Rochester, NY	33.54	173	174
179	Cleveland, OH	32.40	176	176
180	Bismarck, ND	32.16	72	182
181	Buffalo, NY	30.14	181	178
182	Huntington, WV	28.17	180	180

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

Median Annual Income of Hispanics (Adjusted for Cost of Living)

Highest

Highest
T-1. Columbia, MD
T-1. Gilbert, AZ
T-1. Overland Park, KS
T-1. Rapid City, SD
T-1. Chandler, AZ

Lowest

Lowest
178. Boston, MA
179. Huntington, WV
180. Buffalo, NY
181. New York, NY
182. Bismarck, ND

Hispanic Entrepreneurship Rate

Highest

Highest
T-1. Pembroke Pines, FL
T-1. Fort Lauderdale, FL
T-1. Miami, FL
T-1. Hialeah, FL
T-1. Charleston, WV

Lowest

Lowest
174. Fayetteville, NC
175. Knoxville, TN
176. Fargo, ND
177. Montgomery, AL
178. Lewiston, ME

% of Hispanic Residents

Highest

Highest
1. Hialeah, FL
2. Laredo, TX
3. Brownsville, TX
4. El Paso, TX
5. Santa Ana, CA

Lowest

Lowest
178. Portland, ME
179. Lewiston, ME
180. Jackson, MS
181. Huntington, WV
182. Charleston, WV

Hispanic Income Growth

Highest

Highest
T-1. Rapid City, SD
T-1. Dover, DE
T-1. Shreveport, LA
T-1. Missoula, MT
T-1. Burlington, VT

Lowest

Lowest
178. Wilmington, DE
179. Warwick, RI
180. Juneau, AK
181. Huntington, WV
182. Bismarck, ND

Hispanic Unemployment Rate

Lowest

Lowest
T-1. Pearl City, HI
T-1. Fargo, ND
T-1. Casper, WY
T-1. Gulfport, MS
T-1. Mobile, AL

Highest

Highest
178. Shreveport, LA
179. Huntington, WV
T-180. Detroit, MI
T-180. Baton Rouge, LA
T-180. Bismarck, ND

% of Hispanic Residents with at Least a Bachelor's Degree

Highest

Highest
1. South Burlington, VT
2. Washington, DC
3. Burlington, VT
4. Pittsburgh, PA
5. Tallahassee, FL

Lowest

Lowest
T-178. Garland, TX
T-178. West Valley City, UT
180. Stockton, CA
181. North Las Vegas, NV
182. San Bernardino, CA

Share of Hispanic-Owned Businesses

Highest

Highest
T-1. Laredo, TX
T-1. El Paso, TX
T-1. Brownsville, TX
T-1. Miami, FL
T-1. Fort Lauderdale, FL

Lowest

Lowest
174. Bismarck, ND
175. Montgomery, AL
176. Portland, ME
177. Fargo, ND
178. Lewiston, ME

Hispanic Population Growth

Highest

Highest
1. Charleston, SC
2. Baton Rouge, LA
3. Missoula, MT
4. Louisville, KY
5. Jackson, MS

Lowest

Lowest
178. Honolulu, HI
179. Scottsdale, AZ
180. Aurora, IL
181. South Burlington, VT
182. Pearl City, HI

In-Depth Look at the Best Cities for Hispanic Entrepreneurs

Orlando, FL

Orlando, FL, is the best city for Hispanic entrepreneurs, and one way it stands out is by having a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which helps to provide funding and support for Hispanic-owned businesses. Over 19% of businesses in Orlando are owned by Hispanic residents, the 10th-highest percentage out of the more than 180 cities in our study.

Orlando leads the country when it comes to the share of residents who engage in entrepreneurship. Among Hispanic people in particular, the city has the 7th-highest entrepreneurship rate, too. It also has the 15th-lowest corporate taxes.

To top things off, Orlando’s Hispanic population is growing rapidly, increasing by nearly 30% just over the past five years. The city also has the 30th-highest share of Hispanic residents who have a bachelor’s degree or higher, and college education can improve the chances of a business succeeding.

Pembroke Pines, FL

Pembroke Pines, FL, is the second-best city for Hispanic entrepreneurs in 2025, boasting the fourth-highest share of businesses owned by Hispanic people, at around 32.8%. The city also has the highest Hispanic entrepreneurship rate in the country, on top of one of the best entrepreneurship rates for the general population.

In addition, Pembroke Pines has the 15th-lowest corporate tax rate among the more than 180 cities in our study. This helps entrepreneurs keep more money while avoiding burnout.

Nearly 48% of the population of Pembroke Pines is Hispanic, the 21st-highest percentage in the nation, and the city has the fourth-highest share of Hispanic residents who own their homes rather than renting them.

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Fort Lauderdale, FL, is the third-best city for Hispanic entrepreneurs, with nearly 32.8% of businesses in the city being owned by Hispanic people. The city also has one of the highest rates of entrepreneurship for Hispanic residents.

Fort Lauderdale ranks at the top of the country when it comes to the share of startups between four and 15 years old that have five or more employees, which demonstrates that there’s a lot of potential for growth, especially for people starting a business by themselves.

Like the other top Florida cities, Fort Lauderdale residents enjoy the 15th-lowest corporate taxes in the country.

Ask the Experts

To expand the discussion about the present and future of Hispanic entrepreneurship in the U.S., we asked a panel of minority-business experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

What are the biggest challenges faced by Hispanic entrepreneurs?
Should government authorities create programs or other incentives to encourage Hispanic entrepreneurs? If so, what types of programs or incentives?
What tips do you have for a Hispanic entrepreneur interested in starting their own business?
In evaluating the best cities for Hispanic entrepreneurs, what are the top 5 indicators?
How do you explain the rapid growth of Latino entrepreneurs? What impact will they have on the future of the economy?

Ask the Experts

Bert Seither
DBA - Lecturer I, Management & Entrepreneurship, University of Tampa, Sykes College of Business – John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center
Read More

Dr. Enrique Nunez
Associate Professor of Management in the Anisfield School of Business at Ramapo College
Read More

Stefan Doering
Adjunct Professor, College of Business - Stony Brook University
Read More

Ashley Roderick & Yong Li
Ashley Roderick - M.B.A. Student | Graduate Assistant and Yong Li, Ph.D. - Professor, Lee Professor of Entrepreneurship; Research Director for Troesh Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation – University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Read More

John Gustincic
JD – Lecturer in Entrepreneurship, College of Business Administration – Central Michigan University
Read More

Marlene Orozco
Ph.D. – CEO of Stratified Insights and Research Fellow - Texas State University
Read More

More Experts

Methodology

In order to determine the best cities for Hispanic entrepreneurs, WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across two key dimensions, “Hispanic Business-Friendliness” and “Hispanic Purchasing Power.” Our sample considers only the city proper in each case and excludes cities in the surrounding metro area.

We evaluated the two dimensions using 23 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for Hispanic entrepreneurs. Data for metrics marked with an asterisk (*) were available at only the state level.

We then determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its total score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Hispanic Business-Friendliness – Total Points: 60

Share of Hispanic-Owned Businesses: Double Weight (~8.00 Points)
Hispanic Entrepreneurship Rate: Double Weight (~8.00 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of Hispanic-owned firms adjusted for the Hispanic population.
Average Growth of Hispanic Business Revenues (2022 vs. 2017): Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Presence of Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Small Business-Friendliness Score*: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Note: This metric is based on Thumbtack’s “Small Business Friendliness Survey” score.
Entrepreneurial Activity Index*: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Industry Variety: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
5-Year Business Survival Rate*: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Significant Startups per Capita: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Note: This metric measures the number of 4- to 15-years old startups with at least five employees adjusted to population.
Small-Business Loans per Total Number of Small Businesses: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Average Monthly Rent for Office Space: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Corporate Tax Rank*: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
Average Length of Workday (in Hours): Full Weight (~4.00 Points)

Hispanic Purchasing Power – Total Points: 40

Affordability: Double Weight (~6.96 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Median Annual Income of Hispanics / Cost of Living.
Share of Hispanic Households with Annual Earnings Above $75,000: Full Weight (~3.48 Points)
Income Growth for Hispanics: Full Weight (~3.48 Points)
Housing Affordability for Hispanics: Full Weight (~3.48 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as follows: Median Annual Income of Hispanics / Median House Price.
Hispanic Unemployment Rate: Double Weight (~6.96 Points)
Hispanic Job Security: Full Weight (~3.48 Points)
Note: (Number of Hispanic Employees in 2023 - Number of Hispanic Employees in 2022) / Number of Hispanic Employees in 2022.
Share of Hispanic Residents: Full Weight (~3.48 Points)
Hispanic Population Growth: Full Weight (~3.48 Points)
Share of Hispanics with at Least a Bachelor’s Degree: Full Weight (~3.48 Points)
Note: “Hispanics” include Hispanics aged 25 years and over.
Hispanic Housing Tenure: Half Weight (~1.74 Points)
Note: This metric measures the Hispanic renter-to-owner ratio.

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of August 6, 2025 from the U.S. Census Bureau, Council for Community and Economic Research, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Tax Foundation, LoopNet, EC Hispanic Media and Thumbtack.

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