​Thumbtack, the website and app that finds you local professionals (pros) for any project, today announced the results from its 2018 Small Business Friendliness Survey, ranking all 50 states and 57 cities based on factors including licensing requirements, tax regulations, and labor and hiring regulations. With over 7,500 small business owners surveyed, it's the largest continuous study of small business perceptions of local government policy in the U.S.

Small business owners gave Jacksonville an A+ this year, ranking 5th in our survey of business friendliness of 57 cities. Overall, evaluations were 5 percent better than last year, when Jacksonville received a B+. As a comparison, Jacksonville scored higher than Orlando (C+) and Tampa (C-). On the state level, Florida ranked 29th and received a C+.

Based on the evaluations of our pros, Thumbtack also assigned eight policy-specific grades to evaluate how easy local governments make it to start, operate, and grow a small business. For more details about the report and the full set of results for Jacksonville, please visit Thumbtack.com/FL/Jacksonville.
 
"Small business entrepreneurs are creating sustainable jobs, and policymakers must continue to empower this segment of the workforce," said Lucas Puente, Lead Economist at Thumbtack. "It is critical for local, state, and federal governments to support small business owners as they adapt to rapid change and innovation in today's economy."
 
Survey Methodology
Between June 4, 2018 and July 16, 2018, Thumbtack surveyed 7,629 skilled professionals from across the U.S. operating across hundreds of categories, including as electricians, music teachers, wedding planners, and wellness professionals. The survey asked these entrepreneurs about the policies of their states and cities toward small business, as well as the overall level of support in their community. For the survey methodology, please visit: https://www.thumbtack.com/survey.