Best Cities to Start a Business in Colorado

Colorado offers one of the best ecosystems in the nation for growing and developing a business. With a fantastically diverse economy with significant high-tech, food production, government, and telecommunications sectors, the state presents a wide range of possibilities and a dynamically skilled workforce.

In the first quarter of 2017, Colorado ranked 4th in the nation for the amount of venture capital invested in local companies. As companies relocate to Boulder and Denver, joining native startups, Colorado’s reputation as a hospitable climate for tech businesses continues to swell.

Another crucial factor in transforming Colorado’s economy was the legalization of marijuana in 2014. Sales have since exploded, and in 2016 the industry brought $1.3 billion in revenue. The great majority of this money is going to small businesses and independent dispensaries, rendering Colorado unquestionably the top destination for cannabis industry hopefuls.

One cannot discuss Colorado without mentioning its beautiful wilderness. Containing most of the Southern Rocky Mountain range, the state has long been a mecca for skiers, rock climbers, and those who just appreciate stunning landscapes. For business owners in Colorado, an escape into the peace and solicitude into the state’s many parks and wilderness areas is never a difficult proposition.

Only cities with over 50,000 inhabitants are reported in the results. Some data had to be interpolated to the county level and extrapolated to all the cities in the county. We concentrated on the following metrics to obtain our ranking: Cost of living, Best state for business, Unemployment, Kauffman index, and Universities.