Tampa receives high marks for business startup affordability

TAMPA — The most affordable U.S. cities in which to start a business are Denver, Phoenix and Tampa, according to research by Time2play, a company that studies the online gambling industry and promotes responsible gaming.

Time2play researchers, according to a news release, studied startup costs as well as the number of successful startups in metro areas across the country.

Tampa, the release states, “is known for its many startup accelerator programs. Tampa is the homeland of some of the highest-funded companies in 2021 and early 2022, such as A2 Global Electronics + Solutions, AmeriLife and ReliaQuest."

Denver topped the list because of its low filing fees and corporate income tax rates, while Phoenix is tipped to be “the next tech stronghold” because of its low taxes and regulatory burden, as well as inexpensive office space.

“Tampa is one of the most affordable cities in the country for launching a startup," Time2play lead researcher Ben Treanor tells Coffee Talk in an email. "The 2015 announcement that Google Fiber would be coming to Tampa really put the eyes of the business world on the city. The affordable cost of living, low tax rates and the number of startup accelerator programs make Tampa one of the nation’s most attractive places to launch a startup.”