Best Cities for Small Business in Nevada
Nevada ranks #37 of 50 for small business, with a small business score of 46.4. Spanish Springs is its best city for small business at 70.7.
- Nevada, all states
- #37 of 50
- Population
- 17,980
What Small Business Should Know About Nevada
Nevada ranks #37 out of 50 for small business owners and entrepreneurs, presenting some challenges for business formation and growth. The state's fiscal health score of 58/100 is adequate, though fiscal conditions aren't a standout advantage.
Tax policy directly impacts the bottom line. Nevada's overall tax burden is 8.62% of income, and crucially, there is no state income tax — a major advantage for business owners whose personal and business finances often overlap. The 8.24% combined sales tax rate is on the higher side and worth factoring into pricing strategy. The economic environment (score: 28/100) with 5.3% unemployment suggests a larger available workforce, which can ease hiring pressures.
Population growth of 0.88% is a tailwind — a growing customer base and expanding labor pool benefit most small businesses. Workforce quality may require investment in training — the education score of 40/100 suggests gaps in preparation. A typical home value of $442,027 is expensive enough that employee compensation expectations may be higher.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Small Business
| # City | Grade | Small Business score | Overall | Household finances | Economy | Growth | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Spanish Springs | B+ | 70.7 | 59.3 | 90 | 81 | — | 17,980 |
| 2Summerlin South | B+ | 68.0 | 61.3 | 82 | 71 | — | 31,354 |
| 3Enterprise | B | 58.7 | 56.4 | 67 | 55 | — | 240,464 |
| 4Dayton | C | 58.4 | 52.0 | 75 | 59 | — | 15,781 |
| 5Fernley | C | 54.8 | 50.6 | 56 | 57 | 67 | 24,225 |
| 6Sparks | C+ | 54.7 | 54.3 | 63 | 58 | 48 | 110,024 |
| 7Henderson | C+ | 54.3 | 55.3 | 63 | 51 | 51 | 332,141 |
| 8Carson | C+ | 52.7 | 55.3 | 53 | 50 | 46 | 58,384 |
| 9Mesquite | C+ | 51.8 | 54.3 | 53 | 35 | 61 | 22,059 |
| 10Reno | C | 51.7 | 52.2 | 52 | 53 | 51 | 273,212 |
| 11North Las Vegas | C | 48.4 | 49.1 | 53 | 44 | 50 | 278,595 |
| 12Spring Valley | C | 47.7 | 50.7 | 50 | 34 | — | 219,187 |
| 13Las Vegas | D | 45.8 | 47.2 | 47 | 43 | 43 | 660,400 |
| 14Elko | D | 45.6 | 48.8 | 49 | 38 | 34 | 20,696 |
| 15Sun Valley | D | 43.4 | 44.5 | 43 | 37 | — | 22,228 |
| 16Whitney | D | 41.1 | 43.9 | 43 | 28 | — | 47,221 |
| 17Paradise | D | 38.4 | 44.7 | 34 | 21 | — | 185,913 |
| 18Pahrump | F | 37.2 | 38.9 | 42 | 24 | — | 47,347 |
| 19Sunrise Manor | F | 34.4 | 40.0 | 28 | 20 | — | 200,218 |
| 20Winchester | F | 30.0 | 39.0 | 18 | 13 | — | 37,081 |
City small business scores use each city's own data, with the category weights rescaled over the categories the city has; outdoor access has no city-level measure and is left out.
Compare: States with Similar Small Business Rankings
Also See: Nevada for Other Lifestyles
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nevada a good state for small business?
Nevada ranks #37 out of 50 for small business with a persona-weighted score of 46.4/100. Its strongest relevant category is Affordability (62/100) and its weakest is Economy (28/100).
What is the best city for small business in Nevada?
Spanish Springs ranks #1 in Nevada for small business with a score of 70.7/100, followed by Summerlin South and Enterprise.
What factors are most important for small business in Nevada?
Rankings weighted toward business-friendly tax climate, strong economy, population growth, workforce quality, and transportation infrastructure — what matters when starting or running a small business.