Best Cities for Small Business in Nevada
What Small Business Should Know About Nevada
Nevada ranks #39 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 β 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: 18/100) with 5.5% unemployment suggests a larger available workforce, which can ease hiring pressures.
Population growth of 1.5% is a tailwind β a growing customer base and expanding labor pool benefit most small businesses. Workforce quality may require investment in training β the education score of 8/100 suggests gaps in preparation. Housing at $455,000 median is expensive enough that employee compensation expectations may be higher.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Small Business
| # | City | Grade | Small Business Score | Overall | Fiscal Health | Economy | Growth | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanish Springs | C+ | 56.5 | 50.2 | 87 | 63 | 50 | 17,512 |
| 2 | Henderson | B | 55.8 | 54.7 | 61 | 46 | 67 | 337,280 |
| 3 | Dayton | C+ | 54.8 | 51.5 | 71 | 49 | 50 | 15,873 |
| 4 | Summerlin South | C+ | 54.4 | 49.7 | 79 | 59 | 50 | 30,075 |
| 5 | Mesquite | B | 53.9 | 54.9 | 53 | 42 | 64 | 21,314 |
| 6 | Fernley | C+ | 53.8 | 50.4 | 58 | 48 | 65 | 23,631 |
| 7 | Reno | C+ | 52.5 | 51.9 | 52 | 52 | 59 | 274,937 |
| 8 | Sparks | C+ | 52.1 | 52.2 | 61 | 53 | 46 | 110,301 |
| 9 | North Las Vegas | C | 49.4 | 47.9 | 52 | 42 | 59 | 284,772 |
| 10 | Enterprise | C | 48.9 | 46.9 | 63 | 49 | 50 | 243,802 |
| 11 | Las Vegas | C | 47.3 | 47.2 | 46 | 42 | 53 | 660,942 |
| 12 | Elko | C | 45.5 | 47.0 | 50 | 43 | 36 | 20,624 |
| 13 | Carson | D | 44.9 | 44.6 | 51 | 51 | 40 | 58,364 |
| 14 | Spring Valley | D | 43.9 | 44.1 | 48 | 41 | 50 | 198,326 |
| 15 | Sun Valley | D | 43.1 | 42.6 | 45 | 43 | 50 | 22,697 |
| 16 | Pahrump | D | 42.0 | 42.3 | 38 | 35 | 50 | 45,811 |
| 17 | Paradise | D | 41.2 | 42.5 | 36 | 37 | 50 | 177,413 |
| 18 | Whitney | D | 40.3 | 41.1 | 38 | 37 | 50 | 46,268 |
| 19 | Sunrise Manor | F | 36.4 | 38.4 | 25 | 33 | 50 | 213,644 |
| 20 | Winchester | D | 35.4 | 39.0 | 18 | 31 | 50 | 37,774 |