Best Cities for Small Business in Oklahoma
Oklahoma ranks #28 of 50 for small business, with a small business score of 53.4. Bixby is its best city for small business at 69.1.
- Oklahoma, all states
- #28 of 50
- Population
- 30,155
Oklahoma for Small Business: The Full Picture
Oklahoma ranks #28 out of 50 for small business owners and entrepreneurs, with a mixed set of conditions for entrepreneurs. 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. Oklahoma's overall tax burden is 7.01% of income, with a 4.75% income tax rate that applies to both personal and pass-through business income. The 9.06% combined sales tax rate is on the higher side and worth factoring into pricing strategy. The economic environment (score: 42/100) with 3.4% unemployment indicates tight labor markets — good for consumer spending but potentially challenging for hiring.
Population growth of 0.62% 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 30/100 suggests gaps in preparation. A typical home value of $223,261 helps attract and retain employees who can afford to live nearby.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Small Business
| # City | Grade | Small Business score | Overall | Household finances | Economy | Growth | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Bixby | A | 69.1 | 66.9 | 75 | 71 | 74 | 30,155 |
| 2Jenks | A | 65.8 | 64.9 | 76 | 75 | 54 | 27,102 |
| 3Edmond | A | 64.3 | 63.7 | 70 | 71 | 59 | 96,825 |
| 4Broken Arrow | B+ | 60.7 | 60.5 | 62 | 64 | 63 | 118,180 |
| 5Owasso | B+ | 59.3 | 60.8 | 61 | 61 | 54 | 40,151 |
| 6Yukon | B | 58.8 | 58.0 | 57 | 59 | 66 | 25,529 |
| 7Moore | B | 54.7 | 56.6 | 54 | 61 | 43 | 63,420 |
| 8Oklahoma City | C | 51.0 | 51.1 | 42 | 55 | 53 | 697,125 |
| 9Norman | C+ | 50.4 | 55.3 | 39 | 55 | 45 | 129,672 |
| 10Enid | C | 47.9 | 49.8 | 42 | 52 | 39 | 50,653 |
| 11Midwest City | C | 47.3 | 51.1 | 35 | 46 | 45 | 58,297 |
| 12Bartlesville | C | 46.9 | 50.1 | 34 | 48 | 45 | 37,878 |
| 13Shawnee | C | 46.0 | 49.1 | 26 | 45 | 53 | 31,671 |
| 14Tulsa | D | 45.0 | 47.3 | 32 | 49 | 43 | 413,794 |
| 15Ponca City | D | 44.4 | 48.4 | 32 | 47 | 38 | 24,326 |
| 16Stillwater | C+ | 42.4 | 53.3 | 9 | 43 | 48 | 49,269 |
| 17Ardmore | D | 41.3 | 44.0 | 32 | 41 | 34 | 24,877 |
| 18Lawton | D | 40.7 | 42.7 | 25 | 44 | 44 | 90,595 |
| 19Duncan | D | 37.5 | 45.5 | 28 | 20 | 30 | 22,958 |
| 20Muskogee | F | 36.5 | 39.6 | 18 | 37 | 35 | 36,758 |
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: Oklahoma for Other Lifestyles
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oklahoma a good state for small business?
Oklahoma ranks #28 out of 50 for small business with a persona-weighted score of 53.4/100. Its strongest relevant category is Affordability (89/100) and its weakest is Outdoor Access (13/100).
What is the best city for small business in Oklahoma?
Bixby ranks #1 in Oklahoma for small business with a score of 69.1/100, followed by Jenks and Edmond.
What factors are most important for small business in Oklahoma?
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.