Best Cities for Small Business in South Carolina
South Carolina ranks #25 of 50 for small business, with a small business score of 58.4. Fort Mill is its best city for small business at 76.2.
- South Carolina, all states
- #25 of 50
- Population
- 30,775
South Carolina for Small Business: The Full Picture
South Carolina ranks #25 out of 50 for small business owners and entrepreneurs, with a mixed set of conditions for entrepreneurs. The state's fiscal health score of 54/100 is adequate, though fiscal conditions aren't a standout advantage.
Tax policy directly impacts the bottom line. South Carolina's overall tax burden is 8.15% of income, with a 6.2% income tax rate that applies to both personal and pass-through business income. The 7.49% combined sales tax rate is on the higher side and worth factoring into pricing strategy. The economic environment (score: 32/100) with 4.5% unemployment shows healthy labor availability.
Population growth of 1.46% 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 50/100 suggests gaps in preparation. A typical home value of $306,323 is manageable for employees at typical small-business salary levels.
All 20 Cities Ranked for Small Business
| # City | Grade | Small Business score | Overall | Household finances | Economy | Growth | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Fort Mill | A+ | 76.2 | 71.0 | 84 | 74 | 92 | 30,775 |
| 2Bluffton | A | 66.1 | 63.6 | 81 | 71 | 55 | 33,157 |
| 3Greer | B+ | 64.3 | 61.5 | 58 | 58 | 92 | 41,536 |
| 4Mount Pleasant | A | 64.0 | 63.8 | 83 | 78 | 39 | 93,993 |
| 5Goose Creek | B | 60.2 | 57.2 | 67 | 58 | 66 | 48,078 |
| 6Charleston | B+ | 57.5 | 59.8 | 58 | 63 | 47 | 154,338 |
| 7Hilton Head Island | B | 56.1 | 55.9 | 66 | 61 | 35 | 37,911 |
| 8Aiken | B | 55.0 | 56.0 | 42 | 49 | 78 | 32,521 |
| 9Summerville | C+ | 54.4 | 52.7 | 57 | 58 | 51 | 51,654 |
| 10Greenville | C+ | 51.7 | 55.7 | 46 | 52 | 47 | 72,935 |
| 11North Charleston | C | 51.6 | 50.4 | 41 | 49 | 63 | 119,913 |
| 12Rock Hill | C | 47.3 | 50.3 | 47 | 43 | 39 | 75,259 |
| 13Columbia | C | 45.7 | 50.4 | 20 | 39 | 58 | 139,643 |
| 14Carolina Forest | D | 44.7 | 46.7 | 49 | 34 | — | 26,263 |
| 15Florence | D | 44.0 | 45.8 | 30 | 40 | 45 | 40,408 |
| 16Conway | D | 43.4 | 48.5 | 26 | 27 | 58 | 27,263 |
| 17Anderson | D | 41.9 | 46.7 | 22 | 39 | 48 | 30,051 |
| 18Myrtle Beach | F | 41.2 | 40.6 | 31 | 41 | 45 | 38,371 |
| 19Sumter | D | 40.5 | 43.8 | 34 | 34 | 36 | 43,053 |
| 20Spartanburg | F | 37.7 | 40.1 | 19 | 34 | 42 | 38,910 |
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: South Carolina for Other Lifestyles
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Carolina a good state for small business?
South Carolina ranks #25 out of 50 for small business with a persona-weighted score of 58.4/100. Its strongest relevant category is Affordability (78/100) and its weakest is Outdoor Access (9/100).
What is the best city for small business in South Carolina?
Fort Mill ranks #1 in South Carolina for small business with a score of 76.2/100, followed by Bluffton and Greer.
What factors are most important for small business in South Carolina?
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.