Arizona’s entrepreneurial economy is gaining national attention, with Glendale and Scottsdale ranking among the top 10 U.S. cities offering strong environments for small-business growth.
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A new study from workplace technology company Blink ranks Glendale No. 8 and Scottsdale No. 9 based on factors that help businesses launch, expand and attract customers, including retail and hospitality activity, small-business growth, workforce expansion, population gains, search activity and walkability.
The findings illustrate why growing Arizona cities can provide fertile ground for entrepreneurs. Population gains create new customers, employment growth increases economic activity, and strong interest in local businesses signals that residents and visitors are actively looking for places to shop, dine and spend money.
Glendale creates opportunities for entrepreneurs
Glendale stands out because of its expanding population and rapidly growing consumer-facing workforce.
The West Valley city added 3,142 residents from 2023 to 2024, reaching a population of 262,745. Average employment growth across retail and hospitality reached 11.45%, including a 7.6% increase in retail employment and a remarkable 15.3% jump in food and accommodation employment.
Those numbers helped Glendale rank No. 3 nationally for job growth in Blink’s analysis.
For small businesses, that combination can be particularly powerful. More residents mean a growing customer base, while expanding retail and hospitality employment suggests businesses are continuing to invest and hire. Blink also found healthy search activity for local businesses and things to do, another indication of consumer engagement.
How Arizona cities rank for small-business growth
Scottsdale attracts customers and businesses
Scottsdale offers a different advantage for entrepreneurs: an established visitor economy paired with significant consumer interest in local experiences.
The city recorded average employment growth of 11.5% across retail and hospitality. Scottsdale also generated 6,450 searches for things to do and 3,680 searches for small businesses, demonstrating strong interest among consumers looking for restaurants, shops, attractions and other local experiences.
That visibility can be valuable for independent businesses competing for customers. Scottsdale’s combination of hospitality growth, tourism and consumer engagement creates an environment where entrepreneurs can benefit from spending by residents and visitors alike.
Arizona cities offer fertile ground for growth
Nationally, Orlando earned the study’s No. 1 ranking, followed by McKinney and Frisco, Texas; Tampa, Florida; and Garland, Texas. Arlington, Texas, and Boise, Idaho, ranked sixth and seventh, followed by Glendale and Scottsdale. Plano, Texas, completed the top 10.
For Arizona, the rankings point to two distinct models for creating opportunities for entrepreneurs. Glendale is benefiting from population gains and rapid workforce expansion, while Scottsdale combines employment growth with a strong tourism economy and significant consumer interest.
Together, their top-10 finishes highlight the broader opportunities available to Arizona entrepreneurs as growing populations, expanding workforces and engaged consumers create new demand for local products, services, restaurants and experiences.
