JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville was ranked among the best cities in the country for Hispanic entrepreneurs, a new WalletHub study found.
In the study, WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities across 23 key indicators of business friendliness toward Hispanic entrepreneurs, and Jacksonville was ranked 15th on the list.
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The top three most friendly cities for Hispanic entrepreneurs are all in Florida, with Orlando in first place, Pembroke Pines in second and Fort Lauderdale in third.
“While these cities also tend to have large Hispanic populations overall, the high entrepreneurship rates indicate that they offer business-friendly conditions. In the top cities, Hispanic entrepreneurs can enjoy low corporate tax rates and good opportunities for growth,” Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst, said. “Plus, a large Hispanic population can be especially helpful for entrepreneurs who want to cater to that demographic.”
WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across two key dimensions, “Hispanic Business-Friendliness” and “Hispanic Purchasing Power.”
Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for Hispanic entrepreneurs.
Jacksonville received a total score of 57.87. In contrast, Orlando received a total score of 66.44.
Huntington, West Virginia, was ranked last on the list, with an overall score of 28.17.
Hola Emprende Conference & Business Expo 2025
This weekend, Hola Emprende Conference & Business Expo will return to Jacksonville for two days of learning and networking opportunities for business leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals from across the region.
The two-day event, held by the First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, will include workshops and panels, and more than 100 vendors.
For the first time, the event will also include a “Shark Tank” Workshop, where entrepreneurs will pitch their ideas to business experts for feedback and potential opportunities.
The event will be held at the Schultz Center on Sept. 19-20.