San Diego is the best place in the nation to start a small business this year, according to an article appearing in Forbes magazine's website Thursday.
The publication surveyed 50 big cities and evaluated small businesses on the basis of those in high-growth industries, their numbers compared to all business, the percentage that accept credit cards, those with Facebook pages and websites and those found in online reviews.
The categories "evince community engagement and availability of relevant resources," which are more important than a city's job growth and income level, the magazine said. San Diego ranked in the top five in nearly every category.
"It's no secret to San Diego's entrepreneurs and startup community that San Diego is a great place to start a business," Mayor Kevin Faulconer said. "This is just a reminder that we need to continue to foster a fertile environment for small businesses to grow."
He said he hopes the City Council will work with him "to encourage more of America's entrepreneurs and startup community to make San Diego home."
Denver and Austin, Texas, were ranked second and third, respectively, while San Francisco ranked sixth and San Jose 12th.
To compile the rankings, the magazine used information from Radius, a San Francisco technology company that collects small business data in the U.S. and offers a marketing platform to corporate clients selling to that sector.
Overall, Forbes predicted a revitalization of small businesses nationwide.
