Best Small Cities for Business Startups In Montana

Thinking about starting your own business here in Montana? Good news—several Montana cities just ranked among the top places in the country to launch a start-up.

Starting a business is no small feat. It takes guts, and there's a lot of uncertainty and stress that comes with it. There are a ton of things to factor in, but if you're opening a brick-and-mortar, location is one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle. Even in a great spot, success isn't guaranteed—about 35% of new businesses close within the first two years, and nearly half don't make it past five.

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Enough with the doom and gloom of what could possibly go wrong... Let me tell you the good news about being a business owner in Big Sky Country. WalletHub just published new statistics on the best and worst small cities to start a business in 2025.

To come up with the best small cities to start a business, WalletHub compared more than 1,300 places and used 18 key metrics to create the ranking.

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What Small Cities In Montana Are The Best To Start A New Business?

#51 Missoula

Missoula has experienced major growth in recent years and has earned a reputation as one of Montana’s trendier, more vibrant cities—no surprise it made the list and stood out among over 1,300 others.

OVERALL SCORE: 54.31
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTAL RANK: 66
ACCESS TO RESOURCES: 388
BUSINESS COST RANK: 269

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#16 Helena

Yes, our state capital even landed a spot in the top 20! With its rich history and small-town charm, Helena has become an attractive destination for entrepreneurs ready to make their mark.

OVERALL SCORE: 56.96
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTAL RANK: 24
ACCESS TO RESOURCES: 201
BUSINESS COST RANK: 292

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#5 Bozeman

If you are a local Montanan, you've certainly seen the 'boom' of Bozeman over the past several years, and that is why it ranked 5th in the country for start-ups.

"Bozeman, Montana, has the highest number of startups per 100,000 residents, which is 14.7 times higher than in Salisbury, Maryland, the city with the lowest." - WalletHub

OVERALL SCORE: 60.29
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTAL RANK: 8
ACCESS TO RESOURCES: 33
BUSINESS COST RANK: 427

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Seeing three Montana cities rank so high out of over 1,300 is encouraging. But what really sets Montana apart, in my opinion, is the way our communities show up for each other. Supporting local isn't just a trend here—it's what we do!

Montana's Top 5 Towns To Call Home

They say "Home is where your heart is", and if your heart is in Big Sky Country, there's a little bit of something for everyone. Whether you're looking for a bigger city feel or a small town, you can find it here in Montana.

So, which Montana towns are the best places to call home? According to one source, 5 towns make the list, and you can find all 5 below.

Gallery Credit: Derek Wolf

5 Businesses Montanans Wishes Would Come Back

As most know, Bozeman, Montana is a growing town/city. The population has almost doubled in the last few years, housing prices have skyrocketed, and businesses have either strived or suffered.

The one thing that Bozeman residents all say, is they miss the "old Bozeman". What they mean is they miss the small-town feel, the minimal traffic, and the affordable living. Along with those, there are a few businesses Bozemanites really wish would return.

Here are the Top 5 Businesses Montanans Miss.

Gallery Credit: Megan Shaul, Derek Wolf