GoDaddy (NYSE: GDDY) today revealed the United States' Most Entrepreneurial Cities of 2025. The rankings demonstrate both small and large cities are driving innovation, with unexpected underdogs emerging as entrepreneurial powerhouses alongside traditional business hubs.

So, what does this mean?

• The Bay is back. Known as an innovation powerhouse, San Francisco leads the ranking with over 173,000 small businesses added, fueled by its deep-rooted tech culture, access to venture capital and highly skilled workforce. While neither San Francisco nor Alameda would have made the top 10 in 2024, both cities catapulted the Bay Area to this year's leaderboard.
    
• Suburban markets are booming. Several smaller, suburban cities clinched a spot in the top 10, despite competing with well-known, large urban cities across the country. Frankfort, Ontario, Katy, and Alameda all emerged as new hotspots and challenge the idea of where entrepreneurship thrives.
    
• Wilmington is trending. There are 88 cities in the U.S. named Washington, and yet it's two cities named Wilmington that made the top 10. Wilmington appears to be becoming a name synonymous with small business.
    
• Is California the new epicenter for small businesses? Despite its reputation for high costs, GoDaddy data shows multiple California cities are seeing significant entrepreneurial growth. With four cities on the list, California edges out other states with its increase in small business starts.

"Small businesses are vital in fueling growth across the country, but they don't always get recognized for how much they punch above their weight," said Gourav Pani, president, Independents at GoDaddy. "These rankings show new businesses emerging from every corner of the country, and entrepreneurs are proving they can succeed anywhere."

You can find additional data on the 2025 Most Entrepreneurial Cities and read more about those ranked in the top 10 on GoDaddy's website.