New Report: Montana Named Best State for Startups

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - On April 4, 2025, Governor Greg Gianforte announced that Montana was ranked as the best state for business startups.

“As an entrepreneur, I know firsthand the joys and challenges of starting and growing a business,” Governor Gianforte said. “With my experience, I am working every day as governor to make government more efficient and responsive to Montanans looking to invest in their dreams and in the Treasure State. To continue our positive momentum, we must continue cutting taxes so businesses can create good-paying jobs for Montanans across the state.”

According to data reported by Entrepreneur Media, Montana was ranked number one with the highest score for the total number of startups in the state, the number of startups per 100,000 people, and the 10-year survival rate of startups.

“With over 4,800 startups, the report gave the state a startup opportunity score of 9.55, the highest on the list, and a 10-year survival rate of 41 percent,” Governor Gianforte said. “The report cites the latest data from the U.S. Small Business Administration that shows Americans have filed more than 21 million new business applications in the past four years. Montana ranks first, followed by Oregon, Nevada, Utah, and Florida rounding out the top five.”

The ranking was determined by business travel experts at Booking.com for Business using data collected in January from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau.

According to Governor Gianforte, Montana has experienced record-low unemployment, record business and job creation, and is one of two states in the last four years where wage growth outpaced inflation.

You can view the rankings as reported by Entrepreneur Media here.