A new study cites low business costs, strong workforce growth and high entrepreneurship rates as key factors behind Florida’s top ranking.
A combination of low corporate tax rates and a growing workforce made Florida the best state to start a new business so far in 2026, a WalletHub study found.
The study analyzed the 50 states in terms of three main categories: business environment, access to resources and business costs.
Florida stood out with the highest-percentage of adults engaging in entrepreneurship and the third-most startups per capita, the study found.
Another measure that set Florida above the rest was the finding that the state’s working-age population is growing faster than all but five states.
Source: 2026 WFLA
Mortgage Rates
Hold Steady
Mortgage rates held steady at 6% this week, hovering near their lowest level since 2022. In fact, rates are down nearly a full percentage point from this time in 2024, spurring activity from buyers, sellers and owners. As a result, refinance activity is up, and purchase applications are ahead of last year’s pace.
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.00% as of March 5, 2026, slightly up from last week when it averaged 5.98%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.63%.
The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.43%, slightly down from last week when it averaged 5.44%. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.79%.
