8 most business-friendly cities

These metro areas rate highest for ease of starting a business, government support of entrepreneurs, and more, according to a recent Thumbtack survey of more than 8,000 small businesses.

.  Dallas-Fort Worth

best places business friendly
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Hussain Manjee, CEO of a video production company, said he takes advantage of Dallas' "room for growth."

Dallas earns high marks from entrepreneurs for its low taxes and minimal government interference.

What's more, the Dallas metro area is huge, and it's only getting bigger. The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metroplex has 6.7 million people and is the fastest-growing region in the country.

As major companies move to town, smaller companies are able to grow by providing services to them.

When European furniture maker Timothy Oulton set up its first U.S. showroom there last year, it needed a company to produce promotional video. Dallas HD Films landed the gig and has since been hired again to produce video for its factories in China.

Hussain Manjee, the video company's CEO, said they would have been overlooked in a more established city like New York.

"I don't think I could have done this in other cities," Manjee said.

Source: 2013 Thumbtack.com Small Business Friendliness Survey, done in partnership with Kauffman Foundation
  @Jose_Pagliery - Last updated June 20 2013 11:36 AM ET

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