With an economy heavily dependent on construction and tourism, the "Theme Park City" and nearby Kissimmee, lost 841 small businesses from 2006 to 2008, or 42 per 100,000 people. But the local government is heavily invested in supporting entrepreneurship.
In 2009, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer launched the multi-faceted "Strengthen Orlando" program. Sewer and transportation impact fees have been temporarily reduced in an effort to remove financial roadblocks and encourage development. Meanwhile, a "Buy Local Program" encourages residents to support neighborhood retailers by offering special discounts.
According to Kathy DeVault, who works in the Office of the Director of the city's Economic Development Department, "Strengthen Orlando" has helped to create some 1,500 jobs and expedite $180 million in capital improvement projects. "Our City Council is doing everything possible to lay the foundation for small businesses to succeed," she said.
A low loan failure rate is a vote of confidence both for the franchise business model -- or concept -- and for the people involved. The following franchises all had relatively low loan failure rates.
