Fairfax Named Among Virginia's Top Cities to Start a Business

With a corporate tax rate and unemployment rate both below the national average, Virginia has proven itself to be one of the most business-friendly states in the nation.

Perhaps that’s why the Commonwealth has added more than 193,000 jobs since the 2008 recession, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics, while private sector workers are earning 1.9 percent more than they did a year ago.

However, online financial resource NerdWallet dove a bit further into Virginia’s business culture, extracting the 10 best towns in which to start a new business throughout the state.

Fairfax ranked second on the list, trailing only Tysons Corner, which continues to transform into Northern Virginia’s urban center after the opening of the Metrorail Silver Line throughout the city

Take a look at what NerdWallet had to say about its No. 2 city to start a business in Virginia:

The city of Fairfax has 25.3 businesses per 100 people, the highest number in the state, and its 4 percent unemployment rate is lower than both the state and national average. Among top employers are the city itself and Fairfax Nursing Center. Local businesses are served by the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, which offers monthly networking events, educational workshops, marketing opportunities and leadership training.

NerdWallet evaluated each city’s business environment and local economy when forming this list, and noticed that adjacency to Washington, D.C., helps Northern Virginia cities a great deal.

Falls Church and Vienna also cracked NerdWallet’s top 10, further representing the region’s business friendly reputation.

Take a look at the rest of the top 10:

1. Tysons Corner

3. Warrenton

4. Abingdon

5. Falls Church

6. Forest

7. Vienna

8. Merrifield

9. Hollins

10. Ashland