For the third year running, we have continued our research and published this year’s results on the best place to start a business. Things have changed in 2026, and the top spot once held by Perth has now been dethroned by Queensland’s capital city, Brisbane. But that’s not all: while the key rankings have changed, a few surprising trends have also emerged in Reckon’s 2026 Startup City report. Let’s dive in.
What’s Included in the Startup Cities report?
Reckon’s 2026 Startup City report analysed the 50 largest cities in Australia to determine which were the best for starting a business. To determine the best cities, we analysed several factors:
- Talent Pool
- Business Landscape
- Internet Speed
- Cost of Living
Talent pool
As part of our survey, we analysed each city’s capacity for or access to a healthy talent pool. For the talent pool, we assessed workforce quality based on several factors, including median weekly incomes, demographics, and educational levels. These were drawn from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Business Landscape
The importance of a fertile business environment was a significant factor in determining which cities were great startup cities. Using government data, Reckon assessed the business landscape on business density, growth and survival rates.
Internet Speed
Internet speed is an essential infrastructure for small businesses and can make or break a startup’s success. Our assessment was based on two factors, latency and internet speeds, with Ookla providing the data needed to benchmark speeds across the country.
Cost of Living
The cost of living was our final factor in determining the ranking of our 2026 Startup City Report. Scores were evaluated against a range of factors, including median rent, mortgage repayments, commute costs, and childcare fees. All figures were sourced via government and industry publications.
What’s Changed?
A lot can happen in a year, and this year’s results show the rise of Queensland as the state to do business in, the decline of Victoria, and how regional cities can also provide opportunities for the savvy entrepreneur.
What’s Next?
Every year brings new changes to Australia’s business landscape — and challenges. When it comes to the statistics, Queensland is on the up, while Victoria struggles to maintain a competitive, supportive business landscape. For more info, check out where your city ranks and download our report here.
