Source: bizjournals.com, July 8th, 2007 by G. Scott Thomas

Small-Business Stats
(rank in study)

Number of small businesses:	54,539 (25)
Change in small businesses (2000-05):	25.1% (2)
Small businesses per 100,000 residents:	2,821 (9)
Small-business vitality score:	15.40 points

Other Stats
(rank in study)

Population:	1,933,255 (28)
Change in population (2000-05):	17.6% (6)
Private-sector employments:	902,628 (24)
Total private-sector payroll:	$30.65 billion (29)
Annual pay per private-sector worker:	$34,000 (58)

Notes: A small business is defined as having 99 or fewer employees. All statistics are for 2005 unless otherwise noted. Rankings are for the study group of 75 major markets.

Orlando is the clear choice for first place. It's the only market that makes the national top 10 in three key categories: small businesses per 100,000 residents, growth in small businesses since 2000, and five-year population growth. Subpar pay levels are Orlando's only real drawback.