A business news website -- Portfolio.com -- recently ranked Austin as the country's best city in which to start a small business.
Monday, city leaders touted that achievement. They say it's all about what you know and how the community helps support the local economy.
The latest numbers show that in 2007, there were close to 39,000 small businesses in the capital city. The number of small businesses started in Austin between 2006 and 2007 went up 5.6 percent -- more than any other metropolitan area in the US.
On Monday Austin mayor Lee Leffingwell, US Senator John Cornyn and others met to talk about how the city manages to attract and help sustain local shops.The mayor says many can thank the city's small business development program, which helps budding entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground.
"Big businesses have consultants that they can go to that give them that kind of information, how to frame their case, what the demographics are what's the best location is for the business," Leffingwell said. "Small businesses don't have that and that's what the city is trying to do, is provide that."
At San Francisco Bakery and Cafe in North Austin, owner John Tran says while the city does a good job of helping small business owners open their doors during troubled economic times --
"There's a lot of general taxes that are involved, a lot to keep track of," Tran said.
Tran pays thousands in taxes to the city every year and says as Austin continues to grow, he says owning your own business can become an expensive proposition.
"The cost of operating here in town has definitely gone up. It's not cheap to own a business," he said.
Blair Smith and her best friend started Dirty Dog Self Serve Dog Wash and Grooming in 2004 and starting the business wasn't easy.
Smith says the city's stance on local companies helped make her dream come to life.
"Support your local business you hear that all the time, and so it's been amazing here in Austin and I really feel sorry for other places that don't have this culture," said Smith.
