Microbusiness Density measures the number of active digital microbusinesses per 100 residents in a community, using GoDaddy’s proprietary domain-based data. It captures how widespread grassroots entrepreneurship is—not just how many businesses exist, but how embedded they are in the local population. Higher density signals a more entrepreneurial neighborhood where residents are using digital tools to generate income, test new ideas, and build community-based economic activity. Microbusiness Density helps identify where Jacksonville’s entrepreneurial energy is concentrated, where barriers to participation may exist, and which neighborhoods are primed for inclusive, small-scale economic growth.

Why Does this Matter?

1. Signals neighborhood-level prosperity and job creation
   • GoDaddy’s Venture Forward research finds that places with higher microbusiness density (more microbusinesses per 100 residents) tend to have higher economic prosperity, lower unemployment, and stronger recoveries from downturns. 
2. Business density is linked to overall economic well-being
   • Studies of U.S. states and counties show that higher business or self-employment density is associated with better local economic performance, including faster income growth, higher employment, and lower poverty. Tracking microbusiness density in Jacksonville monitors a proven driver of broad-based economic well-being, not just a count of firms.¹
     
3. Helps target inclusive, wealth-building opportunities
   • Recent analysis of major U.S. cities concludes that rising business density is associated with expanding economic well-being and narrowing wealth gaps, while low density often means a thinner ecosystem of local employers, partners, and wealth-building opportunities for residents.

1.  Lowrey, Ying L., Business Density, Entrepreneurship and Economic Well-Being (June 2004). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=744804 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.744804