Perth ranks low in best startup spaces

Perth has ranked a measly 20th on the list of 50 best Australian cities for startups in a recent study.

National accounting software company Reckon has ranked the 50 biggest cities in Australia on their viability of starting a business and found Victoria dominated the list with the top four cities.

Only six Western Australian cities made the list: Perth, Kalgoorlie, Busselton, Geraldton, Bunbury, and Albany.

Perth is the highest WA city on Reckon's list at 20th place, followed by Kalgoorlie at 25.

The Reckon study found Kalgoorlie ranked second overall in the state despite being the least-populated WA city examined.

“It [Kalgoorlie] is catapulted to the top by scoring first overall in median income of all fifty cities analysed,” the study reads.

“It’s no surprise that Perth ranked first in WA, with its talent pool and business landscape score significantly higher than any other WA city.”

When broken down by factors, Reckon found Perth to be the second best city following Adelaide for business landscape, which is evaluated through business density, growth and survival rates.

Reckon chief executive Sam Allert said some of the least obvious cities in Australia could offer the best environments for startups.

“What I’m seeing by looking at factors like talent, infrastructure and living costs, is a diversification of opportunity across Australia’s cities,” he said.

“Starting a business anywhere in Australia is a serious undertaking, but certainly an achievable one in such a prosperous country with excellent infrastructure.

“What startups need to look for is a perfect storm of positive business conditions to give them a running start.

“Choosing the wrong location could create unnecessary friction.”