Link

Growing economies, affordable workers, stable housing markets, low crime - these metro areas have all the features entrepreneurs need to thrive. And the winners are: Oklahoma City, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Houston, Hartford (click to read more).

Why I Launched Here - Fortune Small Business asked entrepreneurs in all 50 Best Places how their hometown treats business owners. See how the cities stack up.

Highlights from the magazine & website: 

• Tax havens - Want to keep more of your profits? Check out these 5 states from our Best Places to Launch list, where taxes are low -- and in some cases, nonexistent.
   
• 5 deadly spots - Every restaurateur knows about Cursed Locations, the addresses where no venture survives. Here's a look at 4 trying to break the streak -- and one that failed.
   
• China's Street fashion - How two U.S. entrepreneurs are selling Chinese fashion to the post-Tiananmen generation. The company says its revenues are set to double this year, and it expects to turn a small profit.
   
• CIT files for 5th largest U.S. bankruptcy - Small business lender seeks court approval for a debt reorganization that has approval of bondholders
   
• 'A rival stole my staff' - Charter Oak lost 10 employees - a third of its workers - in one swoop. Four years later, the company finally got its day in court.
   
• Rebooting your business model - Hit by the recession, a Indian restaurateur in New York city revamps from scratch.
   
• Small business credit cards flourish as loans disappear - As traditional loans dry up, banks are funneling more of their small business lending through credit cards.

More articles from Fortune Small Business