Doing Business in the Columbus Region

Discover how lower costs, better market access, and unrivaled talent can elevate your business.

Top-Ranked Business Climate

A strong economy, prepared workforce, and diversified industries make the Columbus Region the perfect place to start or expand a business.

Always Growing

No. 1 for population, job and GDP growth among the Midwest’s 10 largest metros over the last decade (2010 – 2020)

Good Neighbors

Home to 16 fortune 1000 headquarters

Innovation Incubator

No. 1 Rising City for Startups that has grown multiple unicorns

Global Community

Over 30 foreign countries have business operations in the Region

Lower Costs

Available and affordable real estate combined with top venture capital funds

Pro-Business

No corporate income tax or personal property tax

Made for Business

The Columbus Region’s business advantages create real value for the organizations that reside here.

Operating ease: Competitively low startup and operating costs combined with local and state pro-business tax policies help businesses realize real savings.

Real estate options: From large tracts of developable land to urban settings for offices, vibrant real estate market offers more options for less capital than larger metros.

Made for People

The financial and geographic benefits of the Columbus Region are powerful, but real strength lies in its people.

Employer-backed DEI: Employers are serious about diversity, equity, and inclusion, driving a region-wide culture that fosters equality.

Collaborative community: Businesses, community members and government in the Columbus Region believe in shared success—creating a nationally studied phenomenon that Harvard Research dubbed The Columbus Way.

Top Employers

  • Abercrombie
    3081 employees
    Industry: Retail
    Location: New Albany, Franklin County
    abercrombie.com
  • Cardinal Health
    8660 employees
    Industry: Life Sciences
    Operation: HQ
    Location: Dublin, Franklin County;
    Columbus, Franklin County
    cardinalhealth.com
  • Honda
    8850 employees
    Industry: Automotive and Mobility
    Operation: HQ
    Location: Marysville, Union County;
    Columbus, Franklin County
    Company Headquarters: Japan
    ohio.honda.com
  • JPMorgan Chase
    17,480 employees
    Industry: Finance and Fintech
    Operation: Office
    Location: Columbus, Franklin County
    jpmorganchase.com
  • Nationwide
    16,000 employees
    Industry: Insurance and Insurtech
    Operation: HQ
    Location: Columbus, Franklin County
    nationwide.com
  • TRC
    6,000 employees
    Industry: Automotive and Mobility
    Operation: HQ
    Location: Columbus, Logan County
    trcpg.com

Market Access

The Columbus Region’s location in the heart of the Midwest puts it within a one-day drive of 43% of the population of the U.S.. This gives our businesses the greatest possible access to their customers and suppliers. 

Cost

The cost of living in the Columbus Region is 10% below the national average, and a corporate-friendly economy makes doing business here even more cost effective. Both your budget and your employees will enjoy taking advantage of lower costs.

One Columbus

One Columbus is the economic development organization for the 11-county Columbus Region. Committed to serving growing companies and ensuring the Columbus Region remains vibrant and economically healthy, One Columbus offers site selection services, workforce strategy support and international guidance to businesses seeking to join the Columbus Region community.

Contact us

One Columbus, the economic development organization for the 11-county Columbus Region, is on deck to help your business find its place here. Together we’ll secure your growing business’s future in our thriving business ecosystem.