Why San Francisco Is a Growing Hub for Small Businesses

Home to one of the largest and oldest financial districts in the Western United States, San Francisco has been busy reinventing its hub of business and commerce. The first fruits of this labor were unveiled this fall with the opening of new public areas at the Transamerica Pyramid Center, including a contemporary art museum and entertainment zone, with additional restaurants, bars and hotels on the horizon. While the city continues to attract large corporations—and especially tech giants since San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is 25 miles north of Silicon Valley—it’s also a burgeoning playground for small businesses. In 2023, it was recognized as the top city for small companies in Biz2Credit’s annual report, and in 2024 it ranked number two. Here’s what makes San Francisco a top business destination.

The Airport

San Francisco International Airport / Photo; Courtesy of SFO/Karl Nielsen

Last summer saw the commencement of SFO’s $2.6 billion West Modernization project in Terminal 3. The four-terminal, seven-concourse airport is a hub for both United Airlines and Alaska Airlines, the latter of which opened its new 11,000-square-foot lounge in Terminal 1. The airport is also home to one of only two Cathay Pacific lounges in the Americas—the Hong Kong-based airline operates 12 direct flights per week to HKG. On the tech front, electric air taxis were cleared by the FAA in June, which means the commute to and from SFO could become a 10-minute electric air flight as early as 2025.

Business Hotels

The Westin St. Francis / Photo: Courtesy of Michael Weber

“The grande dame” of San Francisco’s Union Square, The Westin St. Francis is gearing up to reveal a new bar and restaurant as well as a renovated lobby. Earlier in 2024, the city’s third-largest hotel opened a Westin Club Lounge for Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador Marriott Bonvoy members. Still relatively new is The Jay, which opened in Jackson Square with 360 rooms and a dedicated dining floor led by Omakase Restaurant Group. In 2024 the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco and The Battery earned Two Michelin Keys, while the 1 Hotel San Francisco and Hotel Drisco were granted One Michelin Key.

Conference Centers and Venues

The Conservatory at One Sansome / Photo: Courtesy of Adam Potts Photography

The California Hornblower, one of eight vessels in the City Cruises San Francisco fleet, has been refurbished to host corporate and private events for up to 550 guests. The hospitality company Convene has opened a 53,000-square-foot space sectioned into seven meeting rooms that can be configured to accommodate gatherings from town halls to corporate social events at the 100 Stockton building in Union Square. Another debut is The Conservatory at One Sansome, a 16,000-square-foot event space that can host 2,000 guests.

Transit Hacks

Waymo autonomous vehicle at the Golden Gate Bridge / Photo: Courtesy of Waymo

Anyone can access autonomous vehicles via Waymo. For a more traditional option, visitors can obtain a one-, three- or seven-day transit pass to board all Muni systems (buses, light rail, streetcars and cable cars) for seamless travel between meetings.