Rising costs in Portland have negatively impacted the city's reputation as a haven for small businesses, particularly in the small businesses. The Portland Metro Chamber report indicates that the city is home to over 25,000 small businesses and employs roughly 28% of its workforce, beating the national average and similar cities like Seattle, Austin, and Nashville. The city and county charge a combined 4.6% business license tax, a corporate excise tax for some types of businesses, and other permitting fees and charges. Rick Turoczy, founder of the Portland Incubator Experiment, has advocated for fewer one-off task forces and business roundtables, and for more permanent partnerships between business owners and elected officials to shape business-friendly policy. Despite these challenges, small businesses continue to thrive in Portland.