Illinois Market Intelligence Report (2026)

Top Businesses to Start in Illinois (2026)

We analyzed 466K+ verified business records to help you separate the hype from the hard numbers.

Top 5 Opportunities

#1
FASTEST GROWTH SECTOR

Tobacco Stores

Growth: +90.1% • Saturation: 0.76 LQ
#2
HIGH DEMAND SIGNAL

Other Residential Care Facilities

Growth: +87.3% • Saturation: 0.79 LQ
#3
LOW COMPETITION GAP

All Other Personal Services

Growth: +85.7% • Saturation: 0.54 LQ
#4
HIGH DEMAND SIGNAL

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

Growth: +83.3% • Saturation: 0.35 LQ
#5
LOW COMPETITION GAP

Other Management Consulting Services

Growth: +80.6% • Saturation: 0.52 LQ

Census Records

Official Source

Volume Filtered

10+ Est. Minimum

100% Objective

No Pay-to-Play

Validate Your Idea Locally

SELECT METRO AREA

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin

#1 VOL

The state's largest economic engine.

Population

9.4M

Active Biz

320K

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Fastest Growth

St. Louis

2.8M Residents

ANALYZE

Davenport-Moline-Rock Island

Population

382K

ANALYZE

Peoria

Population

366K

ANALYZE

Rockford

Population

337K

ANALYZE

Champaign-Urbana

Population

236K

ANALYZE

Springfield

Population

207K

ANALYZE

Bloomington

Population

171K

ANALYZE

Kankakee

Population

107K

ANALYZE

Paducah

Population

103K

ANALYZE

Decatur

Population

103K

ANALYZE

Cape Girardeau

Population

98K

ANALYZE

More States in the Midwest

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Common Questions

What is the fastest growing business in Illinois?+

Currently, the Tobacco Stores sector is leading the state with a +90.1% 5-year growth rate across multiple metro markets.

What does the data say about Illinois's economy?+

The state is home to 466K active establishments across 12 major metro areas. The market shows strong growth in emerging sectors with opportunities in high-demand, low-saturation niches.