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Where the Headquarters are Heading
Corporate mobility continues to increase. Despite a lull in 2023, corporate movement drastically increased in 2025, according to CBRE’s “Business Insights: The Shifting Landscape of Headquarters, 2026 Updates.”
The report highlighted the following:
Geography. Texas metros, especially Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin, were the strongest corporate magnets. DFW has clocked over 100 headquarters relocations since 2018, more than any other U.S. metro. Meanwhile, Charlotte, NC, Miami, Nashville and Phoenix are showing up as major contenders.
Move motivation. The CBRE analysts said the main reason for relocation was Consolidation of Operations/Portfolio Optimization/M&A. Business Climate, Real Estate, and Access to Consumer Base followed.
Industry. Technology and manufacturing were at the top of corporate moves, shifting operations from coastal hubs to lower-cost, innovation-friendly metros, the report said. Business services companies also experienced high levels of relocation, driven by cost optimization and access to new talent pools.
The report authors also suggested that corporations should consider the following with a headquarters move:
- Which business groups or divisions should stay or shift?
- How well do current organizational models and operating policies support a distributed footprint?
- What priorities, such as culture, cost and talent access, should support location and long-term strategic decisions?
- What should be the size and structure of a future headquarters, and how does this align with a broader real estate portfolio and ownership strategy?
- What is the investment required to upgrade a current location versus moving elsewhere?
- What would be the total cost and anticipated payback of such a move?
- ◦Lease
- ◦Development
