The 7 Best States to Start a Business

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If anyone thinks Florida is a good place to do manufacturing, they need to do a reality check...the state of Florida does not even have 'manufacturing' in it's lexicon. Yeah, you automatically pay about $550 a year maintain a corporation (bad move) no matter how much money you make). Any machinery you buy here or out of state, purchase or lease, is taxed at 6%--NO EXCEPTIONS! They pretend they might allow for ENTERPRISE Zones, but in reality, they do not...not like GA or TX. To qualify in Florida, it's not based on regions or even neighborhoods--but rather you have to hire incompetents from those regions to even get a chance at qualification...AFTER a LONNNNNG application process). Property taxes are NOT cheap...but if you are a religious fanatic or church, you can automatically get waivers and sweetheart deals, or just FREE property if you are 'faith-based'...Kind of makes it difficult to compete in the FREE MARKET for us satan-based businesses, huh?
Won't even get started on the fiercely anti-business legal climate...
Thanks Florida, for trying to block my sunshine!

DuckinFL of FL 1:19AM February 10, 2011

why cant we get all small companies to join together throughout the whole usa. and just tell all the state goverment to keep it simple and we will give a flat 10% of profit that is. this is more than they make now more than they make now. and 15 % to fed.
we have priced ourself out of business. in china they dont pay 70+% in taxes one way or another. you need to budget.
the government go up and up and dont help! we need to start a credit union that helps the start up cost. with profits we can help other instead of giving it to greedy _______.
red or blue states we still are paying for graf in our own goverment. they dont help. every state has its vice if we all got together and explain we dont have big pockets keep it simple. it would be the money the state would make that could make a difference. instead of bs people

dan of GA 11:24AM February 02, 2011

I have lived around the world, just a few...Italy, England, France, Switzerland, Syria... In the states I was raised in Connecticut, so I'm familiar with New England, New York etc. I lived in Virginia and got familiar with Penn. Maryland and West Virginia. I visited Ohio, Georgia, Florida. I now live in Albuquerque New Mexico... I loved it the first few months but now I have realized their are not enough people to invest in opening a business,very risky. I just want to find "Home" so I can hang my hat. We're now thinking Chicago or somewhere in Cali??? I'm so tired of looking but don't want to settle for less when it comes to buying property and investing our money in a business and home.

Maryam of NM 8:06PM November 26, 2010

One more thing...sorry, couldn't resist...
The State of Oregon, just across the southern border of Washington, doesn't have a state sales tax.
The State of Washington doesn't have an individual income tax.
So, the folks in Vancouver, WA, which is just across the bridge from Portland, OR, enjoy no income tax and no sales tax. Ahhh, that something for nothing unicorn of American nirvana.
So, when Vancouver began to grow leaps and bounds, Washington passed a law that requires you to report and pay taxes on any purchases that you buy out of state (read: across the border in Oregon) that would have been taxed if purchased in Washington.
If you have Oregon plates on your shiny, new car, expect to be pulled over by police. Otherwise, enforcement of the "confession tax" is rare.
Guess how many people in Vancouver actually confess? Sinners, one and all...tsk, tsk.

Bear in WA of WA 8:56AM November 03, 2010

Washington may not be the best place for your small business. Read on...
Washington has a gross receipts tax (that's gross, folks, not net) on all businesses called a Business & Occupation Tax (B&O), which has existed in the state since 1935 (strange how national journalists don't know about it - research is such a buzz kill, dude.).
The B&O Tax is for all intents and purposes a corporate income tax in how it is assessed, regardless of the legal semantics that created it. The legislature clearly noted at the time they passed the legislation that they chose this method of defining the taxation of business income to avoid it being classified as an income tax. The state supreme court had invalidated their first attempt a few years earlier as an unconstitutional, additional property tax.
Since Washington doesn't have an individual income tax, it relies primarily on sales taxes and fees - and, oh, how they have multiplied and grown. The retail sales tax in Seattle and Bellevue, the two largest cities in Washington, is 9.5% - just shy of a tithe. For restaurants, taverns and bars the sales tax is 10%.
Washington is only one of two states with a Destination-Based Tax System. So, if your business mails, ships or delivers anything in the state, you will need to know the customer's street address and city to determine what taxes to charge. You also get the pleasure of completing screen after screen online to report and pay taxes for all those individual, municipal codes.
Most food items purchased outside a restaurant or bar are not taxed, unless you count the B&O tax on those food items (If you can't see it on the receipt, is it really there?). (The tax on candy and soda was repealed Nov. 2, 2010. Halloween's revenge.)
If you need a retail space or downtown office, be prepared to pay for it. Seattle and Bellevue believe that having a Tiffany price tag is the same as being worth said tag. So, try not to gasp too loudly when you see the lease.
A tax is a tax is a tax (and, yes, Virginia, debt is simply a tax deferred), regardless of the form or method used to collect money from the citizen and deliver it to the government.
So, knowing the average tax burden levied on each citizen is valuable information. Being able to see how the tax burden is distributed and how much of a tax burden it really is, reveals the negative and otherwise, largely invisible forces on your revenues. It also reveals which states are fair and equitable in their taxation and which are not. Fortunately, someone else has done the work for us. You can take a look at their revealing research, data and charts for all taxes in all 50 states, which has been compiled and published by the Institute on Taxation & Policy (itepnet.org). And, these insanely charitable geeks don't charge for the view. ITEP is very thorough, providing a complete breakdown of the data for 8 income groups in ever state. It's a heck of an education.
Knowing is half the battle.

Bear in WA of WA 8:37AM November 03, 2010

I lived in FL for nine years and coming from Central NY I was surprised how rude people were in FL. I since have moved back to Upstate NY and find people here much kinder and ready to help out and chat. I never found that in FL. I always use to say the Southern Hospitality stopped in GA on my way down. About New Yorkers being rude is furthest from the truth. We are so much nicer all across the state. I think New Yorkers are just more honest and won't say it behind your back. As they say if you can't take the heat get of the kitchen. I miss the winters in FL and that is about it.

beth of NY of NY 4:08PM September 15, 2010

I am a small business owner, the economy has been tough but before you open your business really research what is in the area, will your business be be like all the others around you in other words check the competion before you jump in, find out about rents, taxes etc. before you start up. I have been in business in my area for over 15 years, just because you come to an area where you see lots of people doesn't mean your business will make it, what is the price point of your product or service in comparison to your competition. I see new business's opening up, if they are not busy the way they think they should be they close up and go home, customers come into my shop asking when they are going to be open, I have know idea even when they post hours they don't show up and open up. They say it takes 5 years to get a small business on solid ground or they will fail. You have to be customer friendly at all times and so does your workers. Don't over price your products and services, other wise you will not build up a client base. Starting a business and making it work is hard work, try the make you store a one of a kind that people will return to time after time. Business's that survive take a lot of work and time it doesn't just happen. Tax rates also are different in all counties of the state of
Was.

Karen Mains of WA 3:35PM September 15, 2010

Of course fla will be full of grouches, what did you expect out od a statebfull of retirees from NY and N England? And then theres all the immigrants from the latino countrys, of course you can always look at the lack of taxes due to the tourist pricing....All in all I would have to agree, especially with all the hurricanes, rain, swamps, snakes etc. that I don't want to live there either.....THE SUNSHINE STATE!??

Earl of AK 3:28PM September 15, 2010

I live is Jacksonville, FL and I agree about the people in Florida really do not know how to friendly. I been here for 20 years and the customer service is aweful! Just about every business you go in , there is no professional greeting and the workers make you feel like you are intruding. I am originally from Alabama so I am hospitable. It is nothing wrong with speaking. The people from FL act like it is against the law to speak. It is rough out here with the country in a recession and jobs are vanishing. This is the best time to pull together and show some love by at least saying"Hello". THe last time I looked at the map, FL was in the south. Where is the southern hospitality? Get it together FL.

Iris M of FL 2:19PM September 15, 2010

Unfortunately most people who are unfamiliar with Florida refer to the mystique of South Florida as representative of the "Real" Florida. Anyone visiting, living or working in South Florida will experience the invasion of non Floridians either from South America, the Caribbean or the northeast. These people are NOT Floridians and bring with them their selfish, self centered cultures and aggressive behaviors. I wish they'd go back. They give Florida a bad name. If you want to experience the real charm and vitality of Florida visit the Florida Gulf coast, central and northern Florida. There one will find a very strong work ethic, community spirit and loyalty to people and quality living. Forget about South Florida as a place to live or visit. Miami Vice, Nip Tuck and TV have tainted the image of Florida and has drawn people there who are not what they seem. They like TV are all smoke and mirrors. Come visit and enjoy the real Florida.

Joseph Bivens of FL 2:08PM September 15, 2010