Survey finds CT and NY among least hospitable states for entrepreneurs

Connecticut and New York ranked among the lowest states in Thumbtack”™s 2019 Small Business Friendliness Survey, which ranked the states to evaluate how well their governments supported entrepreneurs in starting, operating, and growing a small business.

Thumbtack based its survey on factors including licensing requirements, tax regulations, and labor and hiring regulations. Connecticut ranked second to last among the states ”“ only West Virginia scored worst ”“ and received an overall score of F.

Among the survey”™s categories, Connecticut received F’s for overall friendliness to the small business sector, regulations, employment issues, tax code and licensing. The state also received D”™s for the ease of starting a business and ease of hiring, a C for training and network programs, and a B+ for the state government”™s websites.

Across the border, New York received an overall score of D and ranked third to last among the states. New York was given F”™s for its tax code and state government websites, D”™s for the ease of starting a business, regulations and employment issues, and a D+ for licensing. The state”™s highest scores were a C- for ease of hiring and a C+ for its training and networking programs.

At the other end of the spectrum, Arkansas, Virginia and Mississippi ranked highest in the 2019 survey, with each earning an A+ for small business friendliness in 2019. Thumbtack surveyed more than 5,000 local small business owners in 49 states and 44 cities for this year”™s survey.

“Small business owners are active, involved members of their communities and local economies,” said Kellyn Blossom, head of public policy at Thumbtack. “Our survey shows the economic impact of health care, housing, and transportation are top of mind for them. With 96 percent of small business owners planning to vote in the 2020 elections, they could have a big impact on the outcome.”