New York state earned one of the worst grades in the country, a D+, for its friendliness toward small businesses in a survey of more than 12,000 owners in the U.S.
The study was conducted over two months earlier this year by Thumbtack.com and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, a Missouri-based educational and entrepreneurial nonprofit. It”™s the third year the site released a state-by-state grading of small business friendliness.
Jon Lieber, chief economist of Thumbtack, said the business owners surveyed in New York said government could do more to support them. “Creating a business climate that is welcoming to small, dynamic businesses is more important than ever, and New York has a long way to go to get there,” he said.
New York was the second-worst state in which to start a business, according to the results, although it earned an A- for training and networking programs.
Utah received the highest rating, with an A+ grade, while California, Illinois and Rhode Island received overall F grades. Connecticut and New Jersey, each with D grades, finished fourth- and fifth-worst in the country. Connecticut received the worst grade in regulatory friendliness and was rated last in health and safety, licensing, environmental regulations and zoning laws.
