The 15 States Where It’s Best to Do Business in the USA

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Many factors can influence the choice of where to do business. Companies want to ensure a good workforce with people with the right skills for the job.

They want to get things done with minimal red tape and find a place with good infrastructure. Some states have all these features and more, making them better places to do business.

A recent study ranked all the states in the following 14 categories: Workforce Training Programs, Overall Cost of Doing Business, Business Incentive Programs, Access to Capital & Funding, Competitive Labor Market, Energy Availability & Costs, Water Availability, Logistics & Infrastructure, Available Real Estate, Cooperative & Responsive State Government, Corporate Tax Structure, Site-Readiness Programs, Favorable Regulatory Environment and Speed of Project Permitting.

These are the top 15 states in which to do business in America.

Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia, USA Downtown Skyline Aerial Panorama.
Image Credit: Kevin Ruck/Shutterstock.

 

According to the study, Georgia has a large and educated population with plenty of highly skilled workers. The state often gives companies huge tax breaks to set up business there. And, the weather’s great much of the time.

South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, USA in the French Quarter at twilight.
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.

With a good infrastructure and a competitive job market, many companies are doing business in South Carolina. There are many population centers where businesses can be located.

Tennessee

Memphis, Tennesse, USA downtown cityscape at dusk over Beale Street.
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.

Workers in the South tend to be more loyal to companies, and this can come in handy for lowering the turnover rate. Tennessee has many cities, each with its own charm. They also have low-cost power, thanks to TVA.

North Carolina

Aerial Photography From Raleigh & Cary NC
Image Credit: Farid Sani/Shutterstock.

Parts of North Carolina have become tech hubs with a lot of companies moving in and filling their tech jobs. The population is educated and red tape is kept to a minimum to attract new jobs to the area.

Ohio

Cleveland, Ohio, USA downtown city skyline on the Cuyahoga River at twilight.
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.

Ohio has a lot of infrastructure already in place, and it often offers good tax breaks to businesses. It’s been attracting large manufacturing plants because of its populous and skilled labor force.

Alabama

Birmingham, Alabama, USA - September 9, 2023: An exterior photo of the 1912 John A. Hand Building in Birmingham, Alabama, also known as the American Trust and Savings Bank Building.
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Alabama consistently gives companies huge tax breaks to move to the state. It also has a lot of educated tech personnel who can fit even the most intricate tech job descriptions.

Indiana

Aerial View of Downtown Gary, Indiana and its Steel Mill.
Image Credit: Jacob Boomsma/Shutterstock.

Starting a business in Indiana comes with very low fees and a minimal amount of red tape. The state wants to make it easy for companies, and they have funds that are available for some businesses to help them get started and grow.

Texas

Houston, Texas, USA downtown city skyline over Root Square.
Image Credit: Barackandur/Shutterstock.

The spirit of doing whatever you want is strong here, and they keep the amount of red tape and business costs low. Some of the biggest companies around are moving to Texas for its many financial benefits.

Virginia

Richmond, Virginia, USA downtown skyline.
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.

Because it abuts Washington, D.C., there are a lot of businesses eager to do business close to the capital. It has a large and experienced populace that has the kind of education needed by many businesses.

Mississippi

Jackson, Mississippi, USA skyline over the Capitol Building.
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.

With one of the lowest costs of living, low corporate taxes, and one of the lowest property taxes, many companies are moving to Mississippi. The state makes it a point to be business-friendly to attract new jobs.

Louisiana

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA street cars.
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.

The cost of everything is lower in Louisiana, and that includes the cost of doing business. Many companies relocate here because the costs are so low and there are so many people available for new jobs.

Arizona

Panoramic aerial view of the Phoenix, Arizona skyline against the day's blue sky.
Image Credit: Mark Skalny/Shutterstock.

Arizona might not have a good infrastructure everywhere, but it does in the population centers. That infrastructure and the low cost of doing business have put Arizona on the map for site selections.

Michigan

Detroit, Michigan, USA downtown skyline from above at dusk.
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.

Michigan has an educated populace and a long history of large-scale business success. The state is always looking for new businesses to move there, and they often offer tax breaks.

Kentucky

Louisville, Kentucky, USA skyline on the river.
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock.

As a state that’s located very centrally, this state often draws in companies that need distribution centers and similar properties. It’s also a low-cost state that is among the cheapest to do business in.

Florida

Jacksonville, Florida, USA downtown city skyline on St. Johns River.
Image Credit: ESB Professional/Shutterstock,

Florida has low taxes and a setting that people want to be in. It also has nice weather most of the time, and this is perfect for many types of businesses. It also has no personal income tax, so it’s favored by many of the people you want to attract to the company.

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Farming and cultivations in Latin America. Portrait of middle aged hispanic farmer sitting proud in his tractor at sunset, holding the steering wheel. He looks at the camera and smiles happy.
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Some states have a high population density and many population centers. Others are mostly rural and may have little population. The difference between the top and bottom states in terms of population is enormous.

According to World Population Review, these are the top 15 states for population.

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These 15 States Are the Safest States in the USA

old man enjoying life at full by travelling around world sittig on the seaside against lighthouse on sunny Autumn day.
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Some states are safer than others, and this is a big influence on where people move. Places with a low level of public safety have a lot of crime, and this can prevent the public from wanting to move there and even visit.

There are various types of crime, with violent crime and property crime being highly important to the public safety rating of each state.

These 15 States Are the Safest States in the USA

The 11 Most Dishonest Cities in America

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Picture this: you find a stack of cash. Do you pocket the unexpected windfall, or do you take the noble route and hand it in to the police?

In this scenario, a significant 47% of Americans admit they would keep the found money, assuming no one saw their stroke of luck. Interestingly, gender doesn’t play a big role, with both women (47.4%) and men (46.6%) expressing similar inclinations to be tempted by the cash.

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The 15 Countries That Have More Filthy Rich People Than Others

Cute young brunette girl in sunglasses walks along the Los Angeles waterfront with palm trees and streets on a summer day.
Image Credit: Ivanova Ksenia/Shutterstock.

 

There are rich people around the world, but there are some areas that have more wealthy residents than others. When looking at how many millionaires there are in each country, it isn’t even remotely even.

There are major wealth centers in certain countries that represent far more wealth than exists in other areas. It’s amazing how many millionaires there are; this is where they’re located.

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Image Credit: VN_KK/Shutterstock,

 

There are some countries where the majority of visitors love their experience. However, there are other countries that people come back from and never recommend to anyone. These countries often have circumstances that make the trip miserable so that visitors can’t wait to leave and go home.

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Author: Lizz Shepherd

Bio:

Lizz Shepherd is a freelance writer living in Alabama.

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