California Business Minute™

Hi, I am Tim Johnson and welcome to the California Business Minute.

California improved its ranking in the 16th annual Small Business Survival
Index released by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council)

The rankings measure the costs and burdens of government on small business and
policy areas that enable their competitiveness and growth. The Index measures
which states are truly friendly to small business, and which are not in terms
of public policy decisions.  The factors included in the Index - taxes, various
regulatory costs, government spending, property rights, health care policies,
energy costs, and much more - matter a great deal to the competitiveness of each
state and to the well being of small business.  The 2011 Index has been expanded
to cover 44 major government-imposed or government-related costs affecting small
businesses and entrepreneurs.  The measures are added together for an overall
rating.   Unfortunately, this Index in its 16 year history has never been kind
to the Golden State.  The following presents the Top five and bottom five
rankings.  Little changed in the Top 5 states from last year. California rose
two spots from last year going from 48 to 46.

THE TOP 5 STATES
1) South Dakota
2) Nevada
3) Texas
4) Wyoming
5) South Carolina

THE BOTTOM 5 STATES
46. California
47. Rhode Island
48. Vermont
49. New York
50. New Jersey

California’s increase was due largely to the 1-cent decline in state sales tax
and other states' increases in workers compensation benefit costs.

I am Tim Johnson and this has been the California Business Minute.

To see the report, go to the website http://www.sbecouncil.org/.