We have reached the halfway point in our countdown of the 10 Best and Worst States of Business. From here on out, the best states for business are the elite, the top 5 states in the country. And the worst states for business are the bottom-of-the-barrel, those in need of the most change. If you’re planning to open a business and can afford to choose your location, we urge you to consider one of our elite five states. If you are in business already, and you are located in one of our bottom five, perhaps it is time to take stock of what your state offers and to consider alternatives.
Best States for Business: #5
Virginia
Open for Business Index Score: 84.4
Virginia is the first member of our elite five states. The Old Dominion has achieved a strong position in a number of our grading categories. Virginia is ranked near the best in the size of government, percentage of the workforce represented by unions, infrastructure and tort law. Virginia also protects its citizens from forced unionization with a Right to Work law. Virginia scores around average in health, education, cost of living and tax burden. Virginia’s worst score came in the cost of employing labor.
Worst States for Business: #5
Vermont
Open for Business Index Score: 60.1
Back in 1989 Greg Guma wrote his book, The People’s Republic: Vermont and the Sanders Revolution. In 2012 our Open for Business Index illustrates just what happens when a state abandons business owners with a bottom five ranking for Vermont. But let’s start with the good. Vermont has the nation’s healthiest citizens—after that our index gets ugly. Vermont scores below average in all other categories, and near the bottom in cost of living, tax burden and infrastructure.
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