Top States in Which to do Business in 2008

The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) has released its 13th annual Small Business Survival Index for 2008. The Index ranks U.S. states according to their business-friendly policies.

U.S. states are ranked from the friendliest (number 1, South Dakota) to the least friendly (number 51, the District of Columbia).

The top 5 states with what the SBE Council considers to be the friendliest policy environments for entrepreneurs include:

• South Dakota
• Nevada
• Wyoming
• Florida
• Washington

The bottom 5 (starting from the very bottom and working up):

• D.C.
• New Jersey
• California
• Maine
• Rhode Island

There wasn't much change in the top 5 from last year's rankings except that Florida and Washington traded places. D.C. and New Jersey brought up the rear in last year's rankings as well, but Minnesota moved up from 49th to 46th, and California dropped one spot from 48th to 49th in 2008.

Check the Full Report (PDF) to see where your state ranks on the list.
Check the 2007 Results