The 7 Best States to Start a Business
Ranking the states based on how friendly they are to entrepreneurs

When it comes to starting a business, the question of "where" can be just as important as "what," "why," and "how." Some states offer better business climates for entrepreneurs than others. And in today's economy, entrepreneurs need all the help they can get when launching a new business.

U.S. News decided to look at two comprehensive studies that take completely different approaches to measuring the friendliness of the 50 states to entrepreneurs: the
2008 New State Economy Index, by the Kauffman Foundation and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, and the Small Business Survival Index 2008, by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council. 

They combined the rankings of these two studies to help come up with their list of the top seven states for starting a business. Click here to learn what they found.

Nevada Ranks #2 in Business Survival Index 
December 9, 2008--The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) released its 13th annual rankings of the states according to their public policy climates for small business and entrepreneurship in the "
Small Business Survival Index 2008: Ranking the Policy Environment for Entrepreneurship Across the Nation."

SBE Council chief economist Raymond J. Keating, author of the study, said: "The U.S. economy is in a serious downturn, and the outlook for a robust recovery seems remote. That means state and local policymakers face some very difficult decisions, especially on budget matters. Depending on the policy course that state lawmakers choose, they can either make the economic situation in their own state better or far worse."

In terms of their policy environments, the most entrepreneur-friendly states under the "Small Business Survival Index 2008" are: 1) South Dakota, 2) Nevada, 3) Wyoming, 4) Florida, 5) Washington, 6) Texas, 7) South Carolina, 8) Alabama, 9) Virginia, and 10) Colorado. The more difficult state policy environments for entrepreneurs include: 40) West Virginia, 41) Hawaii, 42) Iowa, 43) Vermont, 44) Massachusetts, 45) New York, 46) Minnesota, 47) Rhode Island, 48) Maine, 49) California, 50) New Jersey and 51) District of Columbia.

What CEOs are saying about Nevada
When Development Counsellors International (DCI) conducted its survey last summer, CEOs ranked Nevada as the 5th best business climate in the U.S. 
Click here to read what CEOs are saying about Nevada.  To download a copy of the full report, visit DCI's website by clicking here.

 
 
 

Business Regulation and Services
Nevada Department of Business and Industry
555 E. Washington Ave., #4900
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Phone: (702) 486-2750
Fax: (702) 486-2758
 
788 Fairview Drive, Suite 100
Carson City, NV 89710
Phone: (775) 687-4250
Fax: (775) 687-4266 

Nearly every business in the state comes in contact with the Department of Business & Industry in one way or another. The department's main objective is to encourage and promote growth, development and legal operation of business within the State of Nevada. Department activities also include the regulation of business and agricultural enterprises, promotion of worker safety, protection and rights, administration of bond programs to encourage growth and development of business within the state and educating and informing the public, business and industry of their legal rights and responsibilities.

The department is comprised of 18 agencies, boards and commissions that are organized into the following four service delivery teams:

Business Regulation and Services
Licensing and Regulatory Authorities
Athletic Commission
Consumer Affairs
Dairy Commission
Financial Institutions Division
Industrial Relations Division
Insurance Division
Labor Commissioner
Manufactured Housing Division
Real Estate Division
Taxicab Authority
Transportation Services Authority

Business Regulation and Services
Business and Consumer Services
Attorney for Injured Workers
Business Finance/Planning
Employee Management Relations Board
Governor's Committee on Employment of Persons with Disabilities
Office for Hospital Patients
Housing Division
Unclaimed Property Division

Business Regulation and Services
Nevada Department of Environmental Protection
333 W. Nye Lane, Suite 104
Carson City, NV 89706
Phone: (775) 687-4670
Fax: (775) 687-5856

555 E. Washington Ave., Ste 4300
(Grant Sawyer Building)
Las Vegas, NV 89101-1049
Phone: (702) 486-2850
Fax: (702) 486-2863

The mission of the Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) is to protect and enhance the environment of the State of Nevada consistent with the public health and enjoyment, the propagation and protection of terrestrial and aquatic life, the operation of existing industries, the pursuit of agriculture and economic development activities. Some of the areas NDEP covers are: Air Quality, Corrective Actions, Federal Facilities, Mining Regulations & Reclamation, Water Pollution Control, Water Quality Planning and Waste Management & Chemical Accident Prevention. NDEP also has an ombudsman available to help businesses work with regulatory agencies.

Business Regulation and Services
Nevada State Fire Marshal
107 Jacobson Way
Stewart Facility
Carson City, NV 89711
Phone: (775) 687-4290
Fax: (775) 687-1610
 
The mission of the State Fire Marshal is to reduce the loss of life and property from fire and hazardous materials incidents statewide through training, investigations, inspections, licensing, permitting, information programs, plans review and the adoption of regulations designed to minimize injury and exposure to injury of the general public and emergency responder.

Business Regulation and Services
Public Utilities Commission of Nevada
1150 E. William Street
Carson City, Nevada 89701
Phone: (775) 687-6007
Fax: (775) 687-6110

101 Convention Center Drive, Suite 250
Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
Phone: (702) 486-2600
Fax: (702) 486-2595
 
557 Silver Street, Room 207
Elko, Nevada 89801
Phone: (775) 738-4914
Fax: (775) 778-6928

The mission of the Public Utilities Commission is to enable universal access to affordable, efficient, safe and reliable utility service in Nevada. The Public Utilities Commission fosters fair competition in utility markets, encourages innovation in the provision of utility services and serves as an effective surrogate for competition where it does not exist.