Maine
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49.5
Ranked in U.S.
#45
Business Environment
24.1
Ranked in U.S.
#49
Cost of Doing Business
18.5
Ranked in U.S.
#30
Funding & Resource Availability
7.0
Ranked in U.S.
#47
Last updated September 18, 2024
| 1. |  | Texas | 70.2 |
| 2. |  | Florida | 65.7 |
| 3. |  | New Mexico | 64.0 |
| 4. |  | Oregon | 63.9 |
| 5. |  | North Carolina | 63.3 |
| 6. |  | Wyoming | 63.0 |
| 7. |  | Georgia | 62.8 |
| 8. |  | Ohio | 61.7 |
| 9. |  | Colorado | 61.3 |
| 10. |  | Indiana | 61.0 |
| 11. |  | Nevada | 60.6 |
| 12. |  | Virginia | 60.5 |
| 13. |  | Arizona | 60.5 |
| 14. |  | Idaho | 60.5 |
| 15. |  | Mississippi | 60.5 |
| 16. |  | Washington | 60.1 |
| 17. |  | South Dakota | 59.9 |
| 18. |  | Oklahoma | 59.8 |
| 19. |  | South Carolina | 59.8 |
| 20. |  | Michigan | 59.4 |
| 21. |  | Utah | 59.1 |
| 22. |  | Missouri | 59.1 |
| 23. |  | Kentucky | 58.8 |
| 24. |  | Tennessee | 58.4 |
| 25. |  | California | 57.8 |
| 26. |  | Iowa | 57.4 |
| 27. |  | Minnesota | 56.9 |
| 28. |  | Nebraska | 56.9 |
| 29. |  | Louisiana | 56.9 |
| 30. |  | Alabama | 55.5 |
| 31. |  | Delaware | 55.5 |
| 32. |  | North Dakota | 55.3 |
| 33. |  | Massachusetts | 55.1 |
| 34. |  | Montana | 55.1 |
| 35. |  | Kansas | 54.4 |
| 36. |  | Pennsylvania | 54.2 |
| 37. |  | Wisconsin | 54.0 |
| 38. |  | Arkansas | 53.9 |
| 39. |  | West Virginia | 53.1 |
| 40. |  | Illinois | 52.6 |
| 41. |  | New York | 51.4 |
| 42. |  | New Jersey | 51.0 |
| 43. |  | Alaska | 50.2 |
| 44. |  | Maryland | 49.5 |
| 45. |  | Maine | 49.5 |
| 46. |  | Vermont | 48.8 |
| 47. |  | New Hampshire | 48.7 |
| 48. |  | Connecticut | 48.3 |
| 49. |  | Hawaii | 46.5 |
| 50. |  | Rhode Island | 43.3 |
As the United States emerges from the shadows of the COVID-19 pandemic, entrepreneurship is back in the spotlight. With a burgeoning economy and the advent of new opportunities, many are contemplating taking the plunge into the world of business ownership. However, the success of a startup hinges significantly on its geographical location. The question innately arises - which states provide the optimal environment for nurturing a new business? The 'Business Friendliness Index Score' is a comprehensive score determined by comparing the 50 US states across three key dimensions: 1) Business Environment, 2) Access to Resources, and 3) Business Costs, using 25 relevant metrics.
| Region ↕ | Total Score↕ | Business Environment↕ | Cost of Doing Business↕ | Funding & Resource Availability↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 55.5 | 26.0 | 19.7 | 9.8 |
| Alaska | 50.2 | 25.1 | 17.6 | 7.6 |
| Arizona | 60.5 | 29.0 | 21.2 | 10.4 |
| Arkansas | 53.9 | 24.8 | 19.9 | 9.1 |
| California | 57.8 | 35.6 | 10.9 | 11.3 |
| Colorado | 61.3 | 32.2 | 17.6 | 11.5 |
| Connecticut | 48.3 | 27.2 | 13.5 | 7.6 |
| Delaware | 55.5 | 28.0 | 16.0 | 11.5 |
| Florida | 65.7 | 33.9 | 18.1 | 13.7 |
| Georgia | 62.8 | 29.6 | 20.3 | 13.0 |
| Hawaii | 46.5 | 26.1 | 14.0 | 6.4 |
| Idaho | 60.5 | 30.8 | 20.3 | 9.5 |
| Illinois | 52.6 | 30.0 | 14.1 | 8.5 |
| Indiana | 61.0 | 28.3 | 21.0 | 11.7 |
| Iowa | 57.4 | 26.5 | 22.3 | 8.5 |
| Kansas | 54.4 | 24.5 | 18.6 | 11.2 |
| Kentucky | 58.8 | 28.4 | 21.9 | 8.5 |
| Louisiana | 56.9 | 28.4 | 20.4 | 8.0 |
| Maine | 49.5 | 24.1 | 18.5 | 7.0 |
| Maryland | 49.5 | 25.7 | 15.0 | 8.8 |
| Massachusetts | 55.1 | 31.9 | 10.4 | 12.8 |
| Michigan | 59.4 | 29.4 | 20.6 | 9.4 |
| Minnesota | 56.9 | 29.9 | 17.8 | 9.2 |
| Mississippi | 60.5 | 28.3 | 22.3 | 9.9 |
| Missouri | 59.1 | 25.1 | 23.1 | 10.8 |
| Montana | 55.1 | 29.9 | 17.3 | 7.9 |
| Nebraska | 56.9 | 25.7 | 20.9 | 10.3 |
| Nevada | 60.6 | 29.2 | 23.2 | 8.2 |
| New Hampshire | 48.7 | 26.7 | 13.6 | 8.4 |
| New Jersey | 51.0 | 29.0 | 13.5 | 8.5 |
| New Mexico | 64.0 | 33.7 | 23.1 | 7.2 |
| New York | 51.4 | 28.2 | 12.5 | 10.7 |
| North Carolina | 63.3 | 30.9 | 22.7 | 9.7 |
| North Dakota | 55.3 | 24.7 | 19.6 | 11.1 |
| Ohio | 61.7 | 27.6 | 24.0 | 10.2 |
| Oklahoma | 59.8 | 29.6 | 21.0 | 9.3 |
| Oregon | 63.9 | 38.0 | 18.8 | 7.1 |
| Pennsylvania | 54.2 | 29.3 | 16.0 | 8.8 |
| Rhode Island | 43.3 | 20.3 | 16.3 | 6.6 |
| South Carolina | 59.8 | 27.0 | 21.8 | 11.0 |
| South Dakota | 59.9 | 26.7 | 22.2 | 11.1 |
| Tennessee | 58.4 | 29.2 | 18.1 | 11.2 |
| Texas | 70.2 | 33.1 | 23.0 | 14.1 |
| Utah | 59.1 | 29.7 | 17.7 | 11.7 |
| Vermont | 48.8 | 24.8 | 16.1 | 8.0 |
| Virginia | 60.5 | 29.0 | 19.0 | 12.5 |
| Washington | 60.1 | 29.7 | 21.7 | 8.8 |
| West Virginia | 53.1 | 27.3 | 19.5 | 6.3 |
| Wisconsin | 54.0 | 25.1 | 19.5 | 9.5 |
| Wyoming | 63.0 | 34.1 | 20.0 | 8.8 |
55.5
Ranked in U.S.
#30
Business Environment
26.0
Ranked in U.S.
#39
Cost of Doing Business
19.7
Ranked in U.S.
#23
Funding & Resource Availability
9.8
Ranked in U.S.
#22
50.2
Ranked in U.S.
#43
Business Environment
25.1
Ranked in U.S.
#44
Cost of Doing Business
17.6
Ranked in U.S.
#36
Funding & Resource Availability
7.6
Ranked in U.S.
#43
60.5
Ranked in U.S.
#13
Business Environment
29.0
Ranked in U.S.
#23
Cost of Doing Business
21.2
Ranked in U.S.
#13
Funding & Resource Availability
10.4
Ranked in U.S.
#18
53.9
Ranked in U.S.
#38
Business Environment
24.8
Ranked in U.S.
#45
Cost of Doing Business
19.9
Ranked in U.S.
#22
Funding & Resource Availability
9.1
Ranked in U.S.
#29
57.8
Ranked in U.S.
#25
Business Environment
35.6
Ranked in U.S.
#2
Cost of Doing Business
10.9
Ranked in U.S.
#49
Funding & Resource Availability
11.3
Ranked in U.S.
#10
61.3
Ranked in U.S.
#9
Business Environment
32.2
Ranked in U.S.
#7
Cost of Doing Business
17.6
Ranked in U.S.
#35
Funding & Resource Availability
11.5
Ranked in U.S.
#8
48.3
Ranked in U.S.
#48
Business Environment
27.2
Ranked in U.S.
#33
Cost of Doing Business
13.5
Ranked in U.S.
#47
Funding & Resource Availability
7.6
Ranked in U.S.
#44
55.5
Ranked in U.S.
#31
Business Environment
28.0
Ranked in U.S.
#30
Cost of Doing Business
16.0
Ranked in U.S.
#40
Funding & Resource Availability
11.5
Ranked in U.S.
#9
65.7
Ranked in U.S.
#2
Business Environment
33.9
Ranked in U.S.
#4
Cost of Doing Business
18.1
Ranked in U.S.
#31
Funding & Resource Availability
13.7
Ranked in U.S.
#2
62.8
Ranked in U.S.
#7
Business Environment
29.6
Ranked in U.S.
#16
Cost of Doing Business
20.3
Ranked in U.S.
#19
Funding & Resource Availability
13.0
Ranked in U.S.
#3
46.5
Ranked in U.S.
#49
Business Environment
26.1
Ranked in U.S.
#38
Cost of Doing Business
14.0
Ranked in U.S.
#44
Funding & Resource Availability
6.4
Ranked in U.S.
#49
60.5
Ranked in U.S.
#14
Business Environment
30.8
Ranked in U.S.
#10
Cost of Doing Business
20.3
Ranked in U.S.
#20
Funding & Resource Availability
9.5
Ranked in U.S.
#24
52.6
Ranked in U.S.
#40
Business Environment
30.0
Ranked in U.S.
#11
Cost of Doing Business
14.1
Ranked in U.S.
#43
Funding & Resource Availability
8.5
Ranked in U.S.
#36
61.0
Ranked in U.S.
#10
Business Environment
28.3
Ranked in U.S.
#27
Cost of Doing Business
21.0
Ranked in U.S.
#14
Funding & Resource Availability
11.7
Ranked in U.S.
#6
57.4
Ranked in U.S.
#26
Business Environment
26.5
Ranked in U.S.
#37
Cost of Doing Business
22.3
Ranked in U.S.
#8
Funding & Resource Availability
8.5
Ranked in U.S.
#35
54.4
Ranked in U.S.
#35
Business Environment
24.5
Ranked in U.S.
#48
Cost of Doing Business
18.6
Ranked in U.S.
#29
Funding & Resource Availability
11.2
Ranked in U.S.
#12
58.8
Ranked in U.S.
#23
Business Environment
28.4
Ranked in U.S.
#25
Cost of Doing Business
21.9
Ranked in U.S.
#10
Funding & Resource Availability
8.5
Ranked in U.S.
#34
56.9
Ranked in U.S.
#29
Business Environment
28.4
Ranked in U.S.
#26
Cost of Doing Business
20.4
Ranked in U.S.
#18
Funding & Resource Availability
8.0
Ranked in U.S.
#40
49.5
Ranked in U.S.
#45
Business Environment
24.1
Ranked in U.S.
#49
Cost of Doing Business
18.5
Ranked in U.S.
#30
Funding & Resource Availability
7.0
Ranked in U.S.
#47
49.5
Ranked in U.S.
#44
Business Environment
25.7
Ranked in U.S.
#41
Cost of Doing Business
15.0
Ranked in U.S.
#42
Funding & Resource Availability
8.8
Ranked in U.S.
#33
55.1
Ranked in U.S.
#33
Business Environment
31.9
Ranked in U.S.
#8
Cost of Doing Business
10.4
Ranked in U.S.
#50
Funding & Resource Availability
12.8
Ranked in U.S.
#4
59.4
Ranked in U.S.
#20
Business Environment
29.4
Ranked in U.S.
#18
Cost of Doing Business
20.6
Ranked in U.S.
#17
Funding & Resource Availability
9.4
Ranked in U.S.
#26
56.9
Ranked in U.S.
#27
Business Environment
29.9
Ranked in U.S.
#12
Cost of Doing Business
17.8
Ranked in U.S.
#33
Funding & Resource Availability
9.2
Ranked in U.S.
#28
60.5
Ranked in U.S.
#15
Business Environment
28.3
Ranked in U.S.
#28
Cost of Doing Business
22.3
Ranked in U.S.
#7
Funding & Resource Availability
9.9
Ranked in U.S.
#21
59.1
Ranked in U.S.
#22
Business Environment
25.1
Ranked in U.S.
#42
Cost of Doing Business
23.1
Ranked in U.S.
#4
Funding & Resource Availability
10.8
Ranked in U.S.
#16
55.1
Ranked in U.S.
#34
Business Environment
29.9
Ranked in U.S.
#13
Cost of Doing Business
17.3
Ranked in U.S.
#37
Funding & Resource Availability
7.9
Ranked in U.S.
#42
56.9
Ranked in U.S.
#28
Business Environment
25.7
Ranked in U.S.
#40
Cost of Doing Business
20.9
Ranked in U.S.
#16
Funding & Resource Availability
10.3
Ranked in U.S.
#19
60.6
Ranked in U.S.
#11
Business Environment
29.2
Ranked in U.S.
#20
Cost of Doing Business
23.2
Ranked in U.S.
#2
Funding & Resource Availability
8.2
Ranked in U.S.
#39
48.7
Ranked in U.S.
#47
Business Environment
26.7
Ranked in U.S.
#36
Cost of Doing Business
13.6
Ranked in U.S.
#45
Funding & Resource Availability
8.4
Ranked in U.S.
#38
51.0
Ranked in U.S.
#42
Business Environment
29.0
Ranked in U.S.
#24
Cost of Doing Business
13.5
Ranked in U.S.
#46
Funding & Resource Availability
8.5
Ranked in U.S.
#37
64.0
Ranked in U.S.
#3
Business Environment
33.7
Ranked in U.S.
#5
Cost of Doing Business
23.1
Ranked in U.S.
#3
Funding & Resource Availability
7.2
Ranked in U.S.
#45
51.4
Ranked in U.S.
#41
Business Environment
28.2
Ranked in U.S.
#29
Cost of Doing Business
12.5
Ranked in U.S.
#48
Funding & Resource Availability
10.7
Ranked in U.S.
#17
63.3
Ranked in U.S.
#5
Business Environment
30.9
Ranked in U.S.
#9
Cost of Doing Business
22.7
Ranked in U.S.
#6
Funding & Resource Availability
9.7
Ranked in U.S.
#23
55.3
Ranked in U.S.
#32
Business Environment
24.7
Ranked in U.S.
#47
Cost of Doing Business
19.6
Ranked in U.S.
#24
Funding & Resource Availability
11.1
Ranked in U.S.
#14
61.7
Ranked in U.S.
#8
Business Environment
27.6
Ranked in U.S.
#31
Cost of Doing Business
24.0
Ranked in U.S.
#1
Funding & Resource Availability
10.2
Ranked in U.S.
#20
59.8
Ranked in U.S.
#18
Business Environment
29.6
Ranked in U.S.
#17
Cost of Doing Business
21.0
Ranked in U.S.
#15
Funding & Resource Availability
9.3
Ranked in U.S.
#27
63.9
Ranked in U.S.
#4
Business Environment
38.0
Ranked in U.S.
#1
Cost of Doing Business
18.8
Ranked in U.S.
#28
Funding & Resource Availability
7.1
Ranked in U.S.
#46
54.2
Ranked in U.S.
#36
Business Environment
29.3
Ranked in U.S.
#19
Cost of Doing Business
16.0
Ranked in U.S.
#41
Funding & Resource Availability
8.8
Ranked in U.S.
#32
43.3
Ranked in U.S.
#50
Business Environment
20.3
Ranked in U.S.
#50
Cost of Doing Business
16.3
Ranked in U.S.
#38
Funding & Resource Availability
6.6
Ranked in U.S.
#48
59.8
Ranked in U.S.
#19
Business Environment
27.0
Ranked in U.S.
#34
Cost of Doing Business
21.8
Ranked in U.S.
#11
Funding & Resource Availability
11.0
Ranked in U.S.
#15
59.9
Ranked in U.S.
#17
Business Environment
26.7
Ranked in U.S.
#35
Cost of Doing Business
22.2
Ranked in U.S.
#9
Funding & Resource Availability
11.1
Ranked in U.S.
#13
58.4
Ranked in U.S.
#24
Business Environment
29.2
Ranked in U.S.
#21
Cost of Doing Business
18.1
Ranked in U.S.
#32
Funding & Resource Availability
11.2
Ranked in U.S.
#11
70.2
Ranked in U.S.
#1
Business Environment
33.1
Ranked in U.S.
#6
Cost of Doing Business
23.0
Ranked in U.S.
#5
Funding & Resource Availability
14.1
Ranked in U.S.
#1
59.1
Ranked in U.S.
#21
Business Environment
29.7
Ranked in U.S.
#15
Cost of Doing Business
17.7
Ranked in U.S.
#34
Funding & Resource Availability
11.7
Ranked in U.S.
#7
48.8
Ranked in U.S.
#46
Business Environment
24.8
Ranked in U.S.
#46
Cost of Doing Business
16.1
Ranked in U.S.
#39
Funding & Resource Availability
8.0
Ranked in U.S.
#41
60.5
Ranked in U.S.
#12
Business Environment
29.0
Ranked in U.S.
#22
Cost of Doing Business
19.0
Ranked in U.S.
#27
Funding & Resource Availability
12.5
Ranked in U.S.
#5
60.1
Ranked in U.S.
#16
Business Environment
29.7
Ranked in U.S.
#14
Cost of Doing Business
21.7
Ranked in U.S.
#12
Funding & Resource Availability
8.8
Ranked in U.S.
#31
53.1
Ranked in U.S.
#39
Business Environment
27.3
Ranked in U.S.
#32
Cost of Doing Business
19.5
Ranked in U.S.
#26
Funding & Resource Availability
6.3
Ranked in U.S.
#50
54.0
Ranked in U.S.
#37
Business Environment
25.1
Ranked in U.S.
#43
Cost of Doing Business
19.5
Ranked in U.S.
#25
Funding & Resource Availability
9.5
Ranked in U.S.
#25
63.0
Ranked in U.S.
#6
Business Environment
34.1
Ranked in U.S.
#3
Cost of Doing Business
20.0
Ranked in U.S.
#21
Funding & Resource Availability
8.8
Ranked in U.S.
#30
