How entrepreneur-friendly is New Hampshire?

Individuals thinking of starting their own small business may find the government policies of a number of other states more welcoming than New Hampshire’s, according to the results of a survey conducted by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council.

The 2006 SBEC Small Business Survival Index found New Hampshire’s public policy environment to rank 18th when it comes to being an entrepreneur-friendly state. The state’s tax policy was ranked 20th, and its energy costs were ranked 47th.

South Dakota, Nevada and Wyoming were listed as the three most entrepreneur-friendly, while Washington, D.C., New Jersey and California were listed as the least friendly to entrepreneurs.

New Hampshire fared the best of all New England states on the comprehensive list, which had Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine and Rhode Island ranked at No. 42, 43, 47 and 48, respectively. Connecticut was ranked 32nd.

In terms of tax policy, New Hampshire’s 20th-place ranking also was ahead of the other New England states, with Connecticut listed at 28; Vermont, 39; Massachusetts, 41; Rhode Island, 46; and Maine 47.

Only Hawaii, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Alaska ranked below New Hampshire when it came to energy costs, however.

The 11th annual Small Business Survival Index rated 50 states and Washington, D.C. according to the impact, on their small businesses and entrepreneurs, of 29 government-imposed or government-related costs including income, capital gains and property taxes, health-care insurance regulations, minimum wage and Right to Work legislation.

To view the results of the 2006 SBEC’s Small Business Survival Index visit www.sbsc.org/home. — TRACIE STONE