Business group rates state 38th

A Washington D.C.-based small business group says Montana is a poor place for
small business owners, ranking the state 38th in the nation for how it treats small businesses and
entrepreneurs for the second year in a row.

Associated Press

The Small Business Survival Committee ranks states and the District of Columbia on 20 categories it says
affects small business owners. Most of the categories are related to taxes. But other categories include the
number of state bureaucrats and the cost of health care.
Raymond J. Keating, the study’s author, said it’s meant to let state governments know how they stack up to
the rest of the country in how they accommodate small businesses.
"Since small business is the true driving force behind economic growth, every state and local lawmaker
should be concerned with the well being of small business," he said.

Montana was hurt by its capital gains, property, personal income and gas taxes, the report said.
However, the state ranked better in the sales, gross receipt and excise tax categories, the group said.
South Dakota ranked as the most friendly state for businesses, while Hawaii and the District of Columbia
were at the bottom.
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