Research Outline

Business Friendly States

Goals

To understand the top states that are attracting relocating businesses in the USA and the incentives being offered by such states.

Early Findings

  • Texas is one of the most business-friendly states in the US. The state has attracted about 660 businesses relocating from California over the past two years alone.
  • Arizona is another pro-business state that is attracting businesses seeking to relocate. Between 2015 and 2019, 519 companies relocated to or expanded in the state.
  • Virginia is a very popular pro-business state. CNBC ranked the state as the best state for doing business in 2019. Amazon also chose the state to site its $5 billion second headquarters.
  • North Carolina is also commonly ranked as a business-friendly state, coming third in the CNBC rankings. In 2017, over 150 corporations relocated or expanded in the state.
  • Utah is a business-friendly state that is attracting relocating companies. The state has been raked the best state for business by Forbes six times since 2010, and "hundreds of companies each year" are moving to Utah.