Celebrate: California Is Not The Worst

Inc. Magazine is reporting that the 11th annual "Small Business Survival Index" (PDF here) published by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (www.sbsc.org) does not rank California dead last in the nation for small business friendliness. Phew.

The purpose of the survival index, according to Keating, is to compare each state's tax, spending, regulatory, and litigation burden, so that entrepreneurs can make informed decisions about where best to invest in their small business. Plus, Keating hopes state lawmakers use the list to evaluate their states competitive position.

"State policy makers need to pay attention for the sake of their own state's competitiveness and economy," Karen Kerrigan, the SBE Council's president and CEO, said in a statement.

The survey found that the District of Columbia has the least friendly policy environment for entrepreneurs. Other states deemed unfriendly to entrepreneurs include Rhode Island (No. 48), California (No. 49) and New Jersey (No. 50).

Well, as long as New Jersey is worse, we must be doing something right.