Small Business Owners Give Maryland a C- for Business Friendliness
Maryland has a long way to go to in creating a friendly climate for small business.
A new survey from the online business service provider, Thumbtack, gave Maryland a grade of C- for overall friendliness to small business.
“After a two-month survey of thousands of small business owners nationwide, we’ve heard directly from Maryland’s small businesses that the state could do more to support them,” said Jon Lieber, Chief Economist of Thumbtack. “Creating a business climate that is welcoming to small, dynamic businesses is more important than ever, and Maryland has more to do to get there.”
In concert with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Thumbtack conducted a national survey using data from 12,000 small business owners.
The Thumbtack study concluded:
- Maryland earned a C- for its friendliness to small business.
- Maryland received five D+ grades out of the eleven categories we rated.
- Maryland did very poorly in the regulations rating, earning a D+ for its regulatory friendliness.
- Maryland had one of the best grades in the country for its training and networking programs, earning a rare A+.
- Small businesses in Maryland were the 8th most prepared in the nation for the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
The interactive map allows you to read some of the responses from Maryland business owners. The negative comments outweigh the positive. Business owners complained of Maryland’s high tax rates and burdensome regulations, although the state earned top marks for training and networking programs.
Maryland small businesses pay the seventh highest marginal tax rates in the nation.
Utah, Idaho, Texas, Virginia and Louisiana ranked the highest on the survey, while Rhode Island, Illinois, California, Connecticut and New Jersey ranked at the bottom.
On previous Thumbtack surveys, Maryland earned a grade of C in 2013, and C- in 2012.
