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California: Not So Nice to Small Businesses, Nicer Than NY

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The Small Business Survival Index is out and California ranks 48th in "business friendlieness," according to the Orange County Register.Are we really that mean to small business? When ranking the costs that most impact smaller companies, the answer is a resounding yes. The main reason? Taxes, taxes, taxes. Income taxes, capital gains taxes and unemployment taxes in California have not been kind to California small business owners and many are leaving the state for more tax-friendly climates.

California has ranked 49th on the same index for the past four years, Raymond Keating, who compiles the index, was quick to point out that a bump up to the 48th spot doesn't mean we've improved. Our step into 48th "certainly wasn't anything the state did; it's more a case that New York did dumber things."

At a time when our state is in serious financial straits, anytime we can claim we're "less dumb" than New York is something to celebrate. Ah, small victories.

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

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