PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island ranked No. 18 in the country for small-business friendliness in a survey conducted by Thumbtack released Thursday.
Rhode Island earned a grade of C+ in the report, an improvement from the state’s D+ in 2019, the last time the survey was conducted.
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Respondents to the survey gave the state its highest grade, an A+, for its training and networking programs, while it received its lowest scores, two F grades, for its tax code and licensing. The state received D grades for both ease of hiring and ease of starting a business, and D+ grades for its regulations and for its overall employment, labor and hiring.
The survey was based on responses from 3,600 small-business owners in all 50 states, however, only 43 states received grades in the 2021 report.
Maine, New Hampshire and South Carolina ranked as the best states for small-business friendliness this year, all receiving A+ grades.
Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Oregon and Michigan ranked lowest in the survey, all receiving F grades.
New England state grades in the survey:
- Maine: A+, level with its 2019 ranking.
- New Hampshire: A+, a rise from a C- in 2019.
- Massachusetts: B-, a decline from an A in 2019.
- Connecticut: C-, a rise from an F grade in 2019.
- Vermont did not receive a grade in 2021 but was graded with a C- in 2019.
Full results of the survey may be found online.
