Report: Missouri is a top 10 state to launch a business
July 5, 2017 | Meghan LeVota
A recent study dubbed Missouri as one of the top 10 states to start a business.
The report was assembled by personal finance website WalletHub and aimed to determine which region held the most fertile grounds for launching an enterprise. Evaluating all 50 states’ business environments, access to resources and business costs, the report ranked Missouri No. 9.
WalletHub analysts determined these numbers by assessing 20 differently-weighted indicators of startup success — with business environment being the most critical to a state’s overall score.
Missouri earned its high ranking due to the state’s business environment, which was ranked No. 10 nationally. This metric was calculated by indicators such as startups per capita, five-year business survival rate, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s entrepreneurship index and more.
Although Missouri fared well overall, the state’s access to resources score is below average. This indicator is calculated via indicators such as financing accessibility, venture capital per capita and human capital availability.
Another area of improvement for Missouri is its total spending on incentives as a share of GDP. The Show Me State ranked 49 out of 50 in this metric, which is calculated by The New York Times’ database of government spending on business incentives.
Kansas nabbed an overall No. 34 ranking in the study. Although below Missouri, Kansas’ access to resources beat out the Show Me State.
Kansas’ business environment — No. 38 nationally — ranked significantly lower than Missouri’s. Yet the state’s access to resources and business costs yielded the Sunflower State a comfortable, middle rank.
North Dakota, Texas and Utah earned the top three spots, respectively.
To see the complete ranking, see the interactive map below.

2017 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
UMKC’s Bloch School announces new Dean
University of Missouri-Kansas City announced last week the appointment of a new Dean for the Henry W. Bloch School of Management. Brian Klaas, Ph.D., is currently senior associate Dean for research and academics and director of the Riegel & Emory Human Resource Center at the Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina. UMKC…
Nile Valley Aquaponics grand opening brings sustainability, hope to community
A sustainable greenhouse with the aim to empower one of Kansas City’s most underserved communities launched on Friday after two years of raising funds and preparation. With partners such as the City of Kansas City, Mo., Kansas City Power and Light, Barkley and HOK, Nile Valley Aquaponics celebrated with an open house at the site…
Royal Street Ventures, Kauffman Foundation announce KC University Venture Program
The early-stage capital scene in Kansas City is getting a youthful shot in the arm. Designed to give Kansas City-area university students interested in entrepreneurship and private finance deep and real-world experience, the newly announced Kansas City University Venture Program aims to create a pipeline of experienced, young early-stage investors. Led by Royal Street Ventures…
Random act of kindness fueled by KC’s startup community goes viral
Openness, willingness, humility, diligence and kindness. These are the words that Donald Carter would use to describe Kansas City’s startup community, which he said had a profound impact on his life perspective. “(These values) are prevalent among all the people from the startup community I’ve met, which made a deep impression on me,” Carter said.…
