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
Some 18th & Vine leaders say losing downtown stadium could have ‘a tremendously negative impact’
Editor’s note: The following story was published by KCUR, Kansas City’s NPR member station, and a fellow member of the KC Media Collective. Click here to read the original story or here to sign up for KCUR’s email newsletter. Businesses were split on their reaction to the vote on April 2 that rejected the extension of a 3/8th-cent sales tax…
Build a bigger bandwagon for women entrepreneurs, founders say; an isolated journey is too lonely
Representation of women in entrepreneurship is critically important, Vanessa Jupe told a crowd gathered this week at Union Station, emphasizing the power of exposure and leading by example to create a stronger, more diverse ecosystem. “If we don’t start businesses, then other women aren’t going to see that as a possibility,” said the founder and…
Designed with minimal parking, KC Current wants you to carpool to team’s next home match
A just-announced tech tool aims to help KC Current fans make sustainable and affordable transportation an easier choice on matchday as the hometown team continues a string of development wins at its new riverfront stadium. Current Carpool — a new feature from the free WAY TO GO trip planning and carpool matching app — connects…
Crossroads small biz owners to Royals: Come back with a better plan (and put it in writing)
It didn’t have to be this way, said Crossroads business owners, blaming Tuesday’s failed stadium sales tax initiative on what they viewed as a lack of transparency and legally binding agreements, too many last-minute deals and changes, and a disregard for community input. Most, however, hope the conversation isn’t entirely finished. Jackson County voters this…
