When considering whether or not to start a small business, there are several factors to keep in mind while determining where you would start your business. Fit Small Business compiled a 2018 ranking of all 50 states to determine the best states to start a small business, using the following categories:
Taxes – This includes corporate, sales, property tax, individual income, and unemployment insurance tax rates. The ranking demonstrates how much you can expect that your business would have to pay in taxes in the state ranked.
Labor Market – This category was assessed by including unemployment rates well as education levels (% of adults ages 25 to 34 who have attained at least a bachelor’s degree). This is meant to measure availability of desirable employees and the overall strength of this market in the state ranked.
Cost of Living – This includes costs of utilities, grocery, healthcare, housing, and transportation.
Quality of Life – This category is based on access to education, physical safety, and healthcare.
Cost to Start a Business – Using per capita income in the state ranked, this is meant to evaluate costs to staff your business as well as the per sq. ft/year cost to rent a commercial building.
Startup Activity – Meant to illustrate how likely new businesses are to succeed or fail in the state ranked, this represents the # and survivability of new businesses in that state.
Access to Capital – This assesses the likelihood of your business attaining startup capital by evaluating the size and # of small business loans granted and by measuring access to capital based on the availability and amount of venture capital funds.
Taking into account these factors, the survey ranked Delaware 27th out of the 50 states, with each of the categories above ranked accordingly:
Taxes: 15 out of 50
Labor Market: 24 out of 50
Cost of Living: 35 out of 50
Quality of Life: 33 out of 50
Cost to Start a business: 12 out of 50
Startup Activity: 48 out of 50
Access to Capital: 9 out of 50
The Delaware LLC is widely considered to be the most flexible type of entity offered by any state or country, but many would warn you to do your homework before deciding to incorporate in Delaware and would also encourage you to choose to operate your business in Delaware if that is where you are incorporating. Why choose Delaware to start and run a business? Well, aside from boasting some of the fastest internet speeds in the country, consider the fact it’s one of the top states for retirees and is the 3rd most bike-friendly state when deciding whether Delaware may be the right place for you and your new business!
Delaware Department of Revenue 820 N French Street #2 Wilmington, DE 19801 P 302-577-8778
The end of the month following the end of each calendar quarter
Annual Report Required?* *(C-Corp & LLC only)
Applicable:
Yes
Rate:
Corporations - $50 for annual report plus franchise tax fees. // LLC's - $300
Corporations - Annually by March 1. The first report is due in the calendar year following initial registration. // LLC's - Annually by June 1. The first report is due in the calendar year following initial registration.
