Best/Worst States for Business 2012: Biggest Losses from 2008

“Oregon, is a great place to start a business, but all successful businesses move out when the founder leaves. And so does he. The tax structure drives all movable wealth out of the state.”

“Oregon, where my business is located, makes it nearly impossible to grow a business because of the tax laws here. We have a 9% state personal income tax that drives good people from the state. Washington, our neighbor, has no income tax and forces high-income quality people to move out of our state and contribute to the neighbor state. With no sales tax in Oregon, we do not capture any tourist income or other non-resident income. Our economy is on the backs of the residents and, in a state with a relatively small population, it is hard on the residents to maintain the infrastructure needed to grow businesses.”

“We are moving our headquarters from Oregon to Texas. We looked at all of the other surrounding states to Oregon and found that in order to get pro business environment, quality workforce and great living environment we needed to move into the southern US.”

“Oregon has taken the approach during the recession that since business tax revenues and personal tax revenues are down, it is not their job to help ease the burden and create easier competitive environment, but instead to increase taxes and regulatory fees to keep government in place. That attitude has crushed many businesses in Oregon and caused much of our customer base to leave the state.”