Categories: 2014 Best & Worst States

Florida is the 2nd Best State for Business 2013

Previous State: Texas Next State: North Carolina

No. 2 Florida

Taxations & Regulations

Workforce Quality

Living Environment

Based on CEO Survey by ChiefExecutive.net

Key Metrics
State GDP % Growth ’10-’11: 0.5 % Growth ’10-’11 v. Nat’l Avg. (1.5%): -1.0 Unemployment Unemployment Rate Dec. 2012 %: 7.9 Comparison with Nat’l Rate (7.80%): 0.1 Domestic Migration Domestic Net Migration ’10-’11: 118,756 Rank: 2 State Government Debt per Capita Fiscal Year ’10 ($): 2,155 State & Local Gov’t Employees per 10k Residents: 489.5 State-Local Tax Burden Rate (%): 7.0 Compared to Nat’l Avg. (9.9%): -2.89

Key Metrics

State GDP

% Growth ’10-’11: 0.5
% Growth ’10-’11 v. Nat’l Avg. (1.5%): -1.0

Unemployment

Unemployment Rate Dec. 2012 %: 7.9
Comparison with Nat’l Rate (7.80%): 0.1

Domestic Migration

Domestic Net Migration ’10-’11: 118,756
Rank: 2

State Government

Debt per Capita Fiscal Year ’10 ($): 2,155
State & Local Gov’t Employees per 10k Residents: 489.5

State-Local Tax Burden

Rate (%): 7.0
Compared to Nat’l Avg. (9.9%): -2.89

Key Companies
Office Depot Inc. NextEra Energy, Inc. Tech Data Carnival Corp. CSX Jabil Circuit World Fuel Services

Development Trend Indicator: Negative
Business now assessing blow of Gov. Scott’s turnabout on Obamacare.

CEO Comments
“Florida is becoming a hot bed for key industry clusters such as aviation, life science, corporate HQs and hedge funds.” “Florida has a warm welcome mat, Governor that is business friendly, less regulatory barriers, competitive incentives.” “Florida offers no combined incentives for the state… Every city is an Island. The startup and small growing business culture is horrible.” “Florida [has the] lowest tax structure, best climate, good governor, focus in reducing unnecessary state and local bureaucracy, improving k-12 education system and great higher education system and access.” “Florida is extremely corrupt. If it was not for the widespread corruption, its business climate would improve.” “Florida has gained significant momentum with the new Governor, who actually has Manufacturing on the top priority list of his agenda.” “Florida under Gov. Rick Scott has been making strides to make the state more business friendly, and Gov. Scott is trying to bring jobs all over the state, not just south Florida and the I-4 corridor.” “Florida has a governor who is committed to job growth and lessening red tape.”

CEO Comments

“Florida is becoming a hot bed for key industry clusters such as aviation, life science, corporate HQs and hedge funds.”

“Florida has a warm welcome mat, Governor that is business friendly, less regulatory barriers, competitive incentives.”

“Florida offers no combined incentives for the state… Every city is an Island. The startup and small growing business culture is horrible.”

“Florida [has the] lowest tax structure, best climate, good governor, focus in reducing unnecessary state and local bureaucracy, improving k-12 education system and great higher education system and access.”

“Florida is extremely corrupt. If it was not for the widespread corruption, its business climate would improve.”

“Florida has gained significant momentum with the new Governor, who actually has Manufacturing on the top priority list of his agenda.”

“Florida under Gov. Rick Scott has been making strides to make the state more business friendly, and Gov. Scott is trying to bring jobs all over the state, not just south Florida and the I-4 corridor.”

“Florida has a governor who is committed to job growth and lessening red tape.”

Sources:
Bureau of Economic Analysis
Bureau of Labor Statistics
NewGeography.com
The Tax Foundation

Previous State: #1 Texas Next State: #3 North Carolina

J.P. Donlon

J.P. Donlon is Editor Emeritus of Chief Executive magazine.