Fairfield County — with a B- — scored the highest grade of Connecticut metropolitan areas in the Thumbtack survey. The grade was up from an F last year, with a B in ease of hiring and an F in training and networking.
The New Haven area earned an F as did the Hartford region, which got the lowest score of any metropolitan area in the nation.
Statewide, Connecticut earned failing grades in nearly every category, with barely passing marks only for ease of hiring, licensing and ease of starting a business.
Here are the categories and grades for the Nutmeg state:
- F: Overall friendliness
- D+: Ease of starting a business
- C-: Ease of hiring
- F: Regulations
- F: Health & safety
- F: Employment, labor & hiring
- F: Tax code
- C-: Licensing
- F: Environmental
- F: Zoning
- F: Training & networking programs
“Connecticut small businesses tell us the environment is extremely challenging for small business owners, and that the state isn't offering enough support to navigate the difficult regulatory environment," Jon Lieber, chief economist of Thumbtack, said in a statement.
Only Rhode Island and Illinois received lower grades than Connecticut. Last year, Connecticut earned a D, ranking it 35th nationally.
The top states this year are Texas and New Hampshire, with Manchester, N.H., and Dallas ranked as the best municipalities.
When it came to business sentiment, small businesses int the same survey felt "somewhat positive" and ranked 33rd in the nation, The top problems in Connecticut in that portion of the survey were:
- Uncertain economic conditions: 25.7%
- Taxes: 21.4%
- Other: 12.9%
- Access to credit: 10%
- Consumer confidence: 8.6%
Thumbtack works with small businesses to find new customers and grow. The full survey for Connecticut can be found at the Thumbtack.com website.
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