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Taxes
Top personal income tax rate:5%
Top corporate income tax rate:5%
Energy costs
Electricity:8.38 cents/kilowatthour
Gas (avg. price/gallon):$2.08
Labor
Minimum wage:$5.15/hour*
State has no minimum wage. This is the federal minimum wage.
7. Mississippi
Index score: 41.09

Mississippi has no capital gains, estate, or alternative minimum tax. Unemployment taxes, energy costs, living costs, and health-insurance regulations are fairly low. Unfortunately, while "the business climate is great, they've never been able to really capitalize on it," says Kerrigan. One long-term issue is the quality of the education system, which discourages workers from relocating there. A more recent concern is the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. "How risk averse will [entrepreneurs] be in terms of relocating there, given that storm?" Kerrigan asks.
* SBE Council, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit which advocates for reduced government taxes and regulations on small business, tends to lobby for the Republican agenda when it comes to taxes and regulations.
In exclusive rankings for FSB.com from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council*, we looked for places low on taxes and light on government regulations. These places aren't. (more)
Which places are low on taxes? Exclusive rankings for FSB.com from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council.* (more)
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