Likely-employer business applications per 1,000: U.S. states ranked
Measure: Likely-employer business applications per 1,000 residents (derived). All 50 states and District of Columbia with data in New business applications by state, 2025, ranked from highest to lowest. Reference period: 2025.
National value: 5 (United States).
- Lowest: 2.9 to 3.7
- Group 2: 3.7 to 4
- Group 3: 4 to 4.4
- Group 4: 4.4 to 5.5
- Highest: 5.5 to 34.9
Rank is derived by Quadranac: 1 = highest value; ties share a rank. The ranked value is itself derived; see the source table for the method. Values are as published in the source table.
Note: Wyoming and Delaware draw many applications from out-of-state owners because of their incorporation rules.
| 1 | Wyoming | 34.9 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Delaware | 19.6 |
| 3 | Florida | 8.7 |
| 4 | Colorado | 7.1 |
| 5 | Montana | 6.9 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | 6.3 |
| 7 | Georgia | 6.2 |
| 8 | New York | 5.9 |
| 9 | California | 5.5 |
| 9 | Nevada | 5.5 |
| 9 | Utah | 5.5 |
| 12 | Idaho | 5.1 |
| 13 | New Mexico | 5 |
| 14 | Arizona | 4.9 |
| 14 | New Jersey | 4.9 |
| 16 | Mississippi | 4.8 |
| 16 | Texas | 4.8 |
| 18 | Maryland | 4.7 |
| 19 | Illinois | 4.6 |
| 19 | North Carolina | 4.6 |
| 21 | South Carolina | 4.4 |
| 22 | Virginia | 4.3 |
| 23 | Tennessee | 4.2 |
| 24 | Hawaii | 4.1 |
| 24 | Louisiana | 4.1 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | 4.1 |
| 24 | Missouri | 4.1 |
| 24 | Oregon | 4.1 |
| 29 | Connecticut | 4 |
| 29 | Michigan | 4 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | 4 |
| 29 | Washington | 4 |
| 33 | Alaska | 3.9 |
| 33 | Indiana | 3.9 |
| 33 | South Dakota | 3.9 |
| 33 | Vermont | 3.9 |
| 37 | Arkansas | 3.8 |
| 37 | Minnesota | 3.8 |
| 39 | Kansas | 3.7 |
| 39 | New Hampshire | 3.7 |
| 39 | Rhode Island | 3.7 |
| 42 | North Dakota | 3.6 |
| 42 | Ohio | 3.6 |
| 44 | Alabama | 3.5 |
| 44 | Kentucky | 3.5 |
| 44 | Maine | 3.5 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania | 3.5 |
| 48 | Nebraska | 3.3 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | 3.3 |
| 50 | Iowa | 3 |
| 51 | West Virginia | 2.9 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics, Business Formation Statistics, monthly state data (bfs_monthly.csv), series BA_BA and BA_HBA, not seasonally adjusted, 2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, July 1, 2025 resident population (denominator). Reference period: 2025.
Cite this ranking
U.S. states ranked by likely-employer business applications per 1,000 residents (derived) (2025). Data: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics, Business Formation Statistics, monthly state data (bfs_monthly.csv), series BA_BA and BA_HBA, not seasonally adjusted, 2025; rank derived by Quadranac. Data last updated 2026-11-09. https://quadranac.com/rankings/us-states-by-likely-employer-business-applications-per-1000-residents/