Top States for Business: Ranked by CNBC

A while back I reported on a ranking of U.S. states for business "friendliness" from the Small Business and Enterprise Council. This ranking focused on business taxes in each state. Now, CNBC has come up with a ranking of "Top States for Business." Their ranking was based on a weighted list of characteristics, with cost of doing business weighted most heavily, then work force (availability and education level), economy (solid - whatever that means - and diversity of industries), education, quality of life, technology and innovation, transportation, cost of living, business friendliness (regulation and litigation), and access to capital.

It seems to me that any small business owner would rate "access to capital" as of higher importance than "education." I'd put it close to the top. I know from talking with other small business owners that if banks and lenders in the state aren't friendly, they aren't going to be likely to locate there, even if the quality of life is great.

What is interesting is the difference in ranking of some states. For example, Iowa ranked 47th in the first study, and 9th in the CNBC study, with more factors considered. It just goes to show that you need to look at a lot of considerations in your search for a location for a business. What differences do you see between the two rankings for your state?