Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Best State To Start A Business?

Utah Ranks #1 as Best State to Start a Business

WalletHub releases list of 2023’s best & worst states to start a business.

Source: Adam McCann, Financial Writer — Wallet Hub

Starting a business is never easy. According to US Bureau of Labor Statistics data, about a fifth of all startups typically don’t survive past year one of operation, and nearly half never make it to their fifth anniversary. Staying afloat is difficult even under normal conditions, and even more so when dealing with a global pandemic, the highest inflation in decades and labor shortages.

Outside of the current difficult economic conditions, there are plenty of other reasons that startups fail, with a “bad location” among the most common. Choosing the right state for a business is therefore crucial to its success. A state that provides the ideal conditions for business creation — access to cash, skilled workers and affordable office space, for instance — can help new ventures not only take off but also thrive.

In this study, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 27 key indicators of startup success to determine the most fertile grounds in which to launch and grow an enterprise.

Main Findings

State	Rank
Utah	1
Florida	2
Texas	3
Colorado	4
Idaho	5
Georgia	6
Arizona	7
Nevada	8
Oklahoma	9
California	10
North Carolina	11
Montana	12
Maine	13
Kentucky	14
Washington	15
South Carolina	16
Tennessee	17
South Dakota	18
Massachusetts	19
Mississippi	20
Michigan	21
Hawaii	22
Indiana	23
Arkansas	24
Nebraska	25
Illinois	26
Iowa	27
Alabama	28
Louisiana	29
New Mexico	30
New York	31
Oregon	32
Vermont	33
Delaware	34
Ohio	35
Kansas	36
Wisconsin	37
Minnesota	38
New Hampshire	39
Missouri	40
Maryland	41
Virginia	42
North Dakota	43
Pennsylvania	44
Wyoming	45
Rhode Island	46
New Jersey	47
West Virginia	48
Connecticut	49
Alaska	50

Best States to Start a Business

Overall Rank	State	Total Score	Business Environment	Access to Resources	Business Costs
1	Utah	59.91	7	1	32
2	Florida	59.21	1	14	24
3	Texas	56.85	3	12	31
4	Colorado	56.14	4	7	35
5	Idaho	55.88	9	21	10
6	Georgia	55.37	5	26	19
7	Arizona	53.79	6	22	30
8	Nevada	53.54	12	11	26
9	Oklahoma	53.12	28	19	1
10	California	52.97	2	2	49
11	North Carolina	52.90	11	17	20
12	Montana	52.86	15	28	7
13	Maine	51.73	10	41	18
14	Kentucky	50.68	24	36	4
15	Washington	50.60	13	3	41
16	South Carolina	49.99	18	35	17
17	Tennessee	49.90	14	40	21
18	South Dakota	49.70	34	25	5
19	Massachusetts	49.42	17	4	44
20	Mississippi	49.37	43	30	2
21	Michigan	49.32	36	24	6
22	Hawaii	48.95	8	15	43
23	Indiana	47.75	29	42	11
24	Arkansas	47.65	25	49	9
25	Nebraska	46.92	32	39	16
26	Illinois	46.89	39	6	37
27	Iowa	46.84	31	27	23
28	Alabama	46.51	38	47	8
29	Louisiana	46.29	40	43	12
30	New Mexico	46.12	33	46	14
31	New York	46.10	19	5	47
32	Oregon	46.03	16	18	40
33	Vermont	45.79	35	23	29
34	Delaware	45.48	23	9	42
35	Ohio	45.21	45	37	13
36	Kansas	44.68	44	44	15
37	Wisconsin	44.43	46	31	22
38	Minnesota	44.17	27	32	33
39	New Hampshire	43.71	21	38	39
40	Missouri	43.69	48	34	25
41	Maryland	43.65	20	10	48
42	Virginia	43.38	26	29	38
43	North Dakota	43.34	37	45	27
44	Pennsylvania	42.84	42	20	34
45	Wyoming	42.66	41	48	28
46	Rhode Island	42.03	47	16	36
47	New Jersey	41.63	22	13	50
48	West Virginia	40.56	50	50	3
49	Connecticut	39.97	49	8	46
50	Alaska	39.44	30	33	45

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that state, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.
Published by Utah Business Magazine

Utah ranks #1 as best state to start a business - Utah Business

Read the full article on WalletHub here.

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

The Best Place To Buy A Vacation Home in The U.S.

This Destination Is the Best-kept Secret in Utah —

and One of the Top Places to Buy a Vacation Home in the U.S.

Find red-rock canyons, snow-capped mountains, and excellent real estate value in Utah's Washington County.

Written By:

Dobrina Zhekova

Published on January 5, 2023 By Travel & Leisure

There are few places in the country where visitors can admire landscapes as varied and dramatic as Washington County. As the home of four state parks and Zion National Park, Utah's Greater Zion region stuns travelers with snow-capped mountain peaks, red-rock canyons, and sandy dunes, along with many vibrant communities that recently won Washington County the title of the best place to buy a luxury vacation home in the U.S.

"Washington County was a well-kept secret for a very long time for local Utahns who came to the area to recreate and retire," Misty Murphy, a broker with Windermere Real Estate/Luxury Portfolio International, told Travel + Leisure. Murphy, who moved to the area 20 years ago in pursuit of rock climbing and never left, refers to Greater Zion as "the new Sedona with more to offer."

"Washington County boasts the stunning Zion National Park, Snow Canyon State Park, and is close to four reservoirs, world-renowned hiking, biking, off-roading, rock climbing, and golfing. The weather is exceptional most of the year, with only a few hot and cold months," she explained.

Greater Zion is a geological gem. It is where the Mojave Desert, the Colorado Plateau, and the Great Basin converge and where the Pine Valley Mountains rise 10,365 feet into Utah's clear blue skies. Adventure seekers, including water sports enthusiasts, can speed down the state's longest zip line in Green Valley or dive into the emerald waters of Sand Hollow reservoir. And while the region's many hiking and biking trails are a great way to get the heart pumping, rock climbing, ATV tours (Sand Mountain has more than 20,000 acres of red dunes and rock formations), boating, and mountain biking (Gooseberry Mesa is a National Recreation Trail) are also great options.

Zion National Park may be the region's crown jewel, but the four state parks on Washington County's territory provide an equally stunning back for various recreational activities. Snow Canyon State Park, with its lava formations and red sandstone cliffs, has more than 38 miles of trails and is steeped in Native American history. Fishing enthusiasts, paddle boarders, and kayakers should head to Quail Creek State Park and Sand Hollow. And Gunlock State Park is home to a 266-acre swimmable reservoir, also famous for its waterfalls spilling over red-rock ledges.

And if you're not a fan of roughing it, Washington County still has plenty to keep you busy. With nearly 40 art galleries and museums, 14 golf courses, and entertainment venues including the stunning Tuacahn Center for the Arts set in the red rocks, it's easy to see why this region is becoming more and more popular with out-of-state second-home buyers. Also, let's not forget that the area is only a couple of hours away from Las Vegas and its world-class dining and shopping.

"During the pandemic, when recreational travel by plane came to a halt, people loaded up in their cars to visit national and state parks," Murphy explained. She added that the most popular types of properties are furnished turnkey homes with access to resort-style amenities such as tennis and pickleball courts and pools.

"There is also a high demand for nightly rental properties where the homebuyer can profit while the home is not being occupied by themselves or family," she said.

Some of the most sought-after neighborhoods in Washington County are Kayenta in Ivins, which borders the Shivwits Indian Reservation. Homes in this zero-light pollution community have unobstructed views of the surrounding towering red cliffs and enjoy spectacular stargazing opportunities at night.

Investors flock to Desert Color in St. George, a short-term rental community with a private lagoon; and Black Desert Resort in Ivins, an in-progress, mixed-use development with a 19-hole golf course framed by black lava rocks, retail, a hotel, and a spa.

St. George, the largest city in Greater Zion, caters to urbanites seeking fantastic dining and shopping options. The town is home to a vibrant arts district and is a golfer's paradise with eight golf courses. Another draw? St. George has the only year-round bike park in Utah, Snake Hollow Bike Park.

Other noteworthy areas and communities include Hurricane, with three golf courses; and the Alpine region, with its quaint rural towns and many outdoor activities such as water sports and hiking.

Written By:

Dobrina Zhekova

Published on January 5, 2023 By Travel & Leisure

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Best College Towns In The Nation

Three Utah cities listed among best college towns in nation

Three Utah cities were named among the best towns for college students by WalletHub. Salt Lake City was ranked No. 5 in the nation among midsize cities and Provo and Orem ranked No. 3 and No. 5 respectively for small cities.

The WalletHub study compared more than 400 cities with 32 key metrics split into three categories: wallet friendliness, social environment, and academic and economic opportunities. The metrics included housing costs, cost of living, population, retail, crime, job growth, and more.

“As student expenses can reach over $30,000 for a 12-month period, students should try to find the most bang for their buck,” WalletHub said. “That’s especially true during the current period of high inflation, as money is tight for many people.”

Salt Lake City, home to the University of Utah, ranked No. 17 overall in the United States, earning notable praise for the capital city’s social environment. WalletHub ranked Salt Lake’s social environment No. 28 overall while its wallet friendliness and opportunities scored slightly above average.

According to the U’s tuition cost estimate, for residents, an academic year is $9,000 while the price tag comes in just over $30,000 for non-Utah residents.

Provo's BYU

Provo, home to Brigham Young University, ranked No. 7 overall and notably ranked second in the nation for the lowest cost of higher education. Provo scored particularly well in wallet friendliness and academic and economic opportunities, ranking No. 25 and No. 73 respectively. The BYU city ranked just above average in social environment.

BYU’s tuition for an undergraduate degree comes in at $6,300 for Latter-Day Saints. For non-Latter-Day Saints, an undergraduate degree comes in at a relatively affordable $12,600.

Orem's Utah Valley University

Utah Valley University is found in the city of Orem, which ranked No. 12 overall, earning WalletHub praise for its academic and economic opportunities (No. 23). The UVU ranked above average for its wallet friendliness (No. 134), but below average for its social environment (No. 270).

Utah residents for UVU can expect to pay just over $5,600 a year for tuition while non-resident costs spike to just over $17,000.

Posted By: SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4) –

Salt Lake Real Estate

lindasecrist.com

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Best State To Start A Business?

Utah Ranks #1 as Best State to Start a Business

WalletHub releases list of 2023’s best & worst states to start a business.

Main Findings

Best States to Start a Business

Read the full article on WalletHub here.

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

The Best Place To Buy A Vacation Home in The U.S.

This Destination Is the Best-kept Secret in Utah —

and One of the Top Places to Buy a Vacation Home in the U.S.

Find red-rock canyons, snow-capped mountains, and excellent real estate value in Utah's Washington County.

READ MORE:

READ MORE HERE:

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Best College Towns In The Nation

Three Utah cities listed among best college towns in nation

Provo's BYU

Orem's Utah Valley University

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Best State To Start A Business?

Utah Ranks #1 as Best State to Start a Business

WalletHub releases list of 2023’s best & worst states to start a business.

Main Findings

Best States to Start a Business

Read the full article on WalletHub here.

Tuesday, January 10, 2023

The Best Place To Buy A Vacation Home in The U.S.

This Destination Is the Best-kept Secret in Utah —

and One of the Top Places to Buy a Vacation Home in the U.S.

Find red-rock canyons, snow-capped mountains, and excellent real estate value in Utah's Washington County.

Washington County

Greater Zion

TURN-KEY RENTALS:

St George:

READ MORE:

READ MORE HERE:

Wednesday, January 4, 2023

Best College Towns In The Nation

Three Utah cities listed among best college towns in nation

Salt Lake City is a soccer city according to new study

Provo's BYU

Orem's Utah Valley University