When it comes to starting a business, location is everything. Some states roll out the red carpet for entrepreneurs, while others practically shut the door in their faces. In 2025, the divide is starker than ever, with sunny Florida reigning supreme and struggling Rhode Island scraping the bottom of the barrel, according to a recent WalletHub study.

Florida: The Land of Opportunity

It’s no surprise that Florida has claimed the top spot for starting a business this year. With an overall score of 59.66, the Sunshine State shines bright thanks to its business-friendly environment, lack of personal income tax, and booming industries like tourism, tech, and healthcare.

Florida ranks #1 in Business Environment, offering:

• Explosive Growth: From bustling beaches to growing cities like Miami and Orlando, markets are as diverse as its population.
• Ease of Doing Business: Forget about complicated regulations—Florida keeps it simple.
• Skilled Workforce: Whether it’s hospitality, tech, or healthcare, there’s plenty of talent to go around.

But it’s not all smooth sailing—Florida’s Business Costs Rank (28th) reminds entrepreneurs to keep an eye on their budgets.

Rhode Island: Dead Last

And then there’s Rhode Island. With a dismal overall score of 33.51, the Ocean State ranks dead last, making it the worst place to launch a business in 2025.

Here’s why Rhode Island flops:

• A Stale Business Environment (#50): Rhode Island’s small size isn’t just geographical—it’s economic, too. Scaling businesses here face limited market opportunities and sluggish innovation.
• Weak Resources (#40): Good luck finding funding or skilled workers. Entrepreneurs often hit a wall when it comes to accessing the tools they need to succeed.
• Sky-High Costs (#40): Taxes, rent, utilities—you name it, Rhode Island makes it expensive. For cash-strapped startups, these costs can be deal-breakers.

Rhode Island’s (Missed) Potential

Rhode Island isn’t all bad—on paper, at least. Its strategic location near Boston and New York could be a game-changer, offering access to major markets. The state is also seeing pockets of growth in renewable energy and advanced manufacturing. But until policy changes address the sky-high costs and lack of resources, don’t expect a business boom anytime soon.

Other States to Watch

• Georgia (#2): Affordable costs and a booming economy make it a top contender.
• Utah (#3): Silicon Slopes continue to rise, though higher costs (29th) raise eyebrows.
• Mississippi (#14): If you’re looking to cut costs, this is your spot. Mississippi boasts the lowest business costs in the nation.

Bottom Line

Florida is the clear winner for 2025, offering entrepreneurs a golden ticket to success. Meanwhile, Rhode Island’s low ranking should be a wake-up call for policymakers. Until the state tackles its high costs and lack of support for small businesses, it’ll remain a tough sell for startups.

So, whether you’re chasing your dreams or crunching numbers, choose your state wisely—your success might just depend on it.

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Related

While the First Amendment protects free speech rights, courts have ruled that the government can place reasonable restrictions on the time, place and manner of expression.

“The question is whether, in this particular instance, it was a pretext for denying the free speech rights of this group,” Brown said. It’s significant, he said, that “the rotunda was not, in fact, used in any meaningful way during that whole period of time,” during which McKee delivered his speech in the House chamber.

People used to be prohibited from using the rotunda for rallies or protests, Brown said. But in 1973, a group working on poverty issues, including the Sisters of Mercy and Sister Mary Reilly, went to the State House to pray, chant and sing in protest of then-Governor Philip Noel’s proposed budget cuts to programs that served the poor. Noel’s administration had them removed, claiming the prayer services were too loud and disruptive.

So the ACLU filed a lawsuit. And in a 1974 decision, then-US District Court Judge Raymond J. Pettine ruled for Sister Reilly, stating, “I find that the State House rotunda is a public forum appropriate for the exercise of these First Amendment rights.”

On Jan. 14, protesters came to the State House to call for McKee, a Democrat, to declare a public health emergency to help homeless people during the cold weather — a step he has rejected, saying it would not unlock any additional funding. The protesters also were calling for raising taxes on the richest 1 percent of Rhode Islanders.

Tuttle said that after he got to the State House, Capitol Police eventually told him he was banned from the rotunda, by name, per orders of the governor. The rotunda was roped off with a sign that read, “This space has been reserved for the State of the State through the Department of Administration” from 4:30 to 10 p.m. And State Police and Capitol Police blocked each rotunda entrance.

Tuttle said police told protesters to use the first-floor Bell Room, and they would not allow speakers to use a microphone. Protesters eventually began to march around the first floor, chanting “Whose house? Our house!” But Tuttle said the police told the protesters they could not continue to march, and police later escorted him from the second floor, threatening him with arrest.

“I believe that the governor of Rhode Island exercised his power to restrict Rhode Islanders from providing an alternative view as to what the state of the state actually is,” Tuttle said. “We talk about Rhode Islanders living paycheck to paycheck, how buying a home is completely out of the question for a majority of Rhode Islanders.”

The McKee administration also blocked TV news cameras from the House chamber during the State of the State speech, meaning the only broadcast camera was from the state-controlled Capitol TV. A McKee spokesperson later said there was “miscommunication resulting from a transition in staff” and TV cameras would be allowed in the chamber again next year.

But Brown said, “It was really a double whammy for the First Amendment that night. It was really troubling to see both of those things happen at the same time.”

Brown said the message for McKee regarding future protests should be clear: “Freedom of speech is the cornerstone of any democracy, including here at the state level,” he said. “Governors and all public officials should do their best to respect the rights of individuals to exercise that right to free speech, to criticize government actions, as has happened here. The State House is just too important a symbolic place to try to stifle the exercise of free speech.”

To get the latest episode each week, follow Rhode Island Report podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcasting platforms, or listen in the player above.

Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at edward.fitzpatrick@globe.com. Follow him @FitzProv.

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 20, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 20 drawing

15-16-32-47-54, Powerball: 06, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 20 drawing

04-08-12-22-35, Lucky Ball: 15

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Jan. 20 drawing

Midday: 5-1-8-1

Evening: 3-5-0-0

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Jan. 20 drawing

03-18-21-28-31, Extra: 19

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

• Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
• Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
• Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.

When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?

• Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
• Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
• Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
• Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
• Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
• Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.