Last month, WalletHub, a personal finance company, ranked Nevada only 32nd in its Most & Least Innovative States (2024) report. But how business friendly is it in other categories?

A look at other media and think-tank producers of similar studies shows Nevada getting about the same marks. So, what does it mean? “All of these surveys serve as a good starting point for discussions among state policymakers,” said Tray Abney, Nevada state director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). “But it’s important to note the criteria used before making any definitive conclusions.”

Below is a sample of where Nevada ranks in other reports:

• 7–Tax Foundation’s 2024 State Business Tax Climate Index
• 7–American Legislative Exchange Council’s Rich States Poor States (2024)
• C–Truth in Accounting’s Financial State of the States 2023
• 25–Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom Index
• 30–CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business
• 32–Wallet Hub Most & Least Innovative States (2024)
• 38–Forbes Best States to Start a Small Business (2024)
• 38–US News’ Best States 2023

NFIB does not rank states. Instead, it ranks environments and conditions for small businesses as a whole across the nation. Its most prestigious report, called the gold standard measurement of the Main Street economy, is the monthly Small Business Economic Trends (SBET) report, also known as the Optimism Index.

“The SBET is one of the few archival data sets on small businesses, particularly when research questions address business operations rather than opinions,” according to this one-page history of SBET. “Today, it’s the largest, longest-running data set on small business economic conditions available.”

All of NFIB’s research, such as the SBET, monthly Jobs Report, quadrennial Small Business Problems & Priorities, and other studies can be found at https://www.nfib.com/foundations/research-center/