By Deba Uwadiae
Ohio State has been ranked as number 1 state in the CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business in 2026. Other states ranked among the 50 states include North Carolina as second, Virginia as third, Texas as fourth, and Minnesota as fifth.
To rank America’s Top States for Business in 2026, CNBC scored all 50 states on 138 metrics in 10 broad categories of competitiveness. The fundamentals of the study, now in its 20th year, remain the same: identifying the factors companies consider when making site selection decisions, and where states are focusing their economic development efforts to win jobs and business. Each category is weighted based on how frequently states use them as a selling point.
The Top States categories have been largely consistent since our first study in 2007, but we re-weight our categories annually to reflect market dynamics. The biggest change in 2026: Infrastructure is our top-weighted category, as companies pursue strategic locations close to transport hubs, top utilities, access to fresh water, and abundant energy to power things like advanced manufacturing and data centers. And they want it all without red tape. For the first time in 2026, we are factoring ease of permitting into our rankings.
Economy, last year’s top category as President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda took shape, slips to second place, followed by Workforce. A national skills gap remains, but the job market has cooled and AI has boosted productivity.
Under our methodology, states can earn a maximum of 2,500 points. The states with the most points are America’s Top States for Business.
America’s Top States for Business 2026
| Overall | State | Infra- structure | Economy | Workforce | Quality of Life | Cost of Doing Business | Technolgy & Innovation | Business Friendliness | Access to Capital | Education | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio | 1 | 9 | 35 | 18 | 1 | 10 | 16 | 9 | 23 | 9 |
| 2 | North Carolina | 13 | 1 | 3 | 34 | 20 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 12 | 35 |
| 3 | Virginia | 2 | 23 | 10 | 7 | 26 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 5 | 15 |
| 4 | Texas | 12 | 2 | 1 | 49 | 5 | 3 | 23 | 2 | 32 | 30 |
| 5 | Minnesota | 7 | 8 | 27 | 4 | 31 | 14 | 16 | 21 | 10 | 22 |
| 6 | Michigan | 9 | 24 | 21 | 15 | 4 | 17 | 27 | 13 | 29 | 11 |
| 7 | Georgia | 5 | 17 | 9 | 46 | 11 | 15 | 21 | 8 | 13 | 35 |
| 8 | Florida | 32 | 11 | 2 | 30 | 15 | 10 | 33 | 4 | 29 | 48 |
| 9 | Tennessee | 6 | 11 | 7 | 50 | 9 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 45 | 15 |
| 10 | Indiana | 4 | 27 | 32 | 48 | 2 | 16 | 10 | 20 | 25 | 6 |
| 11 | Washington | 16 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 47 | 4 | 40 | 11 | 37 | 41 |
| 12 | Illinois | 3 | 29 | 31 | 22 | 23 | 12 | 44 | 12 | 7 | 41 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | 11 | 21 | 39 | 17 | 17 | 5 | 42 | 7 | 17 | 11 |
| 14 | Arizona | 8 | 22 | 4 | 36 | 35 | 25 | 13 | 18 | 43 | 33 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | 24 | 16 | 26 | 10 | 49 | 8 | 27 | 6 | 1 | 39 |
| 16 | Utah | 28 | 13 | 5 | 45 | 25 | 26 | 5 | 22 | 45 | 26 |
| 17 | California | 26 | 3 | 17 | 29 | 46 | 1 | 47 | 1 | 20 | 50 |
| 18 | New York | 13 | 4 | 50 | 19 | 41 | 2 | 49 | 3 | 7 | 41 |
| 19 | Iowa | 15 | 37 | 38 | 20 | 8 | 23 | 14 | 39 | 23 | 6 |
| 20 | Wyoming | 37 | 14 | 36 | 24 | 29 | 36 | 2 | 35 | 2 | 5 |
| 21 | Alabama | 10 | 31 | 14 | 43 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 27 | 41 | 3 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | 24 | 10 | 29 | 40 | 11 | 30 | 26 | 26 | 13 | 15 |
| 23 | Connecticut | 29 | 34 | 25 | 5 | 40 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 4 | 44 |
| 23 | South Carolina | 27 | 6 | 8 | 36 | 31 | 28 | 38 | 31 | 19 | 37 |
| 25 | Colorado | 32 | 28 | 10 | 14 | 38 | 6 | 29 | 17 | 37 | 49 |
| 26 | Nebraska | 36 | 26 | 18 | 10 | 17 | 45 | 9 | 37 | 20 | 29 |
| 27 | Kentucky | 17 | 37 | 22 | 30 | 10 | 29 | 32 | 31 | 25 | 14 |
| 28 | Arkansas | 23 | 20 | 13 | 41 | 17 | 36 | 31 | 27 | 36 | 19 |
| 29 | North Dakota | 34 | 42 | 46 | 9 | 22 | 42 | 1 | 45 | 11 | 2 |
| 30 | Idaho | 45 | 14 | 16 | 28 | 28 | 34 | 12 | 40 | 47 | 22 |
| 31 | New Jersey | 41 | 31 | 19 | 3 | 38 | 20 | 50 | 13 | 2 | 39 |
| 32 | Delaware | 41 | 7 | 12 | 21 | 41 | 27 | 46 | 25 | 43 | 15 |
| 33 | Nevada | 20 | 19 | 22 | 39 | 34 | 38 | 15 | 23 | 49 | 37 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | 43 | 43 | 15 | 7 | 36 | 45 | 6 | 41 | 9 | 26 |
| 35 | Maine | 47 | 39 | 33 | 2 | 23 | 38 | 24 | 43 | 5 | 28 |
| 36 | Maryland | 17 | 49 | 30 | 12 | 44 | 13 | 33 | 15 | 16 | 30 |
| 37 | Kansas | 31 | 46 | 39 | 36 | 15 | 32 | 3 | 34 | 13 | 6 |
| 38 | Missouri | 21 | 29 | 49 | 44 | 5 | 24 | 38 | 19 | 37 | 10 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | 21 | 41 | 42 | 41 | 3 | 30 | 18 | 33 | 48 | 19 |
| 40 | Vermont | 37 | 35 | 33 | 1 | 37 | 48 | 18 | 42 | 22 | 21 |
| 41 | New Mexico | 29 | 33 | 20 | 32 | 29 | 40 | 35 | 37 | 32 | 33 |
| 42 | Oregon | 17 | 39 | 24 | 22 | 43 | 18 | 43 | 27 | 34 | 45 |
| 43 | Mississippi | 34 | 36 | 48 | 26 | 13 | 43 | 36 | 35 | 41 | 11 |
| 44 | South Dakota | 44 | 45 | 47 | 33 | 14 | 50 | 3 | 46 | 28 | 3 |
| 45 | Montana | 48 | 18 | 36 | 35 | 33 | 35 | 40 | 46 | 18 | 30 |
| 46 | West Virginia | 40 | 48 | 44 | 24 | 27 | 44 | 30 | 49 | 25 | 1 |
| 47 | Louisiana | 39 | 47 | 45 | 46 | 7 | 32 | 48 | 27 | 29 | 22 |
| 48 | Rhode Island | 46 | 50 | 28 | 16 | 44 | 40 | 37 | 48 | 40 | 45 |
| 49 | Alaska | 49 | 44 | 41 | 26 | 47 | 47 | 20 | 50 | 50 | 22 |
| 50 | Hawaii | 50 | 24 | 43 | 6 | 50 | 49 | 45 | 44 | 34 | 47 |
In response to the ranking Steve Stivers, President & CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce said “CNBC’s 2026 ranking is a testament to years of thoughtful leadership and collaboration across our state. We thank Gov. Mike DeWine, the Ohio General Assembly, JobsOhio and our many local and regional partners for their commitment to creating an environment where businesses can thrive.
But rankings aren’t permanent — they’re earned every year. States that stop improving eventually fall behind.
The Ohio Chamber’s 2026 Blueprint for Ohio’s Economic Future outlines six key policy priorities to keep Ohio competitive and achieve sustained 3% annual economic growth. That kind of growth means more jobs, bigger paychecks, stronger communities and greater opportunity for every Ohioan.
If Ohio wants to remain the best state for business, we can’t coast. We must continue to make smart, pro-growth policy decisions every day.”
Also, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose credited his office’s easy, efficient business filing process for helping Ohio earn the top spot today in CNBC’s 2026 America’s Top States for Business rankings.
“Job creators are running to Ohio to escape the unsustainable tax burdens they’re facing in other states that are hellbent on embracing socialist policies,” said Secretary LaRose. “We’ve also seen an incredible surge in small business innovation, where young talent is willing to stay here and new talent is coming in to pursue their dreams of a start-up. Our office is the front door to these new ventures, so this top ranking is a great recognition of the momentum that’s been building for several years.”
Ohio’s strong business climate continues to drive entrepreneurship across the state. Through the first half of 2026, 107,871 new businesses have filed with the Ohio Secretary of State’s office, putting the state on pace for a historic year of business creation. A new business can be formed for as little as $99 in Ohio, and most filings are processed within one business day, reinforcing the state’s reputation as one of the most accessible and cost-effective places in America to do business.
According to CNBC’s new annual ranking of states, Ohio now ranks No. 1 in the nation for its overall pro-business strengths, marking the first time the Buckeye State has held the top spot since CNBC launched the study in 2007 and the first time a Midwestern state has led the rankings since Minnesota in 2015. Ohio climbed from No. 5 in 2025 to No. 1 in 2026, as Secretary LaRose continues to work to simplify the process of starting a business here.
“Ohio’s rise to the top did not happen by accident,” LaRose added. “It reflects years of work to cut red tape, strengthen our infrastructure, keep costs low, and support the small businesses and entrepreneurs who power our communities.”
CNBC is the recognized global leader in business and financial news, reaching half a billion people every month across all platforms. With headquarters in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, CNBC delivers real-time coverage of financial markets, breaking news, exclusive interviews, expert analysis on stocks and trading, and in-depth reports on the forces shaping the global economy.
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