February 25, 2004—The 10th annual “Cost of Doing Business Survey,” jointly published by Kosmont Companies of Los Angeles and the Rose Institute of State and Local Government at Claremont McKenna College has reported on taxes, fees, and incentives that impact businesses in 314 cities and communities in all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C.
The new survey ranks cities as Very Low Cost, Low Cost, Medium Cost, High Cost, and Very High Cost.
No city in Los Angeles County is ranked as Very Low Cost. In the California, four communities are rated as Very Low Cost: Roseville, Sutter Creek, and the unincorporated areas of Lake County and Merced County.
Very High Cost cities in Los Angeles County, in order of increasing costs, are: Hawthorne, El Segundo, El Monte, Huntington Park, Pico Rivera, Pomona, Bell, Palmdale, Compton, Culver City, Santa Monica, and last and most expensive, Los Angeles.
Other Very High Cost cities in California, again ranked by increasing costs, are: Modesto, Alameda, Stockton, Seal Beach, Rialto, San Bernardino, Richmond, Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco.
The lowest cost city surveyed is Cheyenne, Wyoming. The most expensive in which to carry on a business is Philadelphia.
Since the Rose Institute became co-publisher with Kosmont Companies in 2003, the Cost of Doing Business Survey has added 80 cities to its coverage (from 234 cities to 314) and expanded its in depth reporting to include six categories of taxes (business, electricity, telephone, property, sales, and income). This is the first year State income and sales taxes have been factored into city cost rankings.
The 2004 Survey is available in both CD and print formats. The Survey can be purchased online or by contacting the Rose Institute at 909/621-8159.
For more information, contact Kosmont.
