Florida Secures Top 10 Spots in Business Climate Rankings, Georgia Retains Top Position
Florida has made a strong showing in the latest business climate rankings, securing spots in the top 10 for several categories. However, it falls short of the top five below, with Georgia retaining its number one position for the 12th consecutive year.
The report by Area Development, released in 2025, highlights the growing importance of factors like water access, permitting speed, and site readiness for large capital investments. Florida ranked fourth in corporate tax structure, eighth in overall cost of doing business, and ninth in water availability. However, it was outshone by Alabama, which secured the top spots in 'Energy Infrastructure', 'Climate and Resilience', and 'Workforce Training Programs'.
The top five states for business in 2025 were Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Texas, and North Carolina. Florida's performance, while solid, did not propel it into this elite group. It's worth noting that the methodology was updated to separately consider 'energy availability' and 'energy cost' under the energy infrastructure category.
While Florida's rankings in corporate tax structure, cost of doing business, and water availability are commendable, it has not made it to the top five in 18 years of Area Development's rankings. Deep South states continue to dominate the top spots, with Georgia leading for the 12th year. Florida's business climate is recognized as a solid destination, but there's still room for improvement to challenge the leading states.
