The highly respected Kosmont Cost of Doing Business Study compares the cost of doing business in a wide range of cities
throughout the United States which have populations of more than 100,000. The study compares a number of costs imposed by local government such as business
taxes, gross receipt taxes, utility taxes, property taxes, sales tax, state income taxes, fees, and other costs that may apply.
Listed is the Kosmont 2009 rating, for Lancaster and Palmdale, along with a comparison with other popular business locations.
Of the 71 cities surveyed in Los Angeles County, 21 cities have Cost Ratings in the lowest two brackets: of these, only 6 cities are in the lowest
bracket.
The ten least expensive cities for doing business in Los Angeles County in 2009 (in alphabetical order) are: Agoura Hills; Bell Gardens; Cerritos; Diamond
Bar; Lancaster; Santa Clarita; Signal Hill, Walnut and Westlake Village
|
| Legend |
|
 |
Cost Rating |
|
 |
Charges Gross Receipts Tax |
| Very Low Cost |
The lowest possible rating for city fees and charges |
 |
Indicates rate of Utility Users Tax, if applicable. |
| Low Cost |
Cities that charge low fees and charges |
|
"No" indicates that the city does not charge this tax |
| Average Cost |
Cities that charge average fees and charges |
 |
Business tax rate comparison per $1,000 in receipts |
| High Cost |
Cities that charge high fees and charges |
 |
Property Tax |
| Very High Cost |
Cities that charge the highest fees and charges |
 |
Sales Tax |
|
| |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Antelope Valley |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Lancaster |
Low Cost |
No |
No |
$0.002% |
1.13% |
9.25% |
| Unicorporated Kern |
Low Cost |
No |
4.50% |
N/A |
1.19% |
8.25% |
| Palmdale |
Average Cost |
Yes |
No |
0.006-0.03% |
1.29% |
9.25% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Los Angeles Basin |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Whittier |
High Cost |
Yes |
5.00% |
0.001-0.02% |
1.10% |
9.25% |
| Long Beach |
High Cost |
No |
5.00% |
0.011-0.273% |
1.15% |
9.25% |
| Los Angeles |
Very High Cost |
Yes |
5-10% |
0.13-55% |
1.86% |
9.25% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| San Bernardino |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Redlands |
High Cost |
Yes |
No |
0.025-0.3% |
1.25% |
8.75% |
| Fontana |
Very High Cost |
Yes |
5.00% |
0.03-0.35% |
1.20% |
8.75% |
| San Bernardino |
Very High Cost |
Yes |
7.75% |
0.025-0.25% |
1.29% |
9.00% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Riverside |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Indio |
Average Cost |
Yes |
5.00% |
0.016% |
1.12% |
8.75% |
| Riverside |
High Cost |
Yes |
6.50% |
0.007-0.08% |
1.09% |
7.75% |
| Palm Springs |
High Cost |
No |
5.00% |
0.003-0.05% |
1.92% |
8.75% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Central Valley |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Bakersfield |
Low Cost |
Yes |
No |
0.002-0.065% |
1.15% |
8.25% |
| Tulare |
High Cost |
Yes |
7.00% |
0.005-0.035% |
1.00% |
9.25% |
| Stockton |
Very High Cost |
Yes |
6.00% |
0.025-0.2% |
1.12% |
9.00% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Various |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Phoenix, AZ |
Very High Cost |
No |
9-11% |
Various |
1.82% |
8.10% |
| Portland, OR |
Very High Cost |
No |
5-8% |
0.36% |
2.17% |
5.00% |
| Tucson, AZ |
Very High Cost |
Yes |
2.00% |
0.005-2% |
2.25% |
8.10% |
| Chandler, AZ |
Very High Cost |
Yes |
9.00% |
0.001-1.5% |
2.63% |
7.80% |
| Bullhead City, AZ |
Very High Cost |
No |
7.6-10.8% |
0.002% |
2.71% |
7.85% |
| Arlington, TX |
Very High Cost |
No |
7.50% |
0 |
3.03% |
8.00% |
Source: Kosmont-Rose Institute
|
