Business Notebook: State scores so-so in business-friendliness

For the past three years, the web service Thumbtack.com has worked with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to conduct a survey of more than 12,000 small businesses nationwide. The survey measures the most and least friendly states and cities toward small businesses.

It grades states on a scale of A to F. So far in 2014, Missouri has received these grades:

* C for overall friendliness

* C for ease of starting a business

* C- on ease of hiring

* B- on regulations

* B on health and safety

* C- on employment labor and hiring

* C+ on tax codes

* C+ on licensing

* A in environmental factors

* A- in zoning

* F in training and network programming

The latest survey, released last week, can be found at thumbtack.com/survey.

Other survey findings discovered that female entrepreneurs rated the friendliness of Missouri government 7 percent higher than male, and small businesses in Missouri were the fourth most likely to say they were content with the tax burden they paid.

Top-rated states overall were Utah, Idaho, Texas, Virginia and Louisiana. The lowest-rated were Rhode Island, Illinois, California, Connecticut and New Jersey.

Thumbtack is a professional matching service providing customers with professionals to help them finish personal do-it-yourself projects. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation provides grants in education and entrepreneurship fields.

American Soybean Association

The American Soybean Association and FarmLink, a company based out of Kansas City, Missouri, that offers services to help farmers maximize their resources through targeted investment, are teaming to help farmers close the $11 billion gap between what they harvested in 2013 and what they could harvest annually.

The organizations are launching a first-of-its-kind partnership called Operation Benchmark, which gives producers the opportunity to benefit from FarmLink's benchmarking capability and support American Soybean Association and state association grower initiatives. The program is available nationally and will be promoted initially in seven of the leading soybean-producing states: Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Indiana, Nebraska and South Dakota.

The service, called TrueHarvest, accurately shows farmers the range of performance potential for fields down to a 150-square-foot level. This allows them to determine the true potential of their land and optimize productivity and profitability. TrueHarvest provides a baseline that supports the farmers', consultants' and input providers' expertise, while respecting the integrity and privacy of a farmer's data.

Soybeans and corn

Many late-planted and double-crop soybean fields in Missouri are at risk of damage from corn earworm, also known as soybean podworm, said University of Missouri Extension entomologist Wayne Bailey.

"Corn earworm actually has more potential to reduce soybean yield than corn yield," Bailey said. Corn earworm can reduce corn yields by feeding on kernels at the ear tip. It damages soybeans by feeding on foliage and pods.

Most damage occurs to pods and seeds. This can result in delayed seed production and lower yields.

Small larvae feed on soybean foliage first. They can chew through pods to eat developing beans or cut pods from the plants. In high numbers, larvae can eat pods that have dropped to the ground. This can cause up to 100 percent yield reduction of soybeans, Bailey said.

Double-crop soybean fields throughout the state, especially in southern Missouri, are most vulnerable to podworm damage.

Online filing system

Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander announced July 15 his office has created a new online system to make it easier to do business.

Previously, Missourians could file only five business forms online. But the new system allows nearly every business form that must be filed with the secretary of state's office to be filed online.

Customers who go to sos.mo.gov/fileonline now can create or amend filings for their businesses or not-for-profit organizations. The new site allows 35 filings and allows customers to access their filing history.

For help with the new system, call the business services division at 1-866-223-6535.

Insurance filing records

The Missouri Department of Insurance announced a new online tool that allows consumers to view insurance company filing records.

Missouri becomes the fifth state to use SERFF Filing Access, otherwise known as SFA, to make such records accessible to the public.

Consumers can access insurance company filings for rates, rules and forms through the SFA website at any time at no charge. Filings also will continue to be available to consumers through a public computer kiosk in the department.

SFA provides access to open public records for which the Missouri Division of Market Regulation has legal custody and control. Rates, rules and forms are filed with the department when required by Missouri law. There are some instances, such as health insurance rates, where state law does not require insurance companies to make the information available to the public.

For assistance finding a rate, rule or form filing, or for questions about what filings are open to the public, email serffquestions@insurance.mo.gov.

MFH grants

As part of its ramp-up for the fall 2014 enrollment period, the Missouri Foundation for Health has awarded funding to 18 organizations that will offer guidance to consumers signing up for health insurance through the Missouri marketplace.

The funding, totaling $4.5 million for 18 organizations, will allow these groups to provide in-person support for consumers seeking information and enrollment assistance in the Marketplace or Small Business Health Options Program.

Local organizations set to receive funding include:

* Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corp.

* East Missouri Action Agency

* Legal Services of Eastern Missouri

* Missouri Bootheel Regional Consortium

Mary Kay Cosmetics

The Jana Jateff Unit of Mary Kay Cosmetics recently gave awards to the following individuals:

* Husband of the Year: Lee Sanchez of Jackson

* Miss Go: Chanel Tucker of Cape Girardeau

* Miss Enthusiasm: Rhonda Painton of Oran, Missouri

* Miss Mary Image: Darla Beggs of Jackson

* Most Consistent Performers: LaDonia Beggs and Kay Waller

* Rookie of the Year: Donna Sappinton of Jackson

* Most Improved Consultant: Kelly Elizalde of Cape Girardeau

* Queen of Sharing: Gail Sanchez of Jackson

* Top 5 Wholesale Court: Betsy Ferguson, Kim Martin, Gail Sanchez, LaDonia Beggs and Kay Waller.

Beggs, Sanchez and Waller will receive a week's stay at a condo in Gulf Shores, Alabama, for consistent performance.

Business licenses

The following received Cape Girardeau business licenses as of July 22:

* Cape Mart Convenience Store; owner Sharfaiz Alam; 238 N. Fountain St. It is scheduled to open Aug. 15.

* In N Out Mini Mart; owner Martresa Cleaves; 705 William St. It opened July 22.

* Project-V electronic cigarettes and supplies; owner Zachary Abernathy; 1215 Broadview St., Suite 1. It opened July 1.

Business roundup

* Papa John's Pizza at 2118 E. Jackson Blvd. in Jackson had a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday.

* Burritoville at 913 Broadway will be closed until Sunday for renovations.

* Shoppe La La is moving from 437 Broadway to 629 Broadway. The new location will officially open Friday. The store is relocating to a larger space with a parking lot and so it can carry more do-it-yourself products and offer more paint classes.