Investing in the USA: How to Choose the Right State for Your Business Location
When foreign investors look to expand into the United States, one of the most critical decisions is where to establish operations. With 50 states offering different tax regimes, labor markets, and regulatory environments, choosing the right state can make the difference between a thriving investment and costly missteps.
At ACD Expert Consulting, we help investors navigate these complexities. Here are key factors to consider when determining the best state for your U.S. investment:
1. Taxation and Incentives
Corporate Tax Rates: States like Texas, Florida, and Nevada do not levy state corporate income taxes, while others (e.g., California, New York) have higher rates. However, those states with no corporate tax might still have various versions of corporate taxation such as Franchise tax though at a smaller rate compared to the state corporate tax.
Incentives and Grants: Many states provide investment tax credits, workforce training subsidies, or real estate development incentives. Understanding the availability and eligibility is crucial. As mentioned in our previous article, states can provide investor-specific incentives. So, especially big investors should consider touching base with the state officials for direct communication on the available incentives.
2. Workforce and Talent Pool
States differ widely in labor market strength and skill availability. For instance, California and Massachusetts excel in tech and R&D talent, while the Midwest is strong in manufacturing and logistics. For instance, for the business looking for highly-educated staff such a software engineers, college towns such as San Marcos/TX, Gainesville/FL might be a good starting point for an easy and comparatively cheaper access to the skilled worker pool.
Consider local labor laws, minimum wages, and unionization rates as part of long-term cost planning. Generally speaking, California, Illinois, Washington (so called “blue” states) have higher minimum wages, union rates and stricter labor laws whereas Texas, Florida, and South Dakota and some other (“red”) states have less minimum wages, union rates and more business-favoring rules and regulations.
One thing to clarify is that here we are comparing only state-based requirements as the federal government’s rules and regulations apply to entire country. So, when we say minimum wage, we mean any amount required by the state on top of federal minimum wage which is currently $7.25 per hour. Just a quick example; while minimum wage is $7.25 in Texas, it is $16.50 per hour in California.
3. Infrastructure and Logistics
Proximity to ports, airports, and interstate highways can directly affect supply chain efficiency. One thing to underline is that US has a great highway network and cheaper gas (petrol) compared to Europe. So, ground transportation should always be considered as a viable option for the distributors.
States like Georgia (Atlanta), Illinois (Chicago), and Texas (Houston, Dallas) are major logistics hubs for domestic and international distribution. This list might be expanded but, for the Turkish investors, 13 cities which has direct flights from Istanbul might be more appealing. Currently Turkish Airlines provides direct flights to the following 13 different cities in the United States: Atlanta, Boston, Washington D.C., Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, New Jersey, Dallas, Seattle, and Detroit.
4. Industry Clusters
Some industries naturally gravitate to certain states:
Technology: California, Texas, Washington
Finance: New York, Illinois
Energy: Texas, Louisiana
Manufacturing: Ohio, Michigan, Indiana
Locating within an established cluster can provide supply chain advantages and access to specialized talent.
5. Quality of Life and Operating Environment
Factors such as housing affordability, healthcare, schools, and cost of living impact your ability to attract and retain talent. For instance, generally speaking West Coast cities are more expensive than the rest of the country in terms of housing.
However, in general, US does not have major regional differences in terms of quality of life such as East vs West or North vs South, which is a very common issue in many other countries. On the other hand, there are wealthier states and cities within the same region due to some historical and geographical factors.
Final Thoughts
There is no single “best” state for investment—it depends on your industry, goals, and strategy. By carefully weighing taxation, incentives, workforce availability, infrastructure, and quality of life, businesses can position themselves for long-term success in the U.S.
At ACD Expert Consulting, we support investors through feasibility studies, state comparisons, and tailored entry strategies to ensure that your U.S. investment starts on solid ground.
Kuzey Amerika’ya Yatırım: Kanada mı, ABD mi? Vergisel Açıdan Temel Farklar
Türkiye’den Kuzey Amerika’ya yatırım yapmayı düşünen şirketlerin karşısına genellikle şu soru çıkar: Kanada mı, ABD mi? Her iki ülke de yatırımcılara onemli fırsatlar sunarken, vergisel açıdan bazı temel farklılıklar bulunuyor. İşte karar verirken dikkate alınması gereken üç kritik nokta:
1. Vergi Oranları
Kanada: Federal kurumlar vergisi oranı %15, buna eyalet vergileri (provincial tax) eklenmesiyle ortalama toplam oran %25–27 civarına ulasiyor. Ancak, KOBI’ler icin indirimli vergi orani, hizlandirilmis amortisman gib uygulamalar sayesinde, gercekteki vergi yuku cogu zaman bu oranin cok altinda kalabiliyor.
ABD: Federal kurumlar vergisi oranı %21, buna eyalet vergileri ekleniyor. Texas gibi bazı eyaletlerde kurumlar vergisi (state corporate income tax) yok, ancak franchise tax gibi alternatif vergiler mevcut.
ABD’de eyalete göre değişiklik çok fazla. Kanada’da ise daha öngörülebilir ve stabil bir yapı var.
2. Çifte Vergilendirme Anlaşmaları
Hem Kanada hem ABD, Türkiye ile çifte vergilendirmeyi önleme anlaşması imzalamış durumda ve genel olarak benzer hukumler icermekte. Ornegin, her iki anlasma da; odeme yapan sirketin mukimi oldugu ulke tarafindan faiz/royalty/kar payi odemelerinde en fazla, yuzde 15/10/15 oranlarinda vergilendirme yapilmasina izin veriyor.
Genel olarak, ABD tarafında daha yogun bir raporlama yukumlulugu oldugu soylenebilir. Ancak tabi ki bu, Turkiye vergi anlasmasina has bir durum degil: ABD’nin kendine ozel gelistirdigi FATCA gibi yontem ve sureclerle globalde hem kendi ve hem de baska ulkelerin mukellefleri icin bircok vergisel yukumlulukler getirmektedir.
3.Teşvikler ve Destekler
Kanada: Özellikle Ar-Ge ve teknoloji yatırımlarına yönelik Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Credit gibi kaydadeger teşvikler mevcut. Ayrica, Kanada, kuresel yetenek stratejisi kapsaminda, ozellikle teknoloji alanindaki yabanci kalifiye is gucu icin hizlandirilmis vize programlari sunmakta.
ABD: Eyalet bazlı teşvikler daha ön planda. Amerikan Federal Devleti de, Kanada Federal Devleti gibi ARGE, hizlandirilmis amortisman gibi tesvikleri mevcut olmakla birlikte bunlar, Kanada emsallerinine gore daha mutevazi tutarlarda ve oranlarda. Amerika’da tesvik konusunda asil yuku eyalatler goguslemekte. Eyaletler, genel tesviklerin yanisira, ozellikle buyuk yaitirimlarda, yaitirimciya ozel stopaj indirimi, emlak vergisi muafiyeti gibi comert tesviklerde bulunabiliyor.
Bu konu, baslibasina ayri bir yaziyi hakketmekle birlikte kisaca ozetlemek gerekirse, Ar-Ge veya teknoloji odaklı yatırımlarda Kanada öne çıkıyor; ABD ise, genel olarak, üretim ve dağıtım ağı kurmak isteyen firmalar için ABD daha cazip olmakla birlikte eyalet bazli bir analiz buyuk onem arz ediyor.
Sonuç
Kuzey Amerika’ya yatırım kararında “tek doğru” yok:
Kanada: Daha stabil, öngörülebilir vergi sistemi ve Ar-Ge teşvikleri ile teknoloji, hizmet ve yenilikçi yatırımlar için ideal.
ABD: Daha geniş pazar, eyalet bazlı fırsatlar ve üretim/dağıtım yatırımları için güçlü seçenek.
Doğru ülke seçiminin, şirketinizin faaliyet alanı, büyüme stratejisi ve uzun vadeli hedeflerine bağlı oldugu muhakkak.
ACD Expert Consulting olarak, Türkiye’den Kuzey Amerika’ya yatırım yapan şirketlere hem Kanada hem ABD tarafında vergi ve strateji danışmanlığı sunuyoruz. Amacımız, yatırım kararınızı en verimli ve güvenli şekilde desteklemek.