Uphill Battle

Solution providers can have the best strategy in the world, the best mix of products and services, and the best team of executives and engineers. But a lot of factors out of a solution provider's control, based on the states and regions where a company does business, can have a significant impact on a solution provider's growth prospects.

CRN has analyzed data on all 50 states on worker education and experience, labor and business costs, taxes and regulations, growth and innovation potential, business opportunities and other criteria to identify the states with the best and worst environments for solution provider growth.

Here are the 10 states that have the least to offer when it comes to boosting a solution provider's growth prospects, starting with No. 41 (out of all 50 states) and concluding with the worst state (No. 50) for growth.