Tina loves the restaurant business. A fanatic about food, she aspires to one day compete on a TV cooking show. For now, this 20-something chef at a restaurant in Pocatello has a dream to open her own eatery offering a menu of family recipes that celebrate Idaho cuisine.

How many government agencies and boards must Tina talk to before she can open her doors? Let’s do a count: planning and zoning board, health department, Idaho State Tax Commission, IRS, alcohol regulators, Department of Labor, State Insurance Fund. Have I missed any? My mistake, but if Tina misses one, do you think the government agency she missed will be very forgiving?

And this is in “business friendly” Idaho. But let’s say Tina decides to give up on her entrepreneurial aspirations to go on government assistance, say, food stamps. How many government agencies shall Tina need to speak to? One. Read More. Wayne Hoffman, Idaho Reporter

Should it be easier to start a business in Idaho?

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