According to a new study, New York is the best state in the country for shopping at small businesses. What the Study Looked AtThe rankings were based on things like the number of small businesses, how fast they are growing, employee wages, and how many people work for small businesses. A Few Interesting FindingsThe study found that California has more than one million small businesses, the highest total in the country. Wyoming has the most small businesses per person, while South Dakota saw the biggest increase in small business employees over the past year. Small businesses often sponsor youth sports teams, support local charities, and create jobs for people who live nearby.