In response to:
There will always be isolated cases of running afoul of state government, and California is hardly alone. California is a good place to do business because the residents are highly skilled, highly educated, and have a high degree of wealth. Plus California is a great place to live, far better than any of the states with a so called "pro-business" environment. If all a business wants to do is race to the bottom, they will all end up in South Carolina I suppose. Having worked in management all of my life in California as an accountant and in charge of installing major systems, the laws of the state of California are not that difficult to adhere to. They are plainly spelled out for all employers. My son has his own business in California...
The Golden State has not been looking so golden for a while now. California has budget deficits that get bigger ever year, despite imposing among the highest tax rates in the country in every category. These factors have begun to chase businesses and their employees to other states that are better managed and far less costly. Yet as bad as these economic conditions are to the burden of running a business (not to mention raising a family), they are only part of the reason that it is so difficult to operate a profitable enterprise in California today.
It is no surprise...
In other words, you provide services to help companies keep records & negotiate that Byzantine labyrinth. I suspect a significant fraction of the demand for your services is created by California's regulatory & tax environment.
Back in the 1990's, I was sort of invited to go to CA (significant other who wanted to return there, let's say her motives were kinda New Agey). New employment was not part of the package tho, & I'd have been reluctant even if I'd had a lucrative job lined up, because I didn't expect chemical manufacturing to do well there, & COL was already much too hi to suit me.
Furthermore, the...