Slashdot Mirror
Startup Flees To Seattle Amid Amazon's Tax Fight
An anonymous reader writes "SF-based comparison shopping startup Shopobot was caught in the fight between Amazon, big-box retailers, and politicians over collecting of sales tax for online purchases. So what did the entreprenurs do? Flee to Seattle, right next to Amazon HQ, where marketing affiliates have a chance — because Amazon already collects sales tax in WA." And if you must flee, Seattle's a nice destination.
Look, California is one of the largest economies in the world for a reason.
Yes, the policies we had decades ago. Be careful, you are looking backwards, and the GP is looking forwards.
If you don't want to give back to the state that you do business in, bye bye. You won't be missed.
Yes, but up to a point. Both you and the GP may be a little overdramatic but the GP does have a point. For example how much of the economic success you refer to is from the aerospace industry? Bad news on that front:
http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/examiner-opinion-zone/aerospace-exodus-california
And what of the emerging private space industry that has its roots in Mohave? More bad new:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/apr/14/competitors-are-wooing-california-space-industry/
On a personal note I know some guys who used to shape surf boards. Very small scale shop but respected by locals and profitable for years. They had to give it up due to ever increasing regulations.
Have fun learning the hard way why nobody else is running a software company in South Carolina or whatever.
I don't think US customers know or care where a software company is located, except possibly that it is a US operation. And with the increasing popularity of the digital supply chain -- developer to online store to consumer, no packaged goods or distributors -- this is becoming even more so.
You have to admit the California legislature is out of control and making California a less friendly place to do business than a few decades ago.