For the second consecutive year, Kansas has received high marks in Thumbtack.com’s Small Business Survey. Kansas received an overall grade of an “A” for Small Business Friendliness, up from an “A-” in 2012. The grade was the seventh highest in the country.

The rankings were released by Thumbtack.com in partnership with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation as part of its second annual Small Business Survey. The survey is based on data gathered from an extensive, nationwide group of small business owners, freelancers and entrepreneurs in order to rank the best places in the country to do business.

“These rankings are a great sign that we’re creating the business environment needed to help small businesses grow and succeed in the state,” said Kansas Commerce Secretary Pat George. “What is most exciting is that after scoring highly in 2012, Kansas improved over the next year, becoming an even better state for business. We have to continue to make our state as great as possible for all of the small businesses that drive our economic growth.”

Kansas received its overall grade thanks to a strong showing in several categories. Key findings revealed the following:

Kansas scored an “A” for ease of starting a new business.

The state also ranked highly in its licensing and environmental regulations, with an “A-” in those categories.

The state’s grades rose significantly in tax code, improving from a “B-” in 2012 to a “B+” in 2013, and in regulations, improving from a “C+” last year to a “B+” in the current rankings.

Kansas also received “B+” rankings in the categories of employment, labor and hiring and zoning regulations.