Kosmont Companies, a well-known Los Angeles business and real estate advisory group, published the first edition of the Cost of Doing Business Survey in 1995. The publication contained a vast amount of data about fees, taxes, costs, and incentives that influence the cost of doing business in major California communities, and it quickly became an important tool for corporations, real estate developers, community planners, and public officials. The Survey is especially useful to businesses making important location or relocation decisions.

In 2003, Kosmont Companies selected the Rose Institute of State and Local Government as its publishing partner for future editions of the Survey, now known as the Kosmont-Rose Institute Cost of Doing Business Survey. The Rose Institute is affiliated with Claremont McKenna College, a member of the Claremont University Consortium in Claremont, California. The Rose Institute’s student researchers and professional staff research a variety of issues relating to state and local politics, with a strong emphasis on California. Recent projects and publications have focused on redistricting, fiscal analysis, California demographics, and legal analysis.

Announcing the new affiliation between the Kosmont Companies and the Rose Institute, Larry Kosmont, President of the Kosmont Companies, said, “We have grown and nurtured the Survey to the point where it is nationally recognized as a valuable and unique tool in business and community planning, but we have taken it about as far as we can go. With the added strength and capabilities of the Rose Institute, especially with the Rose’s sterling reputation for objective research and analysis, we are confident that our new partnership will further enhance the quality and effectiveness of this important publication.” Since 2003, the Rose Institute has continued to expand the scope and accuracy of the Survey.

The 2016-2017 Survey was officially released on December 19, 2017. Click here to view the press release for the 2016-2017 Survey.

To order the 2016-2017 Survey, download and fill out this ORDER FORM. Please email completed order form to mmoore@cmc.edu (Subject: Kosmont 2016).  For questions, please call 909-607-7572.

Executive Summaries Archive (Downloadable pdfs)