Opening a Restaurant in Boston Takes 92 Steps, 22 Forms, 17 Office Visits, and $5,554 in 12 Fees. Why?

In his latest Inc. magazine column, Right to Start Founder & CEO Victor Hwang issued an urgent call to action to bring entrepreneurship to the forefront of debate in this year's mid-term elections.  

In particular, Victor called on every community and government leader to remove excessive regulatory obstacles to starting new businesses. Citing a new report by the Institute for Justice that outlined the "byzantine regulations" and obstacles facing entrepreneurs in cities across the United States, he emphasized: "It should be a wake-up call for all of America and spark an essential discussion this year."

Victor also called on all supporters to make entrepreneurship a pressing issue on the agenda for every political candidate: "As the report shows, for example, opening a restaurant in Boston is a 92-step process. In Detroit, it's 77 steps. In Atlanta, it's 76...That's why candidates for local, state, and federal offices in this election year should be asked specifically, 'What will you do to make it easier for Americans to start and grow new businesses?'"