Here's a great spreadsheet comparing a lot of countries around the word: http://www.doingbusiness.org/documents/Simulator_2010.xls http://www.doingbusiness.org

Here's a great spreadsheet comparing a lot of countries around the word: http://www.doingbusiness.org/documents/Simulator_2010.xls http://www.doingbusiness.org/documents/Simulator_2010.xls It's from the World Bank, comparing how easy it is to do business in different countries. Last time I checked, US was 4th, the UK was 5th, and Ireland (where I live) was 7th. If you want to consider Ireland, it's got a very 'pro-business' attitude, strong US connections, well-educated, English-speaking workforce, political stability, little bureaucracy, many grants and supports available from state agencies to promote entrepreneurship, and a very low corporate tax rate of just 12.5% (there's further tax breaks available if you are doing R&D). However, it's expensive here. As regards taxes, Accenture moved their Global HQ here from the Bahamas because of tax advantages, and many multinationals have their European HQ here also (Microsoft, IBM, Google, Apple, Pfizer & most of the Big Pharmas). Also, from what you have said, I'm guessing you are Eastern European - well there are many of your countrymen here, so you won't feel totally homesick ;-) Despite all that, I'm actually considering travelling to Silicon Valley in September to scope it out, and to try to determine if I would like working in a startup (i.e. if I would be suited to doing my own startup at some point). My work contract expires then, and I've taken on board some good advice from a successful American entrepreneur who strongly recommended it. So I'm in a somewhat similar position to you. I'm seriously considering moving to Silicon Valley to at least give it a shot, the odds of success are much higher for all the reasons mentioned in pg essays and the articles on 'moving to Silicon Valley' that appear from time to time here on HN.