Where is it easiest to open: Warm Air Heating and Air-Conditioning Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
49 states, side by side. Operator counts and wages from Census and BLS; licence records matched on “SOC 41-4012” (soc) for Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products. A blank gate means NO RECORD MATCHED, which is not the same as no licence.
| State | Operators | Avg staff | Pay / employee | Gate | Licence titles matched |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TX | 641 | 15.2 | $109,854 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| FL | 531 | 17.1 | $99,287 | not matched | — |
| CA | 450 | 16.7 | $109,315 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| NY | 273 | 15.4 | $98,563 | not matched | — |
| PA | 252 | 12.5 | $100,963 | not matched | — |
| IL | 230 | 14.3 | $97,504 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| OH | 209 | 13.6 | $78,948 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| NC | 204 | 13.1 | $84,647 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| MI | 192 | 14.6 | $87,166 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| VA | 173 | 11.0 | $76,556 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| NJ | 169 | 19.1 | $108,260 | not matched | — |
| GA | 157 | 19.0 | $109,279 | not matched | — |
| LA | 142 | 9.8 | $77,156 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 139 | 12.3 | $106,455 | not matched | — |
| MD | 137 | 13.1 | $90,868 | not matched | — |
| TN | 136 | 13.9 | $90,187 | not matched | — |
| IN | 134 | 11.9 | $90,675 | not matched | — |
| SC | 132 | 11.9 | $68,274 | not matched | — |
| MO | 127 | 15.0 | $93,510 | not matched | — |
| AL | 99 | 16.9 | $96,116 | not matched | — |
| WI | 96 | 19.1 | $105,838 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| MA | 93 | 12.8 | $111,258 | not matched | — |
| WA | 88 | 14.3 | $109,122 | not matched | — |
| OK | 85 | 15.8 | $67,234 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| CO | 81 | 18.9 | $99,215 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| KY | 75 | 20.6 | $71,884 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| MN | 66 | 20.3 | $124,659 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| CT | 64 | 14.2 | $105,095 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| AR | 63 | 14.9 | $83,511 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
| UT | 60 | 13.6 | $93,182 | not matched | — |
| KS | 59 | 27.8 | $88,821 | not matched | — |
| MS | 46 | 7.0 | $74,523 | not matched | — |
| IA | 45 | 10.4 | $88,119 | not matched | — |
| NV | 44 | 19.6 | $84,171 | not matched | — |
| OR | 43 | 22.7 | $96,057 | not matched | — |
| NE | 39 | 16.4 | $84,991 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| DE | 32 | 6.7 | $90,183 | not matched | — |
| NM | 29 | 12.0 | $101,559 | not matched | — |
| NH | 29 | 14.3 | $99,954 | not matched | — |
| ID | 28 | 8.3 | $116,536 | not matched | — |
| SD | 26 | 12.9 | $76,579 | not matched | — |
| ME | 24 | 7.7 | $114,495 | not matched | — |
| WV | 22 | 5.7 | $63,416 | not matched | — |
| MT | 19 | 9.0 | $100,661 | licence | Fire Protection - Firework Wholesaler |
| RI | 18 | 9.8 | $98,949 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| HI | 16 | 16.0 | $114,621 | not matched | — |
| ND | 13 | 14.3 | $113,188 | not matched | — |
| AK | 10 | 8.7 | $105,793 | not matched | — |
| VT | 9 | 3.4 | $70,323 | not matched | — |
Axes are shown side by side and deliberately NOT collapsed into a ranking. A composite would be a score with no measured interval, and an unmeasured score is the thing this product exists to argue against. A high licence gate is a cost to enter and a moat once cleared — which of those matters more is the operator's call, not ours.
Licence data courtesy of CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor. Free to read, no account, always — a condition of the data licence as well as our own position.