Where is it easiest to open: Refrigeration Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
41 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | 177 | 8.9 | $82,164 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| FL | 87 | 7.6 | $71,227 | not matched | — |
| TX | 61 | 14.6 | $83,315 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| NY | 50 | 7.7 | $85,721 | not matched | — |
| PA | 28 | 8.1 | $67,580 | not matched | — |
| NC | 26 | 9.1 | $81,203 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| AZ | 24 | 15.0 | $86,305 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 23 | 12.5 | $105,589 | not matched | — |
| GA | 23 | 15.2 | $85,469 | not matched | — |
| WA | 21 | 8.3 | $71,720 | not matched | — |
| TN | 19 | 7.7 | $78,939 | not matched | — |
| OH | 18 | 8.8 | $77,513 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| MO | 17 | 11.6 | $123,035 | not matched | — |
| IL | 16 | 12.6 | $92,070 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| SC | 16 | 11.2 | $84,961 | not matched | — |
| MI | 16 | 17.6 | $89,238 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| NV | 12 | 10.9 | $87,153 | not matched | — |
| MA | 10 | 7.0 | $67,186 | not matched | — |
| CO | 10 | 14.4 | $81,847 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| IN | 10 | 51.4 | $44,288 | not matched | — |
| LA | 9 | 10.8 | $79,320 | not matched | — |
| MN | 9 | 9.9 | $94,090 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| OK | 9 | 15.2 | $71,241 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| AL | 8 | 8.4 | $83,418 | not matched | — |
| AR | 8 | 3.9 | $68,903 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
| MT | 7 | 5.7 | $70,275 | licence | Fire Protection - Firework Wholesaler |
| HI | 6 | 7.5 | $104,156 | not matched | — |
| KY | 6 | 12.5 | $58,827 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| WI | 6 | 26.8 | $61,248 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| UT | 5 | 7.2 | $77,694 | not matched | — |
| NE | 4 | 14.8 | $133,305 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| IA | 3 | 31.7 | $80,389 | not matched | — |
| ID | 3 | 6.0 | $60,444 | not matched | — |
| VA | 3 | 12.7 | $99,579 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| DE | 3 | 5.7 | $77,176 | not matched | — |
| KS | 3 | 21.3 | $86,016 | not matched | — |
| MS | 3 | 4.7 | $49,286 | not matched | — |
| ND | 3 | 20.7 | $91,145 | not matched | — |
| MD | 3 | 4.3 | $73,538 | not matched | — |
| OR | 3 | 14.7 | $76,023 | not matched | — |
| NH | 3 | 30.3 | $96,516 | 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.