Where is it easiest to open: Sporting and Recreational Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
48 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 | 897 | 11.6 | $79,311 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| FL | 599 | 7.9 | $68,449 | not matched | — |
| TX | 325 | 24.7 | $79,128 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| NY | 190 | 8.7 | $70,294 | not matched | — |
| CO | 168 | 11.5 | $73,734 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| WA | 160 | 12.4 | $76,237 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 144 | 12.4 | $76,216 | not matched | — |
| IL | 133 | 24.6 | $83,781 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| GA | 114 | 13.9 | $65,795 | not matched | — |
| OH | 112 | 12.2 | $83,493 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| AZ | 112 | 9.2 | $69,071 | not matched | — |
| UT | 107 | 18.8 | $73,216 | not matched | — |
| MN | 101 | 21.9 | $109,059 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| NC | 99 | 11.9 | $65,848 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| MA | 82 | 13.2 | $116,056 | not matched | — |
| PA | 81 | 8.8 | $72,317 | not matched | — |
| MI | 80 | 7.5 | $64,630 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| OR | 71 | 14.3 | $77,944 | not matched | — |
| WI | 64 | 47.7 | $89,720 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| SC | 63 | 10.1 | $79,656 | not matched | — |
| MO | 62 | 18.1 | $77,104 | not matched | — |
| NV | 62 | 10.2 | $58,405 | not matched | — |
| IN | 57 | 23.2 | $70,476 | not matched | — |
| TN | 54 | 19.3 | $69,882 | not matched | — |
| CT | 51 | 15.5 | $76,432 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| MD | 47 | 17.2 | $77,641 | not matched | — |
| RI | 39 | 5.6 | $94,166 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| AL | 38 | 17.1 | $66,114 | not matched | — |
| VA | 37 | 10.6 | $90,578 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| LA | 36 | 21.6 | $78,999 | not matched | — |
| ID | 28 | 8.1 | $62,965 | not matched | — |
| HI | 27 | 4.4 | $56,695 | not matched | — |
| AR | 25 | 18.0 | $68,725 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
| OK | 23 | 10.0 | $51,764 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| MT | 22 | 4.3 | $67,617 | licence | Fire Protection - Firework Wholesaler |
| KS | 21 | 10.0 | $87,791 | not matched | — |
| NH | 19 | 14.2 | $92,862 | not matched | — |
| KY | 18 | 9.1 | $69,601 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| ME | 15 | 3.3 | $48,633 | not matched | — |
| DE | 14 | 9.4 | $79,758 | not matched | — |
| NE | 11 | 6.5 | $40,930 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| ND | 9 | 6.2 | $54,429 | not matched | — |
| NM | 8 | 11.9 | $122,895 | not matched | — |
| IA | 7 | 23.7 | $45,313 | not matched | — |
| SD | 7 | 13.9 | $50,196 | not matched | — |
| AK | 7 | 8.9 | $46,274 | not matched | — |
| VT | 6 | 23.0 | $49,688 | not matched | — |
| WY | 4 | 7.2 | $42,793 | 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.