Where is it easiest to open: Toy and Hobby Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
36 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 | 503 | 16.1 | $115,010 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| NY | 146 | 10.5 | $77,086 | not matched | — |
| FL | 135 | 10.2 | $92,127 | not matched | — |
| TX | 103 | 13.3 | $106,817 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| NJ | 81 | 19.2 | $82,647 | not matched | — |
| IL | 68 | 19.3 | $98,106 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| WA | 58 | 65.7 | $162,391 | not matched | — |
| OH | 40 | 11.5 | $65,102 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| PA | 36 | 18.8 | $97,631 | not matched | — |
| AZ | 35 | 10.5 | $53,317 | not matched | — |
| GA | 25 | 19.0 | $94,622 | not matched | — |
| CT | 22 | 65.0 | $118,409 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| MN | 20 | 17.0 | $87,044 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| NV | 20 | 16.6 | $91,325 | not matched | — |
| WI | 19 | 29.6 | $63,941 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| MD | 19 | 10.5 | $59,700 | not matched | — |
| MA | 19 | 16.7 | $93,770 | not matched | — |
| UT | 19 | 8.5 | $54,068 | not matched | — |
| NC | 18 | 6.2 | $51,054 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| TN | 18 | 13.6 | $73,449 | not matched | — |
| OR | 18 | 5.6 | $67,780 | not matched | — |
| CO | 16 | 4.6 | $55,324 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| MO | 12 | 13.8 | $75,606 | not matched | — |
| IN | 12 | 18.1 | $46,972 | not matched | — |
| MI | 11 | 7.6 | $63,238 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| RI | 10 | 191.2 | $111,575 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| HI | 10 | 5.0 | $48,760 | not matched | — |
| AR | 6 | 5.2 | $162,065 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
| NE | 5 | 10.8 | $91,278 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| VA | 5 | 61.4 | $301,453 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| KS | 4 | 75.5 | $63,351 | not matched | — |
| DE | 4 | 4.5 | $47,944 | not matched | — |
| IA | 4 | 41.8 | $56,407 | not matched | — |
| SC | 4 | 7.0 | $41,929 | not matched | — |
| MT | 3 | 1.7 | $136,200 | licence | Fire Protection - Firework Wholesaler |
| LA | 3 | 21.3 | $43,969 | 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.