Where is it easiest to open: Printing and Writing Paper Merchant Wholesalers
30 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 | 68 | 8.2 | $131,194 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| FL | 42 | 24.8 | $64,539 | not matched | — |
| IL | 40 | 20.1 | $103,404 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| TX | 39 | 12.5 | $94,282 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| NY | 33 | 7.8 | $122,074 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 15 | 12.9 | $116,389 | not matched | — |
| OH | 13 | 24.2 | $84,784 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| GA | 13 | 7.2 | $113,181 | not matched | — |
| CT | 12 | 7.8 | $105,043 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| TN | 9 | 19.1 | $96,831 | not matched | — |
| NC | 8 | 17.9 | $45,014 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| PA | 7 | 13.1 | $56,793 | not matched | — |
| MI | 7 | 10.3 | $101,389 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| WI | 7 | 8.0 | $67,304 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| AZ | 6 | 9.0 | $72,241 | not matched | — |
| MO | 6 | 17.2 | $92,883 | not matched | — |
| NV | 6 | 6.3 | $44,553 | not matched | — |
| MN | 5 | 13.6 | $112,368 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| SC | 4 | 4.8 | $78,789 | not matched | — |
| WA | 4 | 9.0 | $197,278 | not matched | — |
| NE | 4 | 17.5 | $60,829 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| OK | 3 | 11.7 | $78,971 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| OR | 3 | 14.7 | $124,432 | not matched | — |
| KS | 3 | 18.0 | $85,963 | not matched | — |
| IA | 3 | 16.3 | $78,653 | not matched | — |
| IN | 3 | 7.0 | $55,952 | not matched | — |
| CO | 3 | 8.0 | $125,375 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| NM | 3 | 6.0 | $56,833 | not matched | — |
| MA | 3 | 31.7 | $79,495 | not matched | — |
| KY | 3 | 12.3 | $86,162 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
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.