Where is it easiest to open: Stationery and Office 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | 407 | 9.4 | $68,925 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| NY | 190 | 11.1 | $66,236 | not matched | — |
| TX | 186 | 12.7 | $63,477 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| FL | 168 | 13.1 | $67,298 | not matched | — |
| IL | 144 | 22.4 | $106,131 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| NJ | 102 | 19.7 | $77,261 | not matched | — |
| OH | 98 | 19.5 | $59,809 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| PA | 95 | 11.4 | $78,691 | not matched | — |
| GA | 84 | 13.6 | $67,444 | not matched | — |
| NC | 80 | 14.7 | $74,773 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| MA | 64 | 26.1 | $104,812 | not matched | — |
| MI | 63 | 13.1 | $68,148 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| TN | 59 | 18.3 | $77,183 | not matched | — |
| MN | 58 | 23.2 | $77,001 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| MO | 58 | 226.1 | $31,013 | not matched | — |
| WA | 46 | 16.1 | $78,004 | not matched | — |
| VA | 44 | 13.3 | $67,622 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| AZ | 42 | 14.4 | $65,339 | not matched | — |
| CT | 42 | 19.8 | $99,914 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| CO | 37 | 19.0 | $51,872 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| MD | 33 | 28.2 | $81,587 | not matched | — |
| AL | 31 | 8.0 | $39,907 | not matched | — |
| SC | 31 | 9.6 | $96,114 | not matched | — |
| OR | 30 | 8.0 | $54,909 | not matched | — |
| UT | 28 | 9.3 | $84,896 | not matched | — |
| WI | 28 | 9.4 | $88,633 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| KS | 26 | 11.7 | $69,862 | not matched | — |
| OK | 26 | 7.5 | $63,031 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| LA | 25 | 9.8 | $47,114 | not matched | — |
| IN | 24 | 7.2 | $69,006 | not matched | — |
| AR | 21 | 8.0 | $64,214 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
| NH | 19 | 7.4 | $107,343 | not matched | — |
| IA | 19 | 8.8 | $76,168 | not matched | — |
| DC | 15 | 3.2 | $47,125 | not matched | — |
| MS | 13 | 4.9 | $52,062 | not matched | — |
| NV | 13 | 4.5 | $63,475 | not matched | — |
| KY | 11 | 15.5 | $39,363 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| HI | 11 | 20.7 | $62,899 | not matched | — |
| NE | 9 | 7.9 | $64,859 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| RI | 9 | 16.8 | $85,086 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| ID | 8 | 8.0 | $45,719 | not matched | — |
| DE | 7 | 5.7 | $68,875 | not matched | — |
| SD | 7 | 4.4 | $46,194 | not matched | — |
| AK | 5 | 6.4 | $69,500 | not matched | — |
| ME | 5 | 24.2 | $88,314 | not matched | — |
| WV | 4 | 4.2 | $52,529 | not matched | — |
| NM | 3 | 22.3 | $64,045 | not matched | — |
| MT | 3 | 17.3 | $62,308 | licence | Fire Protection - Firework Wholesaler |
| WY | 3 | 5.3 | $33,312 | 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.