Where is it easiest to open: Book, Periodical, and Newspaper Merchant Wholesalers
33 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 | 117 | 8.9 | $109,496 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| NY | 81 | 5.0 | $57,953 | not matched | — |
| IL | 50 | 46.1 | $47,122 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| FL | 48 | 4.3 | $52,699 | not matched | — |
| MA | 33 | 13.9 | $87,780 | not matched | — |
| NJ | 30 | 9.1 | $54,755 | not matched | — |
| TX | 26 | 11.8 | $43,065 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| WA | 20 | 5.4 | $89,398 | not matched | — |
| GA | 19 | 7.4 | $41,400 | not matched | — |
| TN | 16 | 45.4 | $61,065 | not matched | — |
| MN | 15 | 13.3 | $77,030 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| MO | 15 | 17.8 | $44,787 | not matched | — |
| CO | 13 | 6.6 | $46,988 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| MI | 13 | 5.4 | $56,257 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| PA | 13 | 66.7 | $83,112 | not matched | — |
| MD | 12 | 5.0 | $86,733 | not matched | — |
| UT | 10 | 34.2 | $69,769 | not matched | — |
| WI | 9 | 11.3 | $75,588 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| AZ | 9 | 2.2 | $40,450 | not matched | — |
| NV | 9 | 4.9 | $46,682 | not matched | — |
| CT | 8 | 6.9 | $35,855 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| HI | 7 | 1.4 | $17,600 | not matched | — |
| KS | 7 | 30.4 | $60,878 | not matched | — |
| IN | 7 | 6.0 | $57,881 | not matched | — |
| OK | 6 | 33.5 | $39,234 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| OH | 6 | 4.3 | $49,577 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| VA | 5 | 1.2 | $112,333 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| NC | 5 | 8.0 | $44,150 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| NH | 4 | 65.0 | $34,200 | not matched | — |
| AL | 3 | 2.7 | $18,250 | not matched | — |
| ME | 3 | 6.0 | $47,833 | not matched | — |
| RI | 3 | 2.0 | $15,833 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| AR | 3 | 16.3 | $51,571 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain 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.