Where is it easiest to open: Flower, Nursery Stock, and Florists' Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
45 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 | 645 | 15.9 | $46,372 | licence | Designated Representative License - Wh; Hydroseed Spraying Limited Specialty C |
| FL | 574 | 13.5 | $55,471 | not matched | — |
| NY | 282 | 6.6 | $66,938 | not matched | — |
| TX | 250 | 10.8 | $54,871 | licence | EGG DEALER/WHOLESALER |
| NJ | 142 | 8.9 | $62,488 | not matched | — |
| WA | 112 | 13.4 | $43,727 | not matched | — |
| GA | 108 | 14.5 | $52,464 | not matched | — |
| MA | 102 | 11.6 | $70,830 | not matched | — |
| NC | 91 | 8.1 | $49,638 | licence | Alcoholic Beverage Distributor/Vendor ; Bedding Manufacturer's |
| IL | 88 | 20.3 | $63,535 | exam | AQUATIC LIFE DEALER, RETAIL & WHOLESAL; BROKER, MEAT/POULTRY/MEAT AND POULTRY |
| AZ | 84 | 14.1 | $46,790 | not matched | — |
| MI | 83 | 18.0 | $44,916 | exam | Livestock Dealer; Livestock Trucker |
| CO | 81 | 8.9 | $66,501 | exam | Egg Seller; Liquor License |
| OH | 72 | 16.1 | $55,402 | licence | Alcohol Wholesaler/Importer Permit; Brewery/Brewpub Federal Permit |
| OR | 60 | 16.4 | $43,810 | not matched | — |
| PA | 59 | 13.3 | $58,753 | not matched | — |
| MD | 49 | 31.3 | $41,600 | not matched | — |
| MO | 45 | 10.5 | $42,684 | not matched | — |
| TN | 42 | 8.5 | $58,239 | not matched | — |
| SC | 42 | 5.8 | $52,209 | not matched | — |
| CT | 38 | 7.5 | $58,782 | licence | Casino Class I Employee; Livestock Dealer/broker |
| MN | 33 | 16.7 | $56,252 | licence | Agricultural Liming Material License; Club On Sale Retail Liquor License |
| IN | 32 | 11.0 | $38,465 | not matched | — |
| NV | 31 | 4.5 | $54,921 | not matched | — |
| HI | 28 | 7.2 | $43,333 | not matched | — |
| LA | 27 | 7.5 | $43,571 | not matched | — |
| KY | 24 | 10.3 | $45,263 | exam | Limited Livestock Auctioneer; Livestock Dealer |
| VA | 24 | 9.2 | $70,284 | licence | Charitable Gaming Organization; Commercial Feed License |
| UT | 21 | 23.0 | $36,983 | not matched | — |
| AL | 19 | 10.1 | $46,382 | not matched | — |
| OK | 19 | 16.2 | $46,485 | licence | Feeding Assistant |
| DE | 18 | 4.7 | $74,333 | not matched | — |
| KS | 17 | 12.9 | $36,736 | not matched | — |
| WI | 13 | 14.1 | $50,213 | licence | ANIMAL FOOD PROCESSOR |
| NE | 10 | 18.6 | $43,898 | licence | Alcohol Establishment; Commercial Dog or Cat Breeder |
| ID | 9 | 3.1 | $49,429 | not matched | — |
| NH | 8 | 7.1 | $36,860 | not matched | — |
| ME | 7 | 4.3 | $68,200 | not matched | — |
| IA | 6 | 17.2 | $34,961 | not matched | — |
| NM | 6 | 15.3 | $43,989 | not matched | — |
| RI | 6 | 24.7 | $33,514 | licence | Livestock Dealer |
| AR | 6 | 7.8 | $35,766 | licence | Feed Facility License; Grain Dealer |
| SD | 5 | 54.2 | $55,033 | not matched | — |
| DC | 4 | 1.8 | $27,286 | not matched | — |
| WY | 3 | 7.0 | $59,762 | 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.