Best States for Athletic Trainers to Start a Home Business
We ranked all 51 states based on licensing requirements, earning potential, LLC costs, and tax burden. Here are the best (and worst) states for athletic trainers.
2 states don't require a license · National median: N/A · Updated 2025
▲ Top 5 Best States
Full Ranking: All 51 States
| # | State | License | Fee | Median Wage | LLC Cost | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | No | — | — | $70 | 79 |
| 2 | New York | No | — | — | $200 | 75 |
| 3 | Kentucky | Yes | $490 | — | $40 | 58 |
| 4 | Mississippi | Yes | $490 | — | $50 | 58 |
| 5 | Missouri | Yes | $415 | — | $50 | 58 |
| 6 | Georgia | Yes | $440 | — | $100 | 54 |
| 7 | Indiana | Yes | $498 | — | $100 | 54 |
| 8 | Utah | Yes | $460 | — | $54 | 54 |
| 9 | Arizona | Yes | $712 | — | $50 | 53 |
| 10 | Colorado | Yes | $540 | — | $50 | 53 |
| 11 | Iowa | Yes | $510 | — | $50 | 53 |
| 12 | Michigan | Yes | $627 | — | $50 | 53 |
| 13 | Montana | Yes | $565 | — | $35 | 53 |
| 14 | New Mexico | Yes | $680 | — | $50 | 53 |
| 15 | Kansas | Yes | $473 | — | $165 | 50 |
| 16 | Nebraska | Yes | $419 | — | $110 | 50 |
| 17 | North Dakota | Yes | $490 | — | $135 | 50 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | Yes | $410 | — | $125 | 50 |
| 19 | Rhode Island | Yes | $450 | — | $150 | 50 |
| 20 | South Carolina | Yes | $440 | — | $110 | 50 |
| 21 | South Dakota | Yes | $490 | — | $150 | 50 |
| 22 | Vermont | Yes | $490 | — | $125 | 50 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | Yes | $465 | — | $130 | 50 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | Yes | $390 | — | $99 | 49 |
| 25 | Hawaii | Yes | $525 | — | $51 | 49 |
| 26 | Idaho | Yes | $540 | — | $100 | 49 |
| 27 | Louisiana | Yes | $561 | — | $100 | 49 |
| 28 | Maryland | Yes | $741 | — | $100 | 49 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | Yes | $560 | — | $100 | 49 |
| 30 | Ohio | Yes | $537 | — | $99 | 49 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | Yes | $557 | — | $100 | 49 |
| 32 | Oregon | Yes | $615 | — | $100 | 49 |
| 33 | Virginia | Yes | $520 | — | $100 | 49 |
| 34 | West Virginia | Yes | $642 | — | $100 | 49 |
| 35 | Arkansas | Yes | $515 | — | $50 | 48 |
| 36 | Alabama | Yes | $565 | — | $200 | 45 |
| 37 | Alaska | Yes | $690 | — | $250 | 45 |
| 38 | Delaware | Yes | $628 | — | $110 | 45 |
| 39 | Florida | Yes | $595 | — | $125 | 45 |
| 40 | Illinois | Yes | $590 | — | $150 | 45 |
| 41 | Maine | Yes | $501 | — | $175 | 45 |
| 42 | Minnesota | Yes | $578 | — | $155 | 45 |
| 43 | North Carolina | Yes | $590 | — | $125 | 45 |
| 44 | Wyoming | Yes | $605 | — | $102 | 45 |
| 45 | Connecticut | Yes | $580 | — | $120 | 40 |
| 46 | Massachusetts | Yes | $599 | — | $500 | 40 |
| 47 | Nevada | Yes | $730 | — | $425 | 40 |
| 48 | New Jersey | Yes | $530 | — | $125 | 40 |
| 49 | Tennessee | Yes | $600 | — | $300 | 40 |
| 50 | Texas | Yes | $584 | — | $300 | 40 |
| 51 | Washington | Yes | $505 | — | $200 | 40 |
▼ 5 Most Challenging States
How We Scored Each State
Each state starts with a base score of 50, then we add or subtract points based on:
- No license required: +20 points (biggest single factor — lower barriers to entry)
- License fee: −10 for fees over $500, −5 for over $300, +10 for under $50
- Wages above national median: Up to +15 points for states paying 20%+ above national median
- LLC formation cost: +8 for states under $50, −5 for states over $300
- No sales tax on services: +5 points
Data sources: Institute for Justice License to Work 3 (licensing), BLS OEWS May 2024 (wages), state Secretary of State offices (LLC costs). This ranking reflects factors relevant to home-based operators — commercial location costs, local zoning, and cost of living are not included.
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