Best States for Milk Samplers 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 milk samplers.
8 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 | Hawaii | No | — | — | $51 | 79 |
| 2 | Oklahoma | No | — | — | $100 | 79 |
| 3 | Alabama | No | — | — | $200 | 75 |
| 4 | Alaska | No | — | — | $250 | 75 |
| 5 | New York | No | — | — | $200 | 75 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | No | — | — | $150 | 75 |
| 7 | Wyoming | No | — | — | $102 | 75 |
| 8 | District of Columbia | No | — | — | $99 | 74 |
| 9 | Arizona | Yes | $50 | — | $50 | 73 |
| 10 | Colorado | Yes | $50 | — | $50 | 73 |
| 11 | Iowa | Yes | $20 | — | $50 | 73 |
| 12 | Kentucky | Yes | $15 | — | $40 | 73 |
| 13 | Michigan | Yes | $25 | — | $50 | 73 |
| 14 | Missouri | Yes | $25 | — | $50 | 73 |
| 15 | Montana | Yes | $5 | — | $35 | 73 |
| 16 | Idaho | Yes | $25 | — | $100 | 69 |
| 17 | Maryland | Yes | $50 | — | $100 | 69 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | Yes | $5 | — | $100 | 69 |
| 19 | Ohio | Yes | $15 | — | $99 | 69 |
| 20 | Oregon | Yes | $28 | — | $100 | 69 |
| 21 | West Virginia | Yes | $10 | — | $100 | 69 |
| 22 | Arkansas | Yes | $10 | — | $50 | 68 |
| 23 | Delaware | Yes | $5 | — | $110 | 65 |
| 24 | Illinois | Yes | $25 | — | $150 | 65 |
| 25 | Kansas | Yes | $35 | — | $165 | 65 |
| 26 | Maine | Yes | $1 | — | $175 | 65 |
| 27 | Nebraska | Yes | $25 | — | $110 | 65 |
| 28 | North Carolina | Yes | $5 | — | $125 | 65 |
| 29 | North Dakota | Yes | $10 | — | $135 | 65 |
| 30 | South Dakota | Yes | $50 | — | $150 | 65 |
| 31 | Vermont | Yes | $50 | — | $125 | 65 |
| 32 | California | Yes | $75 | — | $70 | 64 |
| 33 | Utah | Yes | $100 | — | $54 | 64 |
| 34 | Mississippi | Yes | — | — | $50 | 63 |
| 35 | New Mexico | Yes | — | — | $50 | 63 |
| 36 | Connecticut | Yes | $20 | — | $120 | 60 |
| 37 | Massachusetts | Yes | $20 | — | $500 | 60 |
| 38 | Minnesota | Yes | $60 | — | $155 | 60 |
| 39 | Nevada | Yes | $20 | — | $425 | 60 |
| 40 | Pennsylvania | Yes | $55 | — | $125 | 60 |
| 41 | Tennessee | Yes | $25 | — | $300 | 60 |
| 42 | Washington | Yes | $50 | — | $200 | 60 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | Yes | $60 | — | $130 | 60 |
| 44 | Georgia | Yes | — | — | $100 | 59 |
| 45 | Indiana | Yes | — | — | $100 | 59 |
| 46 | Louisiana | Yes | — | — | $100 | 59 |
| 47 | Virginia | Yes | — | — | $100 | 59 |
| 48 | Florida | Yes | — | — | $125 | 55 |
| 49 | South Carolina | Yes | — | — | $110 | 55 |
| 50 | New Jersey | Yes | — | — | $125 | 50 |
| 51 | Texas | Yes | — | — | $300 | 50 |
▼ 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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