{"id":"us","country":"us","kind":"country","name":{"en":"United States","local":"United States"},"languages":["en","es"],"currency":"USD","symbol":"$","fxPerUsd":1,"cities":{"T1":"New York City","T2":"Columbus, Ohio","T3":"Chillicothe, Ohio"},"basket":{"teaCup":2.75,"simpleMeal":13,"haircutMen":25,"milkLitre":1.11,"breadLoaf":2.5,"unskilledDayWage":88,"minWageMonthly":1906,"shopRentSqftMonth":{"T1":8,"T2":1.6,"T3":0.9},"electricityCommercialKwh":0.139,"lpgCommercialCylinder":25,"petrolLitre":1.13},"tax":{"salesTax":"No federal sales tax/VAT; state + local sales tax 0–10%+ (Ohio 5.75% state, about 8% in Columbus; CA 7.25% base; TX 6.25%; NY 4% + NYC 4.5% + MCTD 0.375% = 8.875%; FL 6%). Many states exempt groceries.","smallBizThreshold":"No small-business exemption from sales-tax collection: a seller must register from the first taxable sale in its home state. Out-of-state remote-seller nexus is usually $100,000 of sales (post-Wayfair).","localLevies":"Employer FICA 7.65%, FUTA 0.6% on first $7,000 per worker, state unemployment insurance (rate varies), workers' comp; city/county business licences and some city income taxes (Columbus 2.5%)"},"licences":[{"name":"Federal EIN (employer ID number)","fee":"Free, issued online the same day","authority":"IRS","source":"https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online"},{"name":"LLC formation (Ohio Articles of Organization)","fee":"$99 one-time; no annual report fee in Ohio","authority":"Ohio Secretary of State","source":"https://www.ohiosos.gov/businesses/filing-forms--fee-schedule/"},{"name":"LLC formation, California (plus annual franchise tax)","fee":"$70 filing + $800/yr minimum franchise tax + $20 Statement of Information every 2 yrs","authority":"CA Secretary of State / Franchise Tax Board","source":"https://www.ftb.ca.gov/file/business/types/limited-liability-company/index.html"},{"name":"Vendor's license (sales tax permit), Ohio","fee":"$25 per location (county auditor/Ohio Business Gateway)","authority":"Ohio Department of Taxation","source":"https://tax.ohio.gov/business/ohio-business-taxes/sales-and-use"},{"name":"Retail food establishment / mobile food licence (Columbus Public Health)","fee":"Est. $300–$1,000/yr depending on risk class and size","authority":"Local health department","source":"Est.: Ohio retail-food licence fees are set by each local health district under ORC 3717; typical published fees are in the $300–$1,000 band"},{"name":"Food handler card / food protection manager certificate","fee":"$10–$15 food handler card; $100–$180 ServSafe Manager exam","authority":"State/county health code (e.g. CA H&S Code §113948)","source":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC&sectionNum=113948"}],"festivals":[{"name":"Halloween","dates2026_27":"31 Oct 2026","effect":"candy, costume, bakery and bar demand spike"},{"name":"Thanksgiving / Black Friday / Small Business Saturday","dates2026_27":"26–28 Nov 2026","effect":"Thursday most shops shut; Black Friday and Small Business Saturday are the year's biggest retail weekend"},{"name":"Christmas / holiday season","dates2026_27":"late Nov – 25 Dec 2026","effect":"retail peak, about 19–20% of annual retail sales for many stores; many close 25 Dec"},{"name":"Super Bowl LXI","dates2026_27":"14 Feb 2027","effect":"takeaway food, wings, pizza and beer demand surge"},{"name":"Memorial Day","dates2026_27":"31 May 2027","effect":"start of summer; BBQ, ice cream and food-truck season opens"},{"name":"Independence Day","dates2026_27":"4 Jul 2027 (observed Mon 5 Jul)","effect":"events and fireworks; food trucks and stalls busy, offices closed"},{"name":"Labor Day / back-to-school","dates2026_27":"6 Sep 2027 (back-to-school late Jul–Aug)","effect":"back-to-school retail peak; end of summer season"}],"seasons":[{"months":"Dec–Feb","what":"Winter: snow and ice cut foot traffic in the north/Midwest; outdoor vending mostly stops in Ohio, NY"},{"months":"May–Sep","what":"Peak season for food trucks, ice cream, festivals and patios"},{"months":"Jun–Nov","what":"Atlantic hurricane season: Florida, Gulf Coast Texas, Carolinas face closures and power cuts"},{"months":"Jul–Oct","what":"Western wildfire season: smoke days and power-shutoff events in California and the West"}],"payments":{"digitalShare":"Cards dominate: cash is about 15% of payments by count (Fed diary, 2024 data); card fees about 2.6% + 15¢ on Square","credit":"Consumer credit cards are universal; trade credit (net-30) common B2B; tipping 15–20% expected in sit-down service and common at counters"},"notes":"The US is 50 different rule-books: the federal layer is thin (EIN, $7.25 minimum wage, FICA payroll tax), and almost everything a small shop pays for is set by the state, county or city: minimum wage ($7.25 in Texas to $16.90+ in California), sales tax (0–10%+), LLC fees ($50 to $800/yr), food-truck permits and health inspections. Labour is the dominant cost (wages are 10–20× Indian levels while rents per sq ft are 5–20×), customers pay by card and tip, and the big demand peaks are Thanksgiving-to-Christmas, Super Bowl and summer. Health insurance and liability insurance are real costs with no Indian equivalent.","regions":[{"id":"us-california","name":"California","why":"$16.90 state minimum wage (fast-food $20), $800/yr LLC franchise tax, strict county health permits for food trucks and cottage food, highest commercial power (about 23¢/kWh)"},{"id":"us-texas","name":"Texas","why":"no state income tax and federal $7.25 minimum wage; $300 LLC fee; 6.25% state sales tax plus local up to 8.25%; food-truck rules set city by city (Austin, Houston); Gulf hurricane risk"},{"id":"us-new-york","name":"New York","why":"$17 minimum wage downstate / $16 upstate; NYC mobile vending permits capped with long waitlists; 8.875% NYC sales tax; LLC publication requirement adds cost"},{"id":"us-florida","name":"Florida","why":"minimum wage stepped to $15 on 30 Sep 2026; no personal income tax; state DBPR mobile food licence valid statewide; hurricane season disruption"},{"id":"us-washington","name":"Washington","why":"among the highest state minimum wages, Seattle higher still; no income tax but B&O gross-receipts tax on revenue"},{"id":"us-illinois","name":"Illinois","why":"$15 state minimum wage, Chicago higher; Chicago restaurant and sales taxes among the country's highest"},{"id":"us-ohio","name":"Ohio","why":"baseline mid-cost state: $11.00 minimum wage, $99 LLC, 5.75% state sales tax, municipal income taxes; fastest commercial power price rises in 2026"}],"factors":[{"id":"P01","cat":"Wages","name":"Federal minimum wage","value":"$7.25/hour (unchanged since 2009; applies where states set no higher rate, e.g. Texas)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage","estimate":false},{"id":"P02","cat":"Wages","name":"Ohio minimum wage 2026 (T2/T3 baseline)","value":"$11.00/hour non-tipped, $5.50 tipped, for employers with >$405,000 gross receipts","role":"HV","source":"https://www.wcpo.com/news/state/state-ohio/ohios-minimum-wage-moves-to-11-an-hour-in-2026","estimate":false},{"id":"P03","cat":"Wages","name":"State minimum wages for key states","value":"California $16.90; New York $17.00 (NYC/LI/Westchester), $16.00 upstate; Florida $15.00 from 30 Sep 2026; Texas $7.25","role":"HV","source":"https://www.paycom.com/resources/blog/minimum-wage-rate-by-state/","estimate":false},{"id":"P04","cat":"Wages","name":"Unskilled day wage (basket)","value":"$88 (Ohio $11 × 8 h)","role":"HV","source":"Derived from P02","estimate":false},{"id":"P05","cat":"Wages","name":"Minimum monthly wage, full-time (basket)","value":"$1,906 ($11 × 40 h × 52 / 12)","role":"HV","source":"Derived from P02","estimate":false},{"id":"P06","cat":"Wages","name":"Typical shop/counter helper pay","value":"$13–$16/hour in Ohio; $18–$22 in NYC; tipped staff often paid tipped minimum plus tips","role":"HV","source":"Est.: entry retail/food-service pay runs 15–40% above state minimum in a tight labour market; BLS OEWS cashier/food-prep medians 2024 were about $14–$15","estimate":true},{"id":"P07","cat":"Payroll","name":"Employer payroll taxes","value":"FICA 7.65% (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%); FUTA 0.6% net on first $7,000 per worker; state unemployment (Ohio new-employer rate about 2.7%) ","role":"HV","source":"https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc751","estimate":false},{"id":"P08","cat":"Payroll","name":"Workers' compensation and benefits","value":"Workers' comp is compulsory (Ohio state fund; about 1–3% of payroll for retail/food); health insurance mandate only at 50+ full-time staff (ACA)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Ohio BWC base rates for retail/restaurant classes; ACA employer mandate threshold 50 FTE per https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/employers/employer-shared-responsibility-provisions","estimate":true},{"id":"P09","cat":"Rent","name":"Shop rent, T1 (NYC neighbourhood retail)","value":"$8.0/sq ft/month (about $90–$110/sq ft/yr outside prime Manhattan corridors)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: REBNY/brokerage reports put NYC neighbourhood retail asking rents at $70–$150/sq ft/yr; prime Manhattan $300+","estimate":true},{"id":"P10","cat":"Rent","name":"Shop rent, T2 (Columbus strip mall)","value":"$1.6/sq ft/month (about $18–$20/sq ft/yr, plus NNN charges of $4–$6/yr)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: Columbus retail asking rents in brokerage reports run about $16–$22/sq ft/yr triple-net","estimate":true},{"id":"P11","cat":"Rent","name":"Shop rent, T3 (small-town Main Street)","value":"$0.9/sq ft/month (about $9–$12/sq ft/yr)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: small-town Ohio storefront listings typically $8–$14/sq ft/yr","estimate":true},{"id":"P12","cat":"Energy","name":"Commercial electricity price","value":"$0.139/kWh national average, H1 2026 (California about $0.23; Hawaii about $0.42); Ohio among the fastest risers in 2026","role":"HV","source":"https://startbusinessbystate.com/commercial-electricity-costs-service-businesses/ (EIA retail data, updated Sep 2026)","estimate":false},{"id":"P13","cat":"Energy","name":"Gasoline (regular)","value":"$4.29/gallon = $1.13/litre national average on 25 Oct 2026 (elevated by the 2026 Iran/Hormuz oil shock; about $2.90–$3.10 in Jan 2026)","role":"HV","source":"https://gasprices.aaa.com/","estimate":false},{"id":"P14","cat":"Energy","name":"Propane cylinder (basket LPG equivalent)","value":"$25 for a 20 lb (9 kg) tank exchange; food trucks commonly run 2–4 tanks or a 40–100 lb cylinder","role":"HV","source":"Est.: big-box tank-exchange prices were about $22–$25 in 2025; propane tracks crude, so 2026 prices are at the top of that range","estimate":true},{"id":"P15","cat":"Prices","name":"Takeaway coffee (basket teaCup)","value":"$2.75 for a small drip coffee in Columbus (latte $4.50–$5.50)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: chain drip coffee is $2.25–$3.25 in 2025–26; independent cafés higher","estimate":true},{"id":"P16","cat":"Prices","name":"Cheap meal (basket simpleMeal)","value":"$13 fast-food combo or diner plate before tip","role":"HV","source":"Est.: fast-food combo meals averaged about $10–$13 in 2025 after menu inflation; BLS CPI food-away-from-home up about 3–4% a year","estimate":true},{"id":"P17","cat":"Prices","name":"Men's haircut (basket)","value":"$25 at a barber in a mid-size city (plus about $5 tip)","role":"HV","source":"Est.: chain salons (Great Clips) about $20–$25 in 2025; independent barbers $25–$35","estimate":true},{"id":"P18","cat":"Prices","name":"Milk and bread (basket)","value":"Milk $4.20/gallon = $1.11/L; white bread loaf $2.50","role":"HV","source":"Est.: BLS Average Price Data (series APU0000709112 milk, APU0000702111 bread) ran about $4.0/gal and $1.95/lb in 2025; uplifted 3–5% for 2026. https://www.bls.gov/charts/consumer-price-index/consumer-price-index-average-price-data.htm","estimate":true},{"id":"P19","cat":"Registration","name":"Sole proprietorship","value":"No state filing needed; a 'DBA'/trade name filing costs about $25–$100 (Ohio trade name $39); owner pays 15.3% self-employment tax on net profit","role":"PD","source":"https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/self-employment-tax-social-security-and-medicare-taxes","estimate":false},{"id":"P20","cat":"Registration","name":"LLC formation fees by state","value":"Ohio $99 (no annual fee); Texas $300; New York $200 + publication (often $300–$1,500+ in NYC); Florida $125 + $138.75 annual report; California $70 + $800/yr","role":"PD","source":"https://www.ohiosos.gov/businesses/filing-forms--fee-schedule/ ; https://dos.ny.gov/limited-liability-company-filing-fees ; https://dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/","estimate":false},{"id":"P21","cat":"Registration","name":"Beneficial ownership (BOI) reporting","value":"US-formed companies exempted from FinCEN BOI reporting by the March 2025 interim rule","role":"HV","source":"https://www.fincen.gov/boi","estimate":false},{"id":"P22","cat":"Tax","name":"Sales tax rates","value":"Ohio 5.75% state (Franklin County total about 8.0%); California 7.25% base (up to about 10.75%); Texas 6.25% + up to 2%; NYC 8.875%; Florida 6% + county surtax; Oregon/Montana/NH/DE none","role":"HV","source":"https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/sales-tax-rates/","estimate":false},{"id":"P23","cat":"Tax","name":"Sales-tax registration threshold","value":"No small-seller exemption in your home state; remote-seller economic nexus usually $100,000/yr (South Dakota v. Wayfair, 2018)","role":"HV","source":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/17pdf/17-494_j4el.pdf","estimate":false},{"id":"P24","cat":"Tax","name":"Local income taxes","value":"Many Ohio cities tax wages and net business profit (Columbus 2.5%); NYC unincorporated business tax 4%","role":"HV","source":"https://www.columbus.gov/Services/Income-Tax","estimate":false},{"id":"P25","cat":"Licences","name":"Food handler / manager certification","value":"Food handler cards $10–$15 online (required in CA, TX, IL, WA and others); most states require one certified food protection manager (ServSafe Manager $100–$180)","role":"HV","source":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=HSC&sectionNum=113948","estimate":false},{"id":"P26","cat":"Licences","name":"Food-truck permits","value":"Typically $500–$2,500/yr in health permits, fire inspection and city vending licences; plus commissary kitchen rent of $400–$1,200/month where required","role":"PD","source":"Est.: city/county fee schedules vary widely; LA County, NYC and Austin publish fees in this band; NYC permits capped (resale market)","estimate":true},{"id":"P27","cat":"Licences","name":"Cottage food laws (home-baked goods)","value":"All states allow some home food sales without a commercial kitchen; caps and rules differ (e.g. California $75,000–$150,000/yr limits, Texas no cap)","role":"PD","source":"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DFDCS/Pages/FDBPrograms/FoodSafetyProgram/CottageFoodOperations.aspx","estimate":false},{"id":"P28","cat":"Payments","name":"Card processing fees","value":"Square 2.6% + 15¢ in person, 2.9% + 30¢ online; interchange plus markup 2–3% typical; card surcharges allowed in most states (banned in CT, MA) with caps","role":"PD","source":"https://squareup.com/us/en/pricing","estimate":false},{"id":"P29","cat":"Payments","name":"Cash share of payments","value":"Cash about 15–16% of consumer payments by number (2024); some cities (NYC, Philadelphia, SF) require shops to accept cash","role":"HV","source":"https://www.atlantafed.org/banking-and-payments/consumer-payments/diary-of-consumer-payment-choice","estimate":false},{"id":"P30","cat":"Payments","name":"Tipping culture","value":"15–20% at sit-down service; tip screens at counters; tipped workers can be paid a lower base wage in most states","role":"HV","source":"https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/minimum-wage/tipped","estimate":false},{"id":"P31","cat":"Finance","name":"SBA microloans and 7(a)","value":"SBA microloans up to $50,000 via nonprofit intermediaries; 7(a) loans up to $5 million with government guarantee","role":"PD","source":"https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/microloans","estimate":false},{"id":"P32","cat":"Costs","name":"General liability insurance","value":"About $40–$80/month for a small shop or food truck ($1M cover)","role":"PD","source":"Est.: insurer marketplace quotes for small retail and food vendors typically $500–$1,000/yr","estimate":true},{"id":"P33","cat":"Rules","name":"Alcohol and tobacco","value":"Alcohol licences are state-controlled and can cost $1,000s to $100,000s where quota-capped; tobacco/vape sale age 21 federally","role":"HV","source":"https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/retail-sales-tobacco-products/tobacco-21","estimate":false},{"id":"P34","cat":"Rules","name":"Plastic bag and foam bans","value":"About a dozen states (CA, NY, NJ, others) ban single-use plastic bags; polystyrene foam containers banned in several states and cities","role":"HV","source":"https://www.ncsl.org/environment-and-natural-resources/state-plastic-bag-legislation","estimate":false},{"id":"P35","cat":"Demographics","name":"Per-capita personal income","value":"About $73,000 (2025); Ohio about $63,000","role":"HV","source":"Est.: BEA state personal income tables, https://www.bea.gov/data/income-saving/personal-income-by-state, 2024 figures grown about 4%","estimate":true},{"id":"P36","cat":"Demographics","name":"Urbanisation and language","value":"About 80% urban (2020 Census); English dominant, Spanish spoken at home by about 13%","role":"HV","source":"https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/guidance/geo-areas/urban-rural.html","estimate":false},{"id":"P37","cat":"Calendar","name":"Federal holidays and trading","value":"11 federal holidays; private shops may open, but Thanksgiving and Christmas Day closures are near universal; no Sunday trading law in most states","role":"HV","source":"https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/federal-holidays/","estimate":false},{"id":"P38","cat":"Risk","name":"Hurricane landfall","value":"Florida/Gulf/Carolinas: several days' closure, power loss and stock spoilage in a bad season (Jun–Nov)","role":"RE","source":"https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/","estimate":false},{"id":"P39","cat":"Risk","name":"Winter storm / polar vortex","value":"Northern states lose 1–5 trading days a winter; Texas grid failure (Feb 2021) shows power-loss tail risk","role":"RE","source":"https://www.weather.gov/","estimate":false},{"id":"P40","cat":"Risk","name":"Wildfire smoke and power shutoffs","value":"California and the West: smoke days empty outdoor dining; utility Public Safety Power Shutoffs last 1–3 days","role":"RE","source":"https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/consumer-support/psps","estimate":false},{"id":"P41","cat":"Risk","name":"Fuel and input price shock","value":"2026 oil shock pushed gasoline from about $3 to $4.50/gal by Sep 2026, raising delivery, propane and food-truck costs","role":"RE","source":"https://gasprices.aaa.com/","estimate":false},{"id":"P42","cat":"Risk","name":"Tariff-driven import cost rises","value":"2025–26 import tariffs raised prices of imported equipment, packaging and some foods by 10%+","role":"RE","source":"Est.: broad US tariffs imposed in 2025 lifted import costs; size varies by product and country of origin","estimate":true},{"id":"P43","cat":"Businesses","name":"Most-searched small-business types","value":"Food truck, coffee shop, bakery/home bakery, cleaning service, lawn care, barbershop/salon, vending machines, laundromat, convenience store, car wash","role":"HV","source":"Est.: recurring top results in Google 'how to start a ... business' US autocomplete and SBA guides","estimate":true}]}