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Wholesale licensing guide

Licensing & Compliance Guide

Everything you need to know about wholesale licensing requirements for purchasing ENDS, tobacco, and smoke products from My Vape Order.

This page is for reference only and is not legal or tax advice. Requirements can change — always verify with your state agency.

Section 1

What Every Wholesale Buyer Needs

Before checking your state's specific requirements, make sure you have these four documents ready. Every MVO wholesale account requires them regardless of state.

Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Your federal tax ID — a 9-digit number issued by the IRS that identifies your business. Formatted as XX-XXXXXXX.

Where to get it: Free from the IRS at irs.gov. Takes about 5 minutes online.

Note — Sole proprietors may use their SSN, but an EIN is strongly recommended.

Resale Certificate / Sales Tax Permit

Issued by your state's department of revenue. Proves you're buying products for resale (not personal use) and exempts your wholesale purchase from sales tax.

Where to get it: Your state's department of revenue website. Use the state selector below to find your state's specific agency.

Note — This is different from your business license — it's specifically for tax-exempt purchasing.

State Business License

Your general business operating license — confirms you're a legally registered business in your state. Required by MVO as part of wholesale account verification. Most states also require all businesses to hold a general business license or registration regardless of what they sell.

Where to get it: Your state's secretary of state or business licensing office.

Note — Some states call this a "retail license," "merchant license," or "business registration." Any of these works. Even in states that don't require a separate tobacco retailer license, MVO still requires proof that you're a legally registered business entity — not a consumer purchasing wholesale quantities for personal use.

State Tobacco / Vapor Retailer License (where required)

A separate license specifically for selling tobacco, nicotine, or vapor products at retail. Required in 36+ states.

Where to get it: Varies by state — use the state selector below to find your state's specific requirement and agency link.

Note — This is the most commonly missed document. Many buyers have a business license but don't realize their state also requires a separate tobacco retailer license.

Section 2

Requirements by State

Select your state to see exactly which documents MVO requires from buyers in your state, with direct links to each official licensing agency.

Pick your state above to see exactly which documents you need to open a wholesale account with MVO.

MVO ships ENDS, vape, and tobacco products to licensed wholesale retailers. Choose your state — for example California, Florida, or Texas — to see the resale certificate, tobacco retailer license, and any vapor-specific permit you need to open a wholesale account.

Section 3

Frequently Asked Questions

The questions our team fields most often about wholesale licensing and compliance.

Why does MVO require a business license if my state doesn't specifically require one for tobacco retail?
A general business license or registration is our baseline verification that you're a legally operating business — not a consumer purchasing wholesale quantities for personal use. Even in states that don't require a separate tobacco retailer license, we still need to confirm you're a registered business entity. Most states require some form of business registration anyway; this just makes sure we have it on file.
What licenses do I need to buy vapes and ENDS products wholesale from MVO?
At minimum: your EIN, a resale certificate from your state, and — in most states — a state tobacco or vapor retailer license. Use the state selector above to see exactly what your state requires. The specific license name and issuing agency varies by state, but the pattern is the same everywhere: federal ID + state resale cert + state tobacco/vapor license.
My tobacco license is expired. Can I still place orders?
Accounts with expired licenses are temporarily restricted from ordering regulated products (ENDS, nicotine) until the license is renewed and re-uploaded. You can still order non-regulated products (smoke accessories, general merchandise) while your renewal is in progress. Once you upload your renewed license, your account is fully restored — usually within 24 hours of our review.
Do I need a separate license for each store location?
It depends on your state. Some states issue a single license that covers multiple locations under the same business entity; others require a separate license per physical location. Check your state's licensing agency — the links in the state selector above go directly to the right page. When in doubt, list all your locations on your wholesale application and we'll flag any gaps during review.
I'm in a state where you can't ship ENDS products. Can I still order other products?
Yes. ENDS shipping restrictions apply only to nicotine and vapor products — not to smoke accessories, kratom, hemp, mushroom products, or general merchandise. If your state is restricted for ENDS, you'll see a notice on your state's page above, and your account will simply be blocked from adding ENDS products to your cart. Everything else is available.
What's the difference between a resale certificate and a tobacco retailer license?
They're issued by different agencies for different purposes. A resale certificate (also called a sales tax permit) comes from your state's department of revenue and exempts your wholesale purchase from sales tax — it proves you're buying to resell. A tobacco retailer license comes from a separate state agency (often ABC, department of health, or a tobacco-specific board) and authorizes you to sell tobacco and vapor products to consumers. You need both in most states. Think of it this way: the resale cert handles tax, the tobacco license handles authorization.
What if my state doesn't require a tobacco retailer license?
Then you just need your EIN and resale certificate. A handful of states have no specific tobacco/vapor retailer licensing requirement — if that's your state, the state selector above will show only the resale cert as required. You're still welcome to apply; we'll just verify the documents you do have.
Do you accept digital or scanned copies of licenses?
Yes — PDFs, clear photos, or scanned copies are all accepted. The document needs to be legible and show the license number and expiration date clearly. We don't require notarized or certified copies.
How long does license verification and account approval take?
Most applications are reviewed within 24–48 business hours of submission. You'll receive an email confirmation when your application is received, and another when it's approved (or if we need additional information). If you haven't heard back within 2 business days, email us at billing@myvapeorder.com.
Can I start browsing your catalog before I'm approved?
Yes. You can create an account and browse our full catalog at list pricing immediately — no approval required to look around. Approved accounts unlock tier pricing and the ability to place orders. Start your application at any time and come back to finish it — your progress is saved automatically.
What if I'm a new business and don't have my tobacco license yet?
You can still start your application with your EIN and resale certificate and note that your tobacco license is pending. We'll flag your account and reach out once you have it. Many new businesses are in the process of getting licensed — we work with you through that process rather than making you wait to even begin.
Section 4

Ready to Open a Wholesale Account?

The process takes about 10 minutes to start and 24–48 hours to approve.

  1. 1Takes 2 minutes

    Create Your Account

    Enter your business name, state, and contact info. You can browse our catalog immediately.

  2. 2Takes 5–10 minutes

    Upload Your Documents

    Upload your EIN, resale certificate, and state tobacco license (if required). Your progress saves automatically — come back anytime to finish.

  3. 3Within 24–48 business hours

    We Review Your Application

    Our team verifies your documents and approves your account. We'll reach out if we need anything else.

  4. 4Once approved

    Start Ordering

    Your account unlocks tier pricing and full ordering access. Welcome to the MVO wholesale family.

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Have questions? Email us at billing@myvapeorder.com.