Oregon Business Startup Guides
Open a Business in Astoria, Oregon
Need help starting a business in Astoria, Oregon? We've got the information you need to open a business in Astoria.
Do You Have Entrepreneurial Drive and Passion?
Before you get too far along in the process, assess your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
With so much at stake when you start a business, we strongly recommend you do the following before you proceed:
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Astoria. Get their candid feedback on what it takes to start a successful business.
- We recommend reading Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Seek the advice of somebody who knows you well. A support network of family and friends can be a great sounding board for good advice before you decide for sure to go into business.
Astoria, Oregon Demographic Information
Astoria has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Astoria demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Astoria.
Businesses
As a new Astoria entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Astoria for each business category. By looking at this chart, you can get a general sense for how much competition there is in the business niche that you are pursuing.
Businesses
Is a Franchise Opportunity Right For You?
As you drive around Astoria, you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. But is franchising the right option for you?
Most business experts recommend that you evaluate the possibility of your buying a franchise opportunity. We have many articles on franchises, such as Buying an Existing Franchise. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.
To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.
Sample franchise opportunities include FoodNet and Kumon Math & Reading Centers. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Training and Education Franchises and IT Franchises.
Note on Astoria Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Astoria, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.
Forming a Company in Astoria, Oregon
A critical step is ensuring that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will separate you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
The entity you form can be a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
Incorporating is a very popular way to form a business. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. If you are starting a business in Oregon, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Oregon. In fact, you are allowed to incorporate in the state of your choosing. For example, it's very popular to incorporate in Delaware, and incorporating in Nevada has become very trendy as well. Don't forget, though, that you will have to register as a foreign entity in all states that you do business in.
There are many nuances to forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Subchapter S Corporations. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Astoria, Oregon, our information on Incorporating in Oregon may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Oregon.
The Role of the Business Plan
A business plan is essential in maximizing the prospects of your new company. Indeed, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. Not having a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
If writing a business plan is on your to-do list, be sure to read Business Plan Contests. You can also get free business counselors available to you through your local SCORE chapter in Oregon.
Where to Get Money to Start a Company
Getting your Astoria business the capital it needs to succeed is a difficult chore. To obtain business financing, you will need to hear a lot of rejections before you finally find a funding solution that works for you.
Take advantage of our many articles on raising money, such as Business Cash Advances.
For Astoria entrepreneurs in need of startup financing, check out our List of Oregon Angel Investors and our List of Oregon Venture Capital Firms.
Now It's Up To You
You have a dream -- starting a business in Astoria. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Astoria and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Astoria, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Astoria, Oregon
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Astoria.
- Resources for Astoria, Oregon Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Astoria entrepreneurs.
- Oregon Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Oregon.
- Oregon Small Business Development Center - Oregon Small Business Development Centers use a client-centered approach to deliver counseling, training, information and technical assistance in all aspects of small business management. There is no fee for their assistance.
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