Michigan Business Startup Guides
Open a Business in Atlanta, Michigan
Need help starting a business in Atlanta, Michigan? We've got the information you need to open a business in Atlanta.
What Business to Start
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. If you are struggling with what type of business to start, read Good Business Ideas.
To view an extensive list of business types, complete with startup instructions, spend some time in the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our How to Start an Animal Artificial Insemination Business guide or our Starting an Exercise & Fitness Equipment & Supplies Dealers Business guide.
Always keep in mind that you are opening your new business in Atlanta. Some businesses will do better in Atlanta than others. Only by spending some time analyzing Atlanta demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.
Atlanta, Michigan Demographic Information
Atlanta has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Atlanta demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Atlanta.
Businesses
As a new Atlanta entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Atlanta 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
Naming the Company
A big decision when starting a company is choosing a company name. Believe it or not, choosing a good company name can be a big contributor to your business success.
Company names should be fun to say, and they should help people to understand what you do and how you differentiate yourself in the market.
For other considerations regarding naming a company, we recommend this article: Branding Advice.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are opening a business in Atlanta, it's very important that you make sure no other Michigan company is using the business name you want to use.
Forming a Company in Atlanta, Michigan
A critical step is ensuring that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. The biggest advantage of forming your new business as a legal entity is that it separates your business liabilities from your personal liabilities.
The entity you form can be a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
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 Michigan, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Michigan. In fact, you can incorporate in any state you would like to. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.
There are many nuances to forming a company. To learn the fundamentals of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Corporate Formalities. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Atlanta, Michigan, our information on Incorporating in Michigan may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Michigan.
Where to Get Money to Start a Company
Getting your Atlanta business the capital it needs to succeed is very difficult due to the ongoing business credit crunch. To obtain business financing, you will need to hear a lot of rejections before you finally find a funding solution that works for you.
Fortunately, this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled 504 Loans.
For Atlanta entrepreneurs who need startup capital, check out our List of Michigan Angel Investors and our List of Michigan Venture Capital Firms.
Building Up Your Sales
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Atlanta or are selling to customers throughout Michigan, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
So what does it take to bring in more prospects and close more business? Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
Selling Stuff on the Web is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.
Next Steps
You have a dream -- starting a business in Atlanta. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Atlanta and elsewhere to achieve real success. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Atlanta entrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Atlanta, Michigan
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Atlanta.
- Resources for Atlanta, Michigan Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Atlanta entrepreneurs.
- Michigan Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Michigan.
- Michigan Small Business Development Center - This organization supports 12 regional offices and over 30 satellite offices, each providing counseling and training to Michigan small business owners and entrepreneurs throughout the 83 counties in Michigan. Services to entrepreneurs are offered through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
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