Indiana Business Startup Guides
Open a Business in Bedford, Indiana
Need help starting a business in Bedford, Indiana? We've got the information you need to open a business in Bedford.
Are You Sure You Want to Do This?
Running your own business is difficult, and can be orders of magnitude more strenuous than working as an employee. Are you certain you want to start a business?
Because entrepreneurship is not for everyone, we recommend you do the following to help you assess whether you should move forward with starting a business:
- Speak with other entrepreneurs in Bedford. Ask them candidly what it's like to run a business.
- You should read Starting a Company. It's a good read for those who are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur.
- Talk it over with a close friend or partner. The people who know you best are often in the best position to tell you bluntly whether you will be a good entrepreneur.
Bedford, Indiana Demographic Information
Bedford has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Bedford demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Bedford.
Businesses
As a new Bedford entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Bedford 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 Franchising a Better Option?
Browse the Yellow Pages for Bedford and you'll see that franchises make up a large percentage of local businesses. Is there a franchise opportunity out there that makes sense for you?
We highly recommend you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchisees Versus Licensees. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
You can find franchise opportunities by browsing our Franchise Opportunities Directory.
Sample franchise opportunities include SHIELD Security Systems and Beat The Bookstore. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Car Wash Franchises and Healthy Alternative Foods Franchises.
Note on Bedford Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Bedford, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.
Forming a Company in Bedford, Indiana
It's essential that you form your business as a legal structure. Among other things, forming a legal entity for the business limits your liabilities.
The entity you form can be a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporation 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 Indiana, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Indiana. As it turns out, 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 C Corp Versus S Corp. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Bedford, Indiana, our information on Incorporating in Indiana may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Indiana.
Don't Forget to Create a Business Plan
Writing a business plan is essential in maximizing the prospects of your new company. In effect, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. Failure to write a business plan will greatly reduce your chances of business success.
To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Contests. You should also take advantage of free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Indiana.
Marketing Your New Startup
To rise above the crowd in Bedford and grow your business, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.
We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. National TV Spot Advertising Rates is an article that will generate a few thoughts on your marketing plan. There are many more articles on marketing on our site. Visit our Small Business Marketing resource section to see them all.
Improving Your Entrepreneurial Skillset
Good entrepreneurs recognize that they need to continually improve.
As an entrepreneur who lives in Bedford, Indiana, you will want to take advantage of the learning programs at local Indiana educational institutions. It's also wise to see if there are any networking organizations for Bedford entrepreneurs.
Next Steps
As an entrepreneur in Bedford, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Bedford and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Bedford 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 Bedford, Indiana
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Bedford.
- Resources for Bedford, Indiana Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Bedford entrepreneurs.
- Indiana Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Indiana.
- Indiana Small Business Development Center - The Indiana Small Business Development Center assists Indiana entrepreneurs and small businesses through one on one counseling, education and business resources.
More Business Startup Guides for Indiana
Starting a Business in Batesville
Starting a Business in Beech Grove
Browse All Business Startup Guides for Indiana
Starting a Business Guides for Other States
Share this article
Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs