Ohio Business Startup Guides

Open a Business in Bluffton, Ohio

Need help starting a business in Bluffton, Ohio? We've got the information you need to open a business in Bluffton.

Bluffton, Ohio Demographic Information

Bluffton has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.

To give you a better feel for Bluffton demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Bluffton.

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
1290
5-9 Employees
600
10-19 Employees
315
20-49 Employees
210
50-99 Employees
105
100-249 Employees
75
250-499 Employees
15
500-999 Employees
30
1000+ Employees
0
All Bluffton Businesses
2640

As a new Bluffton entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Bluffton 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.

Business Type
# of
Businesses
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
2
Beauty Salons
1
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
1
Bowling Centers
1
Business Associations
1
Child Day Care Services
2
Computer Systems Design Services
1
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
1
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
1
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
1
Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing
1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
1
Electrical Contractors
1
Elementary and Secondary Schools
1
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
1
Floor Covering Stores
1
Flooring Contractors
2
Florists
1
Food Service Contractors
1
Freight Transportation Arrangement
1
Full-Service Restaurants
5
General Automotive Repair
3
General Freight Trucking, Local
2
General Warehousing and Storage
1
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
2
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
1
Grantmaking Foundations
1
Graphic Design Services
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
1
Home Centers
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
5
Landscaping Services
3
Limited-Service Restaurants
8
Machine Shops
1
Masonry Contractors
1
Medical Laboratories
1
Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing
1
Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping
1
New Car Dealers
1
Newspaper Publishers
1
Nonresidential Property Managers
1
Nursing Care Facilities
3
Offices of Chiropractors
1
Offices of Dentists
1
Offices of Lawyers
1
Offices of Optometrists
1
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
1
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
1
Portfolio Management
1
Remediation Services
1
Residential Property Managers
1
Residential Remodelers
1
Roofing Contractors
2
Securities Brokerage
2
Septic Tank and Related Services
1
Site Preparation Contractors
4
Tax Preparation Services
1
Temporary Help Services
2
Used Car Dealers
1
Used Merchandise Stores
1
Veterinary Services
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
1
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
2

Is Franchising a Better Option?

As you drive around Bluffton, you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. But is franchising the right option for you?

We advise the entrepreneurs we work with to investigate buying a franchise. To help you learn more about franchising, we've gathered a ton of articles on franchising, including Growth Trends in Franchising. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.

You can review hundreds of franchise opportunities by browing our Franchise Directory.

Sample franchise opportunities include Border Magic, LLC and ColorTyme Rent To Own. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Golf Franchises and Landscaping Franchises.

Note on Bluffton Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Bluffton, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.

What About Buying an Existing Bluffton Business?

If you have some capital to play with, you may want to Buy a Business in Ohio. Follow that link and you might discover several good businesses for sale in Bluffton.

Before buying a business, be sure to read this article: Buying a Business.

Selecting a Name For Your Venture

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.

Before you decide on a company name, run it by some prospective customers and see what they think. If they don't like it, it's probably a good idea to go back to the drawing board.

Numerous company naming issues are discussed in more detail in this article: Naming a Business.

As a final piece of advice, remember that because you are planning on starting a business in Bluffton, it's imperative that you check now that no Ohio company has already registered the company name you have selected.

Company Formation in Bluffton, Ohio

It's very important that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. The main advantage of forming your new business as a legal entity is that it separates your business liabilities from your personal liabilities.

When forming a company, you will decide among many company types, such as 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. Just because you are starting a business in Ohio, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Ohio. As it turns out, you are allowed to incorporate wherever you want. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.

There's a lot to know about forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Getting an EIN. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Bluffton, Ohio, our web page covering Incorporating in Ohio may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Ohio.

Learning More About Entrepreneurship

Successful entrepreneurs know that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.

With your business being located in Bluffton, Ohio, you should check out some of the learning programs at local Ohio educational institutions. Another way to keep up on your learning is to investigate Bluffton networking organizations.

Now It's Up To You

Most new Bluffton businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.

Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.

Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Bluffton and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Bluffton, neighborhood development and overall economic health.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Bluffton, Ohio

Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Bluffton.

  • Resources for Bluffton, Ohio Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Bluffton entrepreneurs.
  • Ohio Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Ohio.
  • Ohio Small Business Development Center - Whether you're starting your business, expanding your business, or just looking to stay in business, the Small Business Development Centers of Ohio (SBDCs of Ohio) can help with professional guidance by connecting you with research, financing sources, and training opportunities.

Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in Ohio

Starting a Business in Bellville
Starting a Business in Boardman

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