Georgia Business Startup Guides

Opening a Business in Canton, Georgia

Contemplating starting a business in Canton, Georgia? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Canton.

Is Becoming an Entrepreneur Right for You?

Before you get too far along in the process, assess your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.

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 Canton. Get their take on what it's really like to be an entrepreneur.
  • You should read The Entrepreneurial Personality. It's a good read for those who are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur.
  • Reach out to a trusted acquaintance. That's the best way to get a truly objective assessment as to whether others think you have what it takes.

What Business to Start

Choosing a business that is right for you is very important. If you are struggling with what type of business to start, read Business Ideas That Don't Make Sense.

For step-by-step instructions on starting a variety of business types, visit the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our How to Start a Learning Disabilities Information Services Business guide or our How to Start a Steel Detailers Business guide.

Always keep in mind that your new business will be in Canton. The business you want to start may already be well-represented in Canton. A critical consideration is whether Canton demographics mesh well with your startup concept.

Canton, Georgia Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
44115
5-9 Employees
11265
10-19 Employees
7695
20-49 Employees
4455
50-99 Employees
2025
100-249 Employees
585
250-499 Employees
90
500-999 Employees
45
1000+ Employees
0
All Canton Businesses
70275

As a new Canton entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Canton 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
Aluminum Extruded Product Manufacturing
1
Amusement and Theme Parks
1
Apprenticeship Training
1
Automobile Driving Schools
1
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
8
Automotive Transmission Repair
1
Baked Goods Stores
1
Beauty Salons
15
Book Stores
2
Broadwoven Fabric Mills
1
Business Associations
2
Cable and Other Program Distribution
1
Cafeterias
1
Canvas and Related Product Mills
1
Car Washes
6
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
1
Caterers
2
Child and Youth Services
1
Child Day Care Services
12
Civic and Social Organizations
2
Claims Adjusting
2
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
1
Collection Agencies
1
Commercial Bakeries
2
Commercial Photography
1
Computer and Software Stores
2
Computer Systems Design Services
20
Computer Training
1
Consumer Lending
5
Convenience Stores
4
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
2
Custom Computer Programming Services
17
Deep Sea Freight Transportation
1
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
2
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
1
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
3
Direct Mail Advertising
1
Discount Department Stores
1
Drafting Services
1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
2
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
7
Electric Power Distribution
1
Electrical Contractors
32
Electronic Auctions
1
Electronic Shopping
2
Employment Placement Agencies
2
Engineering Services
9
Environmental Consulting Services
5
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
4
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
4
Facilities Support Services
1
Family Clothing Stores
4
Fine Arts Schools
1
Finish Carpentry Contractors
10
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
9
Floor Covering Stores
2
Flooring Contractors
7
Florists
6
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
1
Food Service Contractors
3
Framing Contractors
6
Freight Transportation Arrangement
1
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
1
Full-Service Restaurants
54
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
4
Furniture Stores
4
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
1
General Rental Centers
3
General Warehousing and Storage
2
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
2
Glass and Glazing Contractors
2
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
3
Graphic Design Services
6
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
1
Hardware Stores
4
HMO Medical Centers
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
1
Home Centers
2
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
1
Home Health Equipment Rental
1
Industrial Launderers
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
22
Interior Design Services
2
Investment Advice
3
Janitorial Services
8
Jewelry Stores
4
Land Subdivision
6
Landscaping Services
43
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
2
Limited-Service Restaurants
33
Limousine Service
1
Locksmiths
1
Logging
1
Machine Shops
5
Masonry Contractors
3
Meat Markets
2
Media Representatives
1
Medical Laboratories
1
Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
1
Miscellaneous Intermediation
1
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
1
Motorcycle Dealers
2
Museums
1
New Car Dealers
4
New Housing Operative Builders
10
News Syndicates
1
Nonresidential Property Managers
2
Nursing Care Facilities
4
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
1
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
3
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
5
Offices of Chiropractors
11
Offices of Dentists
18
Offices of Lawyers
28
Offices of Optometrists
3
Offices of Podiatrists
2
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
10
Optical Goods Stores
1
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
2
Packaging and Labeling Services
1
Packing and Crating
1
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
1
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
9
Payroll Services
1
Periodical Publishers
4
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
3
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
3
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
9
Photography Studios, Portrait
5
Poultry Processing
1
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
1
Private Mail Centers
6
Professional Employer Organizations
1
Public Relations Agencies
1
Radio Stations
1
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
6
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
1
Remediation Services
2
Residential Property Managers
5
Residential Remodelers
22
Retail Bakeries
1
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
1
Roofing Contractors
5
Sales Financing
1
Savings Institutions
1
Sawmills
1
Securities Brokerage
6
Security Guards and Patrol Services
3
Shoe Stores
5
Siding Contractors
5
Site Preparation Contractors
10
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
10
Software Publishers
1
Solid Waste Collection
2
Sound Recording Studios
2
Sporting Goods Stores
3
Sports and Recreation Instruction
2
Telecommunications Resellers
1
Temporary Help Services
5
Temporary Shelters
1
Testing Laboratories
1
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
1
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
1
Tire Dealers
7
Toilet Preparation Manufacturing
1
Tour Operators
1
Travel Agencies
2
Used Car Dealers
4
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
1
Used Merchandise Stores
3
Vending Machine Operators
1
Video Tape and Disc Rental
6
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
1
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
30
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
2
Women's Clothing Stores
2
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
2
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
1

Should You Franchise?

As you drive around Canton, you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. 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 Buying an Existing Franchise. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.

A comprehensive list of franchisors is available via our List of Franchise Opportunities.

Sample franchise opportunities include IDENT-A-Kid Services of America, Inc. and Mac Tools. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Child Care Franchises and Home Services Franchises.

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

Don't Forget to Create a Business Plan

A business plan is critical in maximizing the prospects of your new company. In effect, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Not having a business plan is a recipe for disaster.

To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Contests. You can also get free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Georgia.

The Art of Selling

Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Canton or are selling to customers throughout Georgia, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.

Why should customers buy from you instead of buying from competitors? Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.

Cold Call Selling is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.

Moving Forward

You have a dream -- starting a business in Canton. 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 Canton and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Canton 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 Canton, Georgia

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

More Startup Articles for Georgia Cities

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Starting a Business in Carrollton

Browse All Business Startup Guides for Georgia
Starting a Business Guides for Other States

 

 

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