Ohio Business Startup Guides
Open a Business in Columbus, Ohio
Need help starting a business in Columbus, Ohio? We've got the information you need to open a business in Columbus.
Do You Have Entrepreneurial Drive and Passion?
Most startup ventures do not succeed, in part because the entrepreneur did not have the perseverance and abilities that are necessary to succeed. So, before jumping into the world of entrepreneurship, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
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:
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Columbus. 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.
Columbus, Ohio Demographic Information
Columbus has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Columbus demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Columbus.
Businesses
As a new Columbus entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Columbus 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
What About Franchising Opportunities?
Browse the Yellow Pages for Columbus and it becomes clear that purchasing a franchise is a common way to get started as an entrepreneur. Would going with a franchise be a good idea for you?
Our recommendation is that you look into purchasing a franchise. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchising Mistakes. 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.
Representative franchise opportunities include Hamburger Mary's Bar & Grille and Homewatch Caregivers. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Dating Service Franchises and Mail and Shipping Services Franchises.
Note on Columbus Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Columbus.
Should You Buy an Existing Columbus Business?
An excellent way to get started in business is to Buy a Business in Ohio. Follow that link and you can assess several good businesses for sale in Columbus.
For anybody who wants to buy a business, we recommend reading this useful article: Buying a Business.
Don't Forget to Create a Business Plan
Writing a business plan is critical to the health of your new business. In effect, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Not having a business plan will greatly reduce your chances of business success.
Before you start writing a business plan, we suggest you skim Business Plan Mistakes. A great resource for business planning assistance is the free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Ohio.
Learning More About Entrepreneurship
Good entrepreneurs recognize that they need to continually improve.
As an entrepreneur who lives in Columbus, Ohio, you should check out some of the many programs available at nearby Ohio universities, colleges and community colleges. You should also check if there are any networking organizations for Columbus entrepreneurs.
Interviews With Columbus Entrepreneurs
We're compiling a number of interviews with Columbus entrepreneurs. Enjoy!
Now It's Up To You
Most new Columbus 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 Columbus and throughout the United States . We have a wealth of experience in business start-ups, financing, marketing, sales and more...and we've made all of our knowledge available to you.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Columbus, Ohio
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Columbus.
- Resources for Columbus, Ohio Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Columbus 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.
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