New York Business Startup Guides
Open a Business in Ithaca, New York
Need help starting a business in Ithaca, New York? We've got the information you need to open a business in Ithaca.
Will You Be a Good Entrepreneur?
Most new companies do not succeed, in part because the business owner did not have the perseverance and abilities that are necessary to succeed. So, before you start your business, 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 Ithaca. They are usually very willing to share their insights on the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur.
- We recommend reading Should You Become an Entrepreneur?. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Have a candid conversation with friends and family. Others sometimes know you better than you know yourself.
Ithaca, New York Demographic Information
Ithaca has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Ithaca demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Ithaca.
Businesses
As a new Ithaca entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Ithaca 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
Choosing a Company Name
A good company name can give a big boost to a new startup. It might seem like an easy thing to do, but there are many things to consider when naming a business.
Company names need to be easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and easy to remember.
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 opening a business in Ithaca, it's imperative that you check now that your company name has not already been claimed by another New York business.
Do You Need a Business Plan?
Writing a business plan is vital in laying a solid foundation for your business success. 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.
To learn more about business plans, read The Art of the Executive Summary. A great resource for business planning assistance is the free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in New York.
Selling Tips
Mastering the art of selling is a must if you want your new Ithaca business to do well.
Good selling involves demonstrating that your wares meet your customer's needs. Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
Anticipating Prospect Responses is worth reading, as it may give you some good ideas on how to sell your products or services. We have many more good articles on selling that you may enjoy reading.
Improving Your Entrepreneurial Skillset
Successful entrepreneurs know that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.
As an entrepreneur who lives in Ithaca, New York, you should investigate some of the many programs available at nearby New York universities, colleges and community colleges. You should also check if there are any networking organizations for Ithaca entrepreneurs.
What's Next?
Most new Ithaca businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Ithaca and elsewhere to achieve real success. 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 Ithaca, New York
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Ithaca.
- Resources for Ithaca, New York Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Ithaca entrepreneurs.
- New York Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in New York.
- New York Small Business Development Center - The New York State Small Business Development Center delivers high quality business counseling and training to New Yorkers who want to start a business or improve the performance of an existing business.
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