Michigan Business Startup Guides
Opening a Business in Lapeer, Michigan
Contemplating starting a business in Lapeer, Michigan? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Lapeer.
Do You Have What It Takes?
Before you get too far along in the process, take inventory of your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.
- Grab a meal or cofee with other entrepreneurs in Lapeer. Get their candid feedback on what it takes to start a successful business.
- Take a look at Business Failure. It's a short article but it's a good reality check for those are about to jump into the world of entrepreneurship.
- Involve a spouse, family member or trusted friend in the decision. 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.
Which Business to Choose?
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. To help you decide on a business type, we encourage you to read Free Business Ideas.
For in-depth how-to guides on how to start specific businesses, browse our Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our Opening a Fraternities & Sororities Business guide or our Opening a Used Fur Dealers Business guide.
Remember that you are starting a business in Lapeer. Some businesses will do better in Lapeer than others. Don't forget to review Lapeer demographics to see if there's a market for what you want to sell.
Lapeer, Michigan Demographic Information
Lapeer has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Lapeer demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Lapeer.
Businesses
As a new Lapeer entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Lapeer 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
Have You Considered Franchising?
As you drive around Lapeer, you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. Evidently, there must be some significant advantages to purchasing a franchise.
Most business experts recommend that you look into purchasing a franchise. We have many articles on franchises, such as Evaluating Franchise Opportunities. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.
To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.
Sample franchise opportunities include American Recruiters and Starbucks Franchises. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Healthy Alternative Foods Franchises and Payroll Service Franchises.
Note on Lapeer Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Lapeer.
Selecting a Name For Your Venture
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.
For other considerations regarding naming a company, we recommend this article: Naming a Business.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are opening a business in Lapeer, it's very important that you make sure your company name has not already been claimed by another Michigan business.
Do You Need a Business Plan?
A business plan is critical 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 is a recipe for disaster.
Before you start writing a business plan, we suggest you skim Expert Advice on Business Plans. You can also get face-to-face free consulting available from your local SCORE chapter in Michigan.
Raising Money for Your New Venture
Raising money to fund your new Lapeer business is a difficult chore. The reality is that there is very little funding available for new small businesses, and you have to explore every possible alternative.
Take advantage of our many articles on finding startup capital, such as Business Credit Evaluation.
For Lapeer entrepreneurs in need of startup financing, check out our List of Michigan Angel Investors and our List of Michigan Venture Capital Firms.
Now It's Up To You
You have a dream -- starting a business in Lapeer. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
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 Lapeer 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 Lapeer, Michigan
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Lapeer.
- Resources for Lapeer, Michigan Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Lapeer entrepreneurs.
- Michigan Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Michigan.
- Michigan Small Business Development Center - This organization supports 12 regional offices and over 30 satellite offices, each providing counseling and training to Michigan small business owners and entrepreneurs throughout the 83 counties in Michigan. Services to entrepreneurs are offered through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
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