Oklahoma Business Startup Guides
Opening a Business in Lawton, Oklahoma
Contemplating starting a business in Lawton, Oklahoma? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Lawton.
Are You Ready for Entrepreneurship?
Most new businesses do not succeed, in part because the business owner did not have the tenacity and/or the skills to succeed. So, before you open a business, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Lawton. Listen closely to their experiences and see if you think you too can be successful.
- 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. Ask them directly: Do I have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Listen carefully to their answer, as they presumably know your strengths and weaknesses.
What Type of Business Should You Start?
There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? To help you decide on a business type, we encourage you to read Business Ideas That Don't Make Sense.
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 Starting a Billiards Equipment & Supplies Dealers Business guide or our Opening a Check Protection Equipment & Supplies Business guide.
Remember that you are starting a business in Lawton. Some businesses will do better in Lawton than others. Make sure you fully understand Lawton demographics before you lock in on your business idea.
Lawton, Oklahoma Demographic Information
Lawton has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Lawton demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Lawton.
Businesses
As a new Lawton entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Lawton 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 Lawton, you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. But is franchising the right option for you?
Most business experts recommend that you evaluate the possibility of your buying a franchise opportunity. To help you learn more about franchising, we've gathered a ton of articles on franchising, including Franchisees Versus Licensees. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.
A comprehensive list of franchisors is available via our List of Franchise Opportunities.
Sample franchise opportunities include Personal Training Professionals and KidzArt. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Restaurant Franchises and Donut Shop Franchises.
Note on Lawton Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Lawton.
Don't Skip the Business Plan
A business plan is essential to the health of your new business. Simply put, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Failure to write a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
If writing a business plan is on your to-do list, be sure to read Business Plan Contests. A great resource for business planning assistance is the free business counselors available to you through your local SCORE chapter in Oklahoma.
Improving Your Entrepreneurial Skillset
Successful entrepreneurs recognize that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.
Given that you are starting a business in Lawton, Oklahoma, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Oklahoma universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also beneficial to see if there are any networking organizations for Lawton entrepreneurs.
Never Give Up
Most new Lawton 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 Lawton and elsewhere to achieve real success. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Lawton 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 Lawton, Oklahoma
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Lawton.
- Resources for Lawton, Oklahoma Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Lawton entrepreneurs.
- Oklahoma Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Oklahoma.
- Oklahoma Small Business Development Center - Whether you are in business or thinking about it, the Oklahoma Small Business Development Center staff can assist you. Their goal is to help Oklahoma entrepreneurs like you be more successful.
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