Ohio Business Startup Guides
Opening a Business in London, Ohio
Contemplating starting a business in London, Ohio? We walk you through the process of opening a business in London.
Is Becoming an Entrepreneur Right for You?
Being an entrepreneur is difficult, much harder than working as an employee. Are you sure you are ready to take on this challenge?
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 London. Get their take on what it's really like to be an entrepreneur.
- We recommend reading Why Small Businesses Fail. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Get feedback from somebody whom you trust. That's the best way to get a truly objective assessment as to whether others think you have what it takes.
London, Ohio Demographic Information
London has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for London demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in London.
Businesses
As a new London entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in London 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 London, it's apparent that franchising has become a very popular way to start a business. But is franchising the right option for you?
Our recommendation is that you consider franchising as an option. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as How Franchises Work. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
You can review hundreds of franchise opportunities by browing our Franchise Directory.
Sample franchise opportunities include Camille's Sidewalk Cafe and Cleannet USA. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Dry Cleaning & Laundry Franchises and Kid Friendly Franchises.
Note on London Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in London.
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.
Before you decide on a company name, run it by some prospective customers and see what they think. If they don't like it, it's probably a good idea to go back to the drawing board.
Numerous company naming issues are discussed in more detail in this article: Branding Advice.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are starting a business in London, it's critical that you ensure that no Ohio company has already registered the company name you have selected.
The Role of the Business Plan
A business plan is critical in laying a solid foundation for your business success. Indeed, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Starting a business without a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Software. You should also take advantage of face-to-face free consulting available from your local SCORE chapter in Ohio.
Marketing Your New Venture
To grow your London business, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your successs.
There are myriad resources on this site to help you with your marketing plan. Dealing with Angry Customers is an article that will stimulate a few thoughts on your marketing plan. There are many more articles on marketing on our site. Visit our Small Business Marketing resource section to see them all.
Moving Forward
As an entrepreneur in London, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in London 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 London, Ohio
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in London.
- Resources for London, Ohio Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist London 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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