Washington Business Startup Guides
Start a Business in Longview, Washington
Are you starting a business in Longview, Washington? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Longview.
Will You Be a Successful Entrepreneur?
Most startup businesses do not succeed, in part because the entrepreneur 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.
To determine whether you have what it takes to run a business, we recommend these three steps to help you decide:
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Longview. They are usually very willing to share their insights on the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur.
- 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. Others sometimes know you better than you know yourself.
Longview, Washington Demographic Information
Longview has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Longview demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Longview.
Businesses
As a new Longview entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Longview 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 Longview, it becomes clear that purchasing a franchise is a common way to get started as an entrepreneur. But is franchising the right option for you?
Our recommendation is that you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchise Due Diligence. 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 PostalAnnex+ and A-1 Concrete Leveling. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Car Wash Franchises and Moving Franchises.
Note on Longview Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Longview, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.
Do You Need a Business Plan?
A business plan is essential to the health of your new business. Indeed, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. Failure to write a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Mistakes. A great resource for business planning assistance is the free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Washington.
The Art of Selling
Mastering the art of selling is priority one if you want your new Longview business to do well.
So what does it take to bring in more prospects and close more business? Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
Hiring Good Sales People is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.
Improving Your Entrepreneurial Skillset
Successful entrepreneurs know that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.
Given that you are starting a business in Longview, Washington, you should get information on some of the many programs available at nearby Washington universities, colleges and community colleges. You should also check if there are any Longview networking organizations.
What's Next?
Most new Longview 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 Longview and elsewhere to achieve real success. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Longview 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 Longview, Washington
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Longview.
- Resources for Longview, Washington Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Longview entrepreneurs.
- Washington Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Washington.
- Washington Small Business Development Center - Washington Small Business Development Centers promote economic vitality by providing advice, training and research to Washington entrepreneurs and existing Washington businesses.
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