New Hampshire Business Startup Guides

Start a Business in Manchester, New Hampshire

Are you starting a business in Manchester, New Hampshire? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Manchester.

Do You Have What It Takes?

Before quitting your day job, take inventory of your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.

While entrepreneurship has become a popular career choice, we recommend you do the following before you take the plunge:

  • Reach out to other entrepreneurs in Manchester. Get their candid feedback on what it takes to start a successful business.
  • Peruse Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs. This is one of our more popular articles for folks who want to go into business for themselves.
  • Seek the advice of somebody who knows you well. 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.

Manchester, New Hampshire Demographic Information

Manchester has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.

To give you a better feel for Manchester demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Manchester.

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
89167
5-9 Employees
40356
10-19 Employees
28671
20-49 Employees
22059
50-99 Employees
7410
100-249 Employees
5244
250-499 Employees
912
500-999 Employees
456
1000+ Employees
114
All Manchester Businesses
194389

As a new Manchester entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Manchester 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.

Business Type
# of
Businesses
Ambulance Services
1
Amusement Arcades
1
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
1
Architectural Services
7
Automobile Driving Schools
3
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
8
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
14
Barber Shops
2
Beauty Salons
48
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
5
Boat Dealers
1
Book Publishers
2
Book Stores
9
Bowling Centers
3
Business and Secretarial Schools
1
Business Associations
6
Cable and Other Program Distribution
3
Cafeterias
5
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
3
Canvas and Related Product Mills
1
Car Washes
4
Caterers
2
Cemeteries and Crematories
1
Charter Bus Industry
1
Child and Youth Services
3
Child Day Care Services
26
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
4
Civic and Social Organizations
36
Clothing Accessories Stores
4
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
9
Collection Agencies
3
Commercial Lithographic Printing
12
Commercial Photography
2
Commercial Screen Printing
4
Commodity Contracts Dealing
1
Computer and Software Stores
5
Computer Facilities Management Services
1
Computer Systems Design Services
21
Computer Training
3
Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing
1
Concrete Pipe Manufacturing
1
Confectionery and Nut Stores
1
Consumer Lending
4
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
3
Convenience Stores
29
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
1
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
1
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
2
Couriers
12
Credit Card Issuing
2
Credit Unions
13
Curtain and Drapery Mills
2
Custom Computer Programming Services
21
Dental Laboratories
6
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
3
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
5
Direct Mail Advertising
1
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
2
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
2
Discount Department Stores
1
Display Advertising
1
Document Preparation Services
3
Drafting Services
3
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
9
Educational Support Services
3
Electric Power Distribution
7
Electrical Contractors
42
Electronic Auctions
1
Electronic Resistor Manufacturing
2
Electronic Shopping
3
Emergency and Other Relief Services
2
Employment Placement Agencies
3
Engineering Services
37
Environmental Consulting Services
3
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
5
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
3
Family Clothing Stores
15
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
1
Fine Arts Schools
10
Finish Carpentry Contractors
15
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
14
Floor Covering Stores
5
Flooring Contractors
10
Florists
9
Food Product Machinery Manufacturing
1
Food Service Contractors
6
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers
1
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
1
Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation
1
Framing Contractors
7
Freight Transportation Arrangement
4
Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing
1
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
2
Full-Service Restaurants
127
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
9
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
4
Furniture Stores
16
General Automotive Repair
49
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
3
General Rental Centers
2
General Warehousing and Storage
1
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
14
Glass and Glazing Contractors
2
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
1
Grantmaking Foundations
6
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
1
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
4
Hardware Stores
4
Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing
2
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
1
Heating Oil Dealers
6
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
10
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
4
Home Health Care Services
7
Home Health Equipment Rental
1
Homes for the Elderly
3
Household Appliance Stores
4
Human Rights Organizations
4
Hydroelectric Power Generation
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
60
Interior Design Services
5
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
1
Internet Service Providers
3
Investigation Services
3
Investment Advice
11
Janitorial Services
30
Kidney Dialysis Centers
1
Land Subdivision
2
Landscape Architectural Services
1
Landscaping Services
22
Language Schools
2
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
2
Libraries and Archives
1
Limousine Service
3
Linen Supply
2
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
3
Locksmiths
2
Logging
1
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
1
Machine Shops
12
Manifold Business Forms Printing
1
Marketing Consulting Services
6
Marking Device Manufacturing
1
Masonry Contractors
3
Materials Recovery Facilities
1
Mattress Manufacturing
1
Meat Markets
1
Men's Clothing Stores
7
Metal Heat Treating
1
Miscellaneous Intermediation
1
Mobile Food Services
1
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
8
Motion Picture and Video Production
2
Motor Vehicle Towing
4
Museums
3
Musical Groups and Artists
2
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
3
Nail Salons
6
Narrow Fabric Mills
1
Natural Gas Distribution
4
New Car Dealers
19
News Dealers and Newsstands
2
News Syndicates
1
Newspaper Publishers
3
Nonresidential Property Managers
5
Nursing Care Facilities
14
Office Administrative Services
7
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
2
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
38
Offices of Chiropractors
11
Offices of Dentists
52
Offices of Lawyers
136
Offices of Optometrists
7
Offices of Other Holding Companies
5
Offices of Podiatrists
3
One-Hour Photofinishing
1
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
1
Optical Goods Stores
6
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
2
Packaging and Labeling Services
1
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
2
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
18
Passenger Car Leasing
1
Passenger Car Rental
9
Payroll Services
9
Periodical Publishers
5
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
5
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
2
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
17
Plastics Bottle Manufacturing
1
Political Organizations
1
Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing
2
Portfolio Management
9
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
1
Prepress Services
1
Private Mail Centers
4
Professional Organizations
2
Public Relations Agencies
1
Quick Printing
3
Radio Stations
5
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
2
Real Estate Credit
19
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
2
Remediation Services
1
Residential Property Managers
20
Residential Remodelers
33
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
1
Roofing Contractors
9
Savings Institutions
15
Scheduled Freight Air Transportation
1
School and Employee Bus Transportation
1
Securities Brokerage
15
Security Guards and Patrol Services
3
Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing
2
Septic Tank and Related Services
2
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
3
Shellfish Fishing
1
Shoe Stores
16
Siding Contractors
5
Sign Manufacturing
10
Site Preparation Contractors
7
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
30
Software Publishers
13
Solid Waste Collection
3
Sporting Goods Stores
18
Sports and Recreation Instruction
7
Sports Teams and Clubs
1
Tax Preparation Services
9
Taxi Service
1
Telemarketing Bureaus
3
Telephone Answering Services
2
Temporary Help Services
17
Temporary Shelters
2
Testing Laboratories
1
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
2
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
2
Tire Dealers
10
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
6
Tour Operators
1
Tradebinding and Related Work
1
Travel Agencies
5
Used Car Dealers
10
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
3
Used Merchandise Stores
5
Vending Machine Operators
2
Video Tape and Disc Rental
7
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
9
Voluntary Health Organizations
2
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
1
Web Search Portals
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
17
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
24

Have You Considered Buying an Existing Manchester Business?

We've created a helpful website page for those who want to Buy a Business in New Hampshire. Follow that link and you can assess several good businesses for sale in Manchester.

If you are going to be buying a business, you may want to read this article: Hold Harmless Agreements When Buying Businesses.

Company Formation in Manchester, New Hampshire

A critical step is ensuring that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will insulate you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.

When forming a company, you will select one of many company types, such as a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.

Incorporation is a very popular way to form a business. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. Just because you are starting a business in New Hampshire, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in New Hampshire. In fact, you are allowed to incorporate in any state you would like to. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.

There's a lot to know about forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Incorporating Online. You may also want to seek the advice of an lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Manchester, New Hampshire, our web page covering Incorporating in New Hampshire may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in New Hampshire.

The Role of the Business Plan

A business plan is vital to the health of your new business. In effect, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Not having 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 Mistakes. You can also get free business counselors available to you through your local SCORE chapter in New Hampshire.

Marketing Your New Startup

To rise above the crowd in Manchester and advance your business, you need a solid marketing plan.

We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Marketing Basics is a good read to get your marketing creativity flowing. That's just a taste of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.

Ramping Up Sales

Being able to sell is a key enabler to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Manchester or are selling to customers throughout New Hampshire, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.

Why should customers buy from you instead of buying from competitors? The good news is we can help you to make selling a big competitve advantage for your new firm.

Why Salespeople Fail offers some helpful tips on how to sell. It's one of several good articles on our site regarding Entrepreneurial Selling.

Now It's Up To You

You have a dream -- starting a business in Manchester. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.

If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.

Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Manchester and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Manchester 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 Manchester, New Hampshire

Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Manchester.

More Business Startup Guides for New Hampshire

Starting a Business in Londonderry
Starting a Business in Meredith

Browse All Business Startup Guides for New Hampshire
Starting a Business Guides for Other States

 

 

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