Iowa Business Startup Guides
Open a Business in Oakland, Iowa
Need help starting a business in Oakland, Iowa? We've got the information you need to open a business in Oakland.
Are You Ready for Life as an Owner?
Most startup businesses do not succeed, in part because the entrepreneur did not have the entrepreneurial skills and traits needed to succeed. So, before you start your 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 Oakland. Listen closely to their experiences and see if you think you too can be successful.
- We recommend reading Why Small Businesses Fail. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Get feedback from somebody whom you trust. 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.
Oakland, Iowa Demographic Information
Oakland has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Oakland demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Oakland.
Businesses
As a new Oakland entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Oakland 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 Oakland, 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 consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchise Versus Business Opportunity. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
A comprehensive list of franchisors is available via our List of Franchise Opportunities.
Sample franchise opportunities include RESCUECOM and Value Place. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Cartridge Recycling Franchises and Child Entertainment Franchises.
Note on Oakland Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Oakland, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.
Choosing a Company Name
A big decision when starting a company is choosing a company name. Believe it or not, choosing a good company name can be a big contributor to your business success.
Even if the name doesn't do it by itself, many naming experts believe there should be a story behind the name that ties into your company mission.
To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Branding Advice.
On a final note, given that you are starting a business in Oakland, it's imperative that you check now that no other Iowa company is using the business name you want to use.
Company Formation in Oakland, Iowa
It's essential that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Without a legal structure for the business, you can be held personally liable for the actions, debts and obligations of your company.
The entity you form can be a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
Incorporating 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 Iowa, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Iowa. In fact, you can incorporate in any state you would like to. For example, it's very popular to incorporate in Delaware, and incorporating in Nevada has become very trendy as well. Don't forget, though, that you will have to register as a foreign entity in all states that you do business in.
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 Why Incorporate in Delaware. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Oakland, Iowa, our information on Incorporating in Iowa may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Iowa.
Raising Money for Your New Venture
Getting your Oakland business the capital it needs to succeed is very difficult due to the ongoing business credit crunch. To obtain business financing, you will need to hear a lot of rejections before you finally find a funding solution that works for you.
The good news is this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled Angel Investors.
For Oakland entrepreneurs on the hunt for startup funding, we have assembled a List of Iowa Angel Investors and our List of Iowa Venture Capital Firms.
Bring in Revenues
Mastering the art of selling is a must if you want your new Oakland business to do well.
Clever sales techniques can transform any business from good to great. Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
Sales Prospecting offers some helpful tips on how to sell. It's one of several good articles on our site regarding Entrepreneurial Selling.
Never Give Up
Most new Oakland businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
We are here to help Oakland businesses to be successful. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Oakland, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Oakland, Iowa
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Oakland.
- Resources for Oakland, Iowa Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Oakland entrepreneurs.
- Iowa Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Iowa.
- Iowa Small Business Development Center - The Iowa SBDC conducts research, counsels, and trains business people in management, financing, and operating small businesses. They provide comprehensive information services and access to experts in a variety of fields. This is a great resource for Iowa entrepreneurs!
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