California Business Startup Guides

Starting a Business in Pacifica, California

Thinking about starting a business in Pacifica, California? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Pacifica.

Is Becoming an Entrepreneur Right for You?

Running your own business is hard work, much harder than working as an employee. Are you sure you have the stamina and skills to succeed on your own?

Before you move forward with starting a business, be sure to do these three things:

  • Reach out to other entrepreneurs in Pacifica. Get their take on what it's really like to be an entrepreneur.
  • 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. That's the best way to get a truly objective assessment as to whether others think you have what it takes.

Which Business to Choose?

An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. If you are struggling with what type of business to start, read Finding Your Niche in Life.

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 Opening an Aircraft Parts & Equipment Wholesale & Manufacturing Business guide or our Opening a Deck Construction & Maintenance Business guide.

Always keep in mind that starting a business in Pacifica has some implications. Think about what needs are currently being underserved in Pacifica. Don't forget to review Pacifica demographics to see if there's a market for what you want to sell.

Pacifica, California Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
999
5-9 Employees
366
10-19 Employees
141
20-49 Employees
81
50-99 Employees
18
100-249 Employees
6
250-499 Employees
0
500-999 Employees
0
1000+ Employees
0
All Pacifica Businesses
1611

As a new Pacifica entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Pacifica 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
Advertising Agencies
3
Architectural Services
3
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
1
Beauty Salons
11
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
2
Book Stores
1
Bowling Centers
1
Business Associations
1
Cable and Other Program Distribution
2
Cafeterias
2
Caterers
1
Child Day Care Services
10
Civic and Social Organizations
3
Commercial Bakeries
1
Computer Systems Design Services
4
Convenience Stores
2
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
1
Credit Unions
1
Custom Computer Programming Services
3
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
1
Document Preparation Services
1
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
1
Educational Support Services
3
Electrical Contractors
13
Elementary and Secondary Schools
4
Engineering Services
3
Environmental Consulting Services
1
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
1
Family Clothing Stores
1
Fine Arts Schools
1
Finish Carpentry Contractors
2
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers
1
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
10
Flooring Contractors
3
Florists
3
Food Service Contractors
1
Framing Contractors
2
Full-Service Restaurants
29
General Automotive Repair
6
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
2
Glass and Glazing Contractors
2
Graphic Design Services
1
Hazardous Waste Collection
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
1
Homes for the Elderly
2
Industrial Building Construction
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
12
Interior Design Services
1
Investigation Services
1
Jewelry Stores
1
Land Subdivision
1
Landscaping Services
11
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
2
Limited-Service Restaurants
17
Limousine Service
1
Marketing Consulting Services
2
Meat Markets
1
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
3
Museums
1
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
1
Nail Salons
7
Nursing Care Facilities
2
Office Administrative Services
3
Offices of Chiropractors
4
Offices of Dentists
8
Offices of Lawyers
2
Offices of Optometrists
2
Offices of Podiatrists
1
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
1
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
1
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
1
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
1
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
2
Photography Studios, Portrait
2
Portfolio Management
1
Private Mail Centers
3
Real Estate Credit
1
Residential Remodelers
15
Retail Bakeries
1
Roofing Contractors
4
Securities Brokerage
1
Security Guards and Patrol Services
1
Shoe Stores
1
Siding Contractors
2
Site Preparation Contractors
2
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
7
Software Publishers
1
Solid Waste Collection
2
Sporting Goods Stores
4
Sports and Recreation Instruction
2
Support Activities for Metal Mining
1
Taxi Service
1
Temporary Help Services
1
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
2
Tire Dealers
1
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
1
Travel Agencies
2
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
2
Veterinary Services
3
Video Tape and Disc Rental
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
3
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
2
Women's Clothing Stores
1

What About Buying an Existing Pacifica Business?

If you have some capital to play with, you may want to Buy a Business in California. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Pacifica.

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

Marketing Your New Venture

To rise above the crowd in Pacifica and build your business, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.

You can learn plenty about marketing on our site. Media Kits is an article that will generate a few thoughts on your marketing plan. That's just a taste of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.

Increase Your Entrepreneurial Knowledge

Good business owners recognize that they need to continually improve.

As an entrepreneur who lives in Pacifica, California, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby California universities, colleges and community colleges. We also recommend you look into networking organizations for Pacifica entrepreneurs.

Moving Forward

As an entrepreneur in Pacifica, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.

From this point on, you control your own destiny.

Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Pacifica and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Pacifica, neighborhood development and overall economic health.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Pacifica, California

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

Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in California

Starting a Business in Pacific Palisades
Starting a Business in Palm Desert

Browse All Business Startup Guides for California
Starting a Business Guides for Other States

 

 

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