Ohio Business Startup Guides
Opening a Business in Portsmouth, Ohio
Contemplating starting a business in Portsmouth, Ohio? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Portsmouth.
Choosing the Right Company to Start
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. If you are struggling with what type of business to start, read Business Ideas That Don't Make Sense.
For step-by-step instructions on starting a variety of business types, visit the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our Starting a Race Car Parts, Equipment, & Supplies Retail Business guide or our Starting a Computer Training Business guide.
Always keep in mind that you are starting a business in Portsmouth. Some businesses will do better in Portsmouth than others. A critical consideration is whether Portsmouth demographics mesh well with your startup concept.
Portsmouth, Ohio Demographic Information
Portsmouth has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Portsmouth demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Portsmouth.
Businesses
As a new Portsmouth entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Portsmouth 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
Naming the Business
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.
Numerous company naming issues are discussed in more detail in this article: Naming a Business.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are planning on starting a business in Portsmouth, it's critical that you ensure that no other Ohio company is using the business name you want to use.
Forming a Company in Portsmouth, Ohio
It's very important that you form your business as a legal structure. Doing so will separate you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
The entity you form can be a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
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. If you are starting a business in Ohio, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Ohio. In fact, you can incorporate in the state of your choosing. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.
There are many nuances to forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Company Formation. You may also want to seek the advice of an lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Portsmouth, Ohio, our information on Incorporating in Ohio may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Ohio.
Marketing Your New Startup
To grow your Portsmouth 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. Yellow Pages Advertising Advice is an article that will stimulate a few thoughts on your marketing plan. That's just one of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
How to Improve Your Entrepreneurial Abilities
Good entrepreneurs recognize that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.
With your business being located in Portsmouth, Ohio, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Ohio universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also smart to see if there are any networking organizations for Portsmouth entrepreneurs.
Never Give Up
As an entrepreneur in Portsmouth, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
We are here to help Portsmouth businesses to be successful. 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 Portsmouth, Ohio
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Portsmouth.
- Resources for Portsmouth, Ohio Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Portsmouth 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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