Arkansas Business Startup Guides
Open a Business in Salem, Arkansas
Need help starting a business in Salem, Arkansas? We've got the information you need to open a business in Salem.
Are You Sure You Want to Do This?
Before announcing to the world that you are going to start your own business, consider your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
With so much at stake when you start a business, we strongly recommend you do the following before you proceed:
- Grab a meal or cofee with other entrepreneurs in Salem. Ask them candidly what it's like to run a business.
- Take a look at Business Failure. It's a short article but it's a good reality check for those are about to jump into the world of entrepreneurship.
- Involve a spouse, family member or trusted friend in the decision. The people who know you best are often in the best position to tell you bluntly whether you will be a good entrepreneur.
What Business to Start
There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? We recommend that you read How to Evaluate a Business Idea.
If you still are not sure what type of business to start, peruse the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our Opening a Food Equipment & Supplies Business guide or our Opening an Oral & Maxillofacial Pathology & Surgery Dentists Business guide.
Don't forget that Salem is the place where you are starting a business. If Salem already has plenty of the kind of business you want to start, you might want to change your plans. Study Salem demographics and do a competitive analysis as part of your startup planning process.
Salem, Arkansas Demographic Information
Salem has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Salem demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Salem.
Businesses
As a new Salem entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Salem 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
Is Franchising a Better Option?
As you drive around Salem, you'll conclude that many business owners have opted to buy a franchise, rather than starting a business on their own. Evidently, there must be some significant advantages to purchasing a franchise.
Our advice is to look into purchasing a franchise. On our site, you can read many articles about franchising, such as Franchise Tradeshows. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
You can review hundreds of franchise opportunities by browing our Franchise Directory.
Sample franchise opportunities include Rent-A-Wreck and Handle With Care Packaging Store. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Auto Rental Franchises and Modeling Franchises.
Note on Salem Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Salem, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.
Startup Financing Basics
Getting your Salem business the capital it needs to succeed will be harder than you might expect. The reality is that there is very little funding available for new small businesses, and you have to explore every possible alternative.
Take advantage of our many articles on raising capital, such as 504 Loans.
For Salem entrepreneurs in need of startup financing, you'll want to take a look at our List of Arkansas Angel Investors and our List of Arkansas Venture Capital Firms.
Marketing Your New Venture
To grow your Salem business, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.
You can learn a ton about marketing on our site. E-Mail Marketing is a good read to get your marketing juices flowing. There are many more articles on marketing on our site. Visit our Small Business Marketing resource section to see them all.
Next Steps
You have a dream -- starting a business in Salem. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
We are here to help Salem 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 Salem, Arkansas
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Salem.
- Resources for Salem, Arkansas Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Salem entrepreneurs.
- Arkansas Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Arkansas.
- Arkansas Small Business Development Center - The Arkansas Small Business Development Center (ASBDC) is a University-based economic development program which provides assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses throughout Arkansas via a statewide network of seven offices.
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