North Carolina Business Startup Guides

Open a Business in Winston Salem, North Carolina

Need help starting a business in Winston Salem, North Carolina? We've got the information you need to open a business in Winston Salem.

Winston Salem, North Carolina Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
9358
5-9 Employees
3644
10-19 Employees
2622
20-49 Employees
2064
50-99 Employees
693
100-249 Employees
468
250-499 Employees
114
500-999 Employees
39
1000+ Employees
33
All Winston Salem Businesses
19035

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

Business Type
# of
Businesses
Ambulance Services
3
Amusement Arcades
2
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
6
Architectural Services
26
Armored Car Services
1
Art Dealers
8
Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing
1
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
3
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
8
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
44
Automotive Transmission Repair
9
Baked Goods Stores
7
Barber Shops
3
Beauty Salons
63
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
1
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
11
Blind and Shade Manufacturing
1
Blood and Organ Banks
2
Boat Dealers
1
Book Publishers
4
Book Stores
14
Bowling Centers
3
Breweries
1
Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills
3
Broadwoven Fabric Mills
2
Building Inspection Services
3
Burial Casket Manufacturing
1
Business Associations
10
Cafeterias
13
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
1
Canvas and Related Product Mills
2
Car Washes
13
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
7
Caterers
3
Cemeteries and Crematories
4
Child Day Care Services
80
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
9
Cigarette Manufacturing
1
Civic and Social Organizations
31
Claims Adjusting
5
Clothing Accessories Stores
7
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
8
Commercial Bakeries
5
Commercial Flexographic Printing
4
Commercial Lithographic Printing
11
Commercial Photography
6
Commercial Screen Printing
5
Commodity Contracts Dealing
1
Community Food Services
2
Computer Systems Design Services
28
Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing
4
Concrete Pipe Manufacturing
1
Confectionery and Nut Stores
5
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
1
Consumer Lending
14
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
9
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
6
Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing
2
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
4
Couriers
6
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
2
Credit Unions
18
Curtain and Drapery Mills
1
Dance Companies
1
Dental Laboratories
11
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
6
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
4
Digital Printing
2
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
9
Direct Mail Advertising
2
Discount Department Stores
4
Display Advertising
2
Document Preparation Services
8
Drafting Services
1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
29
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
21
Educational Support Services
3
Electrical Contractors
53
Electronic Auctions
1
Electronic Computer Manufacturing
1
Electronic Connector Manufacturing
4
Electronic Shopping
5
Elementary and Secondary Schools
20
Emergency and Other Relief Services
2
Engineering Services
29
Envelope Manufacturing
2
Environmental Consulting Services
3
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
3
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
11
Facilities Support Services
5
Family Clothing Stores
34
Farm Management Services
1
Farm Product Warehousing and Storage
1
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
2
Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing
2
Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing
1
Fine Arts Schools
11
Finish Carpentry Contractors
18
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers
1
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
24
Flight Training
2
Floor Covering Stores
13
Flooring Contractors
6
Florists
17
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
1
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
5
Food Service Contractors
30
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
2
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
2
Framing Contractors
6
Freight Transportation Arrangement
9
Fruit and Vegetable Canning
1
Full-Service Restaurants
202
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
8
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
7
Furniture Stores
32
General Automotive Repair
54
General Freight Trucking, Local
7
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
2
General Warehousing and Storage
12
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
28
Glass and Glazing Contractors
4
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
11
Grantmaking Foundations
15
Graphic Design Services
19
Hardware Manufacturing
3
Hardware Stores
7
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
1
Heating Oil Dealers
6
HMO Medical Centers
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
15
Home Centers
4
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
5
Home Health Equipment Rental
2
Homes for the Elderly
17
Household Appliance Stores
7
Human Rights Organizations
3
Ice Manufacturing
1
Industrial Design Services
4
Industrial Launderers
4
Institutional Furniture Manufacturing
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
146
Interior Design Services
16
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
3
Internet Service Providers
4
Investigation Services
4
Investment Advice
24
Jewelry Stores
33
Junior Colleges
2
Kidney Dialysis Centers
4
Land Subdivision
15
Landscape Architectural Services
9
Landscaping Services
69
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
7
Limited-Service Restaurants
166
Linen Supply
1
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
1
Locksmiths
2
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
1
Machine Shops
3
Mail-Order Houses
7
Marketing Consulting Services
33
Masonry Contractors
23
Materials Recovery Facilities
1
Meat Markets
5
Media Representatives
1
Medical Laboratories
11
Men's Clothing Stores
20
Metal Stamping
1
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
1
Miscellaneous Intermediation
2
Mobile Food Services
1
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
19
Motion Picture and Video Production
6
Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing
3
Motorcycle Dealers
8
Museums
7
Music Publishers
1
Musical Groups and Artists
4
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
7
Musical Instrument Manufacturing
1
Nail Salons
5
Natural Gas Distribution
2
Natural Gas Liquid Extraction
1
New Car Dealers
26
New Housing Operative Builders
11
News Dealers and Newsstands
1
Newspaper Publishers
3
Nonresidential Property Managers
9
Nursing Care Facilities
11
Office Administrative Services
23
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
2
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
10
Offices of Bank Holding Companies
3
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
50
Offices of Chiropractors
19
Offices of Lawyers
185
Offices of Optometrists
21
Offices of Other Holding Companies
6
Offices of Podiatrists
13
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
19
One-Hour Photofinishing
1
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
3
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
3
Packaging and Labeling Services
6
Packing and Crating
1
Paging
1
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
1
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
8
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
29
Passenger Car Leasing
1
Passenger Car Rental
3
Payroll Services
2
Periodical Publishers
4
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
9
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
9
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
1
Phosphatic Fertilizer Manufacturing
1
Photography Studios, Portrait
11
Plate Work Manufacturing
1
Political Organizations
1
Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing
1
Portfolio Management
21
Prepress Services
4
Private Mail Centers
1
Professional Employer Organizations
3
Professional Organizations
7
Public Relations Agencies
9
Quick Printing
11
Radio Networks
3
Radio Stations
4
Real Estate Credit
40
Real Estate Investment Trusts
4
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
1
Reinsurance Carriers
1
Remediation Services
3
Repossession Services
1
Residential Property Managers
50
Retail Bakeries
3
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
4
Roofing Contractors
13
Sales Financing
8
Savings Institutions
9
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
1
Securities Brokerage
29
Septic Tank and Related Services
2
Sheer Hosiery Mills
1
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
3
Shoe Stores
39
Siding Contractors
9
Sign Manufacturing
10
Site Preparation Contractors
18
Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing
1
Soft Drink Manufacturing
1
Software Publishers
4
Solid Waste Collection
7
Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators
1
Solid Waste Landfill
1
Sound Recording Studios
1
Sports and Recreation Instruction
16
Sports Teams and Clubs
1
Steel Foundries (except Investment)
1
Storage Battery Manufacturing
2
Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing
1
Tax Preparation Services
30
Taxi Service
1
Telephone Answering Services
2
Television Broadcasting
2
Temporary Help Services
35
Temporary Shelters
3
Testing Laboratories
3
Textile Machinery Manufacturing
1
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
3
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
3
Tire Dealers
23
Tire Retreading
1
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
2
Tobacco Stores
6
Toilet Preparation Manufacturing
1
Tortilla Manufacturing
2
Tradebinding and Related Work
1
Travel Agencies
13
Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing
1
Underwear and Nightwear Knitting Mills
1
Used Car Dealers
24
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
4
Used Merchandise Stores
19
Veterinary Services
16
Video Tape and Disc Rental
16
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
3
Voluntary Health Organizations
3
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
5
Weft Knit Fabric Mills
1
Wet Corn Milling
1
Window Treatment Stores
4
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
14
Women's Clothing Stores
47
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
3
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
2

Is a Franchise Opportunity Right For You?

Visit the business district of Winston Salem and you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. But is franchising the right option for you?

We highly recommend you consider franchising as an option. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as Staffing a Franchise. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.

To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.

Representative franchise opportunities include Subway Franchises and Starbucks Franchises. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Accounting Franchises and Moving Franchises.

Note on Winston Salem Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Winston Salem, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.

Have You Considered Buying an Existing Winston Salem Business?

We've created a useful website page for those who want to Buy a Business in North Carolina. Follow that link and you can review several good businesses for sale in Winston Salem.

If you are headed down the path of buying a business, you may want to read this article: Hold Harmless Agreements When Buying Businesses.

Forming a Company in Winston Salem, North Carolina

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 traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.

Incorporating is a very common way to legally create a business entity. A key decision is whether to form and S-Corp or a C-Corp, and you also must decide in which state you will incorporate. If you are starting a business in North Carolina, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in North Carolina. In fact, you can 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 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 Offshore Company Formation. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Winston Salem, North Carolina, our information on Incorporating in North Carolina may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in North Carolina.

Where to Get Money to Start a Company

Getting your Winston Salem business the capital it needs to succeed will be harder than you might expect. If you don't have a rich uncle to fund you, you'll need to be creative in how you approach your fundraising efforts.

To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as 504 Loans.

For Winston Salem entrepreneurs who need startup capital, check out our List of North Carolina Angel Investors and our List of North Carolina Venture Capital Firms.

The Art of Selling

Being able to sell is fundamental to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Winston Salem or are selling to customers throughout North Carolina, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.

So what does it take to bring in more prospects and close more business? Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.

Tips on Customer Referrals is worth reading, as it may give you some good ideas on how to sell your products or services. We have many more good articles on selling that you may enjoy reading.

Next Steps

You have a dream -- starting a business in Winston Salem. 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 Winston Salem and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Winston Salem 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 Winston Salem, North Carolina

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

More Business Startup Guides for North Carolina

Starting a Business in Windsor
Starting a Business in Winston-Salem

Browse All Business Startup Guides for North Carolina
Starting a Business Guides for Other States

 

 

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