California Business Startup Guides

Start a Business in Woodland Hills, California

Are you starting a business in Woodland Hills, California? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Woodland Hills.

What Type of Business Should You Start?

An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. We recommend that you read Evaluating Your Idea.

To view an extensive list of business types, complete with startup instructions, spend some time in the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our Starting a Dance Club guide or our Starting a Tatoo Parlor guide.

Don't forget that starting a business in Woodland Hills has some implications. Some businesses will do better in Woodland Hills than others. Only by spending some time analyzing Woodland Hills demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.

Woodland Hills, California Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
22164
5-9 Employees
4716
10-19 Employees
2970
20-49 Employees
2340
50-99 Employees
1008
100-249 Employees
513
250-499 Employees
180
500-999 Employees
63
1000+ Employees
54
All Woodland Hills Businesses
34008

As a new Woodland Hills entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Woodland Hills 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
Aircraft Manufacturing
1
Amusement Arcades
1
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
3
Architectural Services
13
Art Dealers
2
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
1
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
3
Baked Goods Stores
1
Barber Shops
1
Beauty Salons
40
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
5
Blind and Shade Manufacturing
1
Blood and Organ Banks
1
Boat Building
1
Book Stores
2
Bowling Centers
1
Building Inspection Services
1
Business Associations
1
Business to Business Electronic Markets
1
Cable and Other Program Distribution
2
Cafeterias
3
Car Washes
7
Caterers
3
Child and Youth Services
2
Child Day Care Services
17
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
4
Civic and Social Organizations
8
Claims Adjusting
5
Collection Agencies
11
Commercial Lithographic Printing
2
Commercial Photography
3
Commercial Screen Printing
1
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
1
Commodity Contracts Dealing
1
Computer and Software Stores
9
Computer Systems Design Services
29
Computer Training
1
Confectionery and Nut Stores
2
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
1
Consumer Lending
6
Convenience Stores
3
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
4
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
4
Credit Bureaus
1
Credit Unions
4
Crown and Closure Manufacturing
1
Custom Computer Programming Services
54
Dance Companies
1
Dental Laboratories
6
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
2
Digital Printing
1
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
16
Direct Mail Advertising
3
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
3
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
1
Discount Department Stores
1
Document Preparation Services
5
Drafting Services
2
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
5
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
2
Educational Support Services
4
Electric Power Distribution
1
Electrical Contractors
23
Electronic Shopping
6
Elementary and Secondary Schools
9
Employment Placement Agencies
16
Engineering Services
17
Environmental Consulting Services
4
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
8
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
2
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
1
Fine Arts Schools
7
Finish Carpentry Contractors
2
Fish and Seafood Markets
1
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
8
Floor Covering Stores
4
Flooring Contractors
10
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
4
Food Service Contractors
5
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
1
Framing Contractors
1
Freight Transportation Arrangement
1
Full-Service Restaurants
72
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
2
General Automotive Repair
13
General Freight Trucking, Local
1
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
2
General Rental Centers
1
General Warehousing and Storage
2
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
10
Glass and Glazing Contractors
3
Grantmaking Foundations
5
Graphic Design Services
11
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
5
Hardware Stores
2
Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
3
Home Centers
2
Home Health Care Services
2
Homes for the Elderly
14
Industrial Design Services
2
Industrial Launderers
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
134
Interior Design Services
7
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
3
Investigation Services
2
Investment Advice
25
Janitorial Services
7
Jewelry Stores
7
Land Subdivision
6
Landscape Architectural Services
5
Landscaping Services
14
Limited-Service Restaurants
64
Limousine Service
5
Livestock Merchant Wholesalers
1
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
2
Locksmiths
1
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
2
Machine Shops
1
Marine Cargo Handling
1
Marketing Consulting Services
26
Masonry Contractors
7
Media Buying Agencies
2
Media Representatives
3
Medical Laboratories
3
Men's Clothing Stores
3
Miscellaneous Intermediation
1
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
42
Motion Picture and Video Distribution
7
Motion Picture and Video Production
76
Motor Vehicle Towing
2
Motorcycle Dealers
1
Museums
1
Musical Groups and Artists
34
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
2
Musical Instrument Manufacturing
1
Nail Salons
15
Natural Gas Distribution
1
New Car Dealers
11
New Housing Operative Builders
6
News Syndicates
2
Newspaper Publishers
4
Nonresidential Property Managers
21
Nursing Care Facilities
2
Office Administrative Services
21
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
4
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
6
Offices of Chiropractors
26
Offices of Dentists
82
Offices of Lawyers
217
Offices of Optometrists
6
Offices of Other Holding Companies
3
Offices of Podiatrists
1
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
12
Open-End Investment Funds
1
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
1
Optical Goods Stores
2
Paging
1
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
1
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
11
Parking Lots and Garages
26
Payroll Services
8
Periodical Publishers
11
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
6
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
9
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
12
Photography Studios, Portrait
9
Portfolio Management
12
Private Mail Centers
3
Professional Employer Organizations
1
Professional Organizations
2
Public Relations Agencies
10
Quick Printing
4
Radio Stations
1
Real Estate Credit
52
Record Production
3
Reinsurance Carriers
2
Residential Property Managers
27
Residential Remodelers
32
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
2
Roofing Contractors
4
Sales Financing
4
Savings Institutions
5
Secondary Market Financing
2
Securities Brokerage
17
Security Guards and Patrol Services
6
Shoe Stores
4
Site Preparation Contractors
8
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
24
Solid Waste Collection
2
Sound Recording Studios
3
Sporting Goods Stores
10
Sports and Recreation Instruction
8
Sports Teams and Clubs
1
Support Activities for Coal Mining
1
Surface Active Agent Manufacturing
1
Telecommunications Resellers
2
Telemarketing Bureaus
1
Telephone Answering Services
2
Television Broadcasting
3
Temporary Help Services
28
Testing Laboratories
2
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
5
Tire Dealers
3
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
2
Tobacco Stores
2
Tour Operators
2
Travel Agencies
18
Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing
1
Used Car Dealers
4
Vending Machine Operators
1
Veterinary Services
11
Video Tape and Disc Rental
3
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
4
Voluntary Health Organizations
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
37
Window Treatment Stores
1
Women's Clothing Stores
9

Company Formation in Woodland Hills, California

It's very important that you choose the right legal structure for your new entity. 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 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 California, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in California. As it turns out, 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'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 Pre-Incorporation Agreements. You may also want to seek the advice of an lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Woodland Hills, California, our information on Incorporating in California may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in California.

Marketing Your New Venture

Whether your goal is to attract Woodland Hills customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.

We have some great resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Direct Mail Costs is a good read to get your marketing juices flowing. That's just a sampling of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.

Bring in Revenues

Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Woodland Hills or are selling to customers throughout California, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.

Good selling involves demonstrating that your wares meet your customer's needs. Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.

Why Salespeople Fail offers some helpful tips on how to sell. It's one of several good articles on our site regarding Entrepreneurial Selling.

Learning More About Entrepreneurship

Good entrepreneurs know that they need to continually improve.

Given that you are starting a business in Woodland Hills, California, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby California universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any Woodland Hills networking organizations.

Moving Forward

You have a dream -- starting a business in Woodland Hills. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.

From this point on, you control your own destiny.

Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Woodland Hills and throughout the United States . 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 Woodland Hills, California

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

Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in California

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Browse All Business Startup Guides for California
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