Contemplating starting a business in Albany, New York? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Albany.
Before quitting your day job, consider your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.
Albany has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Albany demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Albany.
As a new Albany entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Albany 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 |
8 |
| Ambulance Services |
4 |
| Amusement Arcades |
4 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
4 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
24 |
| Armored Car Services |
2 |
| Art Dealers |
4 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
3 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
4 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
6 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
22 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
4 |
| Barber Shops |
6 |
| Beauty Salons |
47 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
2 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
26 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
2 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Publishers |
8 |
| Book Stores |
16 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
5 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
56 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
4 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Car Washes |
10 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
8 |
| Caterers |
3 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
6 |
| Child and Youth Services |
21 |
| Child Day Care Services |
43 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
8 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
37 |
| Claims Adjusting |
12 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
8 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
13 |
| Collection Agencies |
5 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
5 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
18 |
| Commercial Photography |
3 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
4 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
5 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
7 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
40 |
| Computer Training |
6 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
7 |
| Consumer Lending |
5 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
21 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
2 |
| Couriers |
7 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
5 |
| Credit Unions |
20 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
36 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
8 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
3 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
4 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
12 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
3 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
4 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
3 |
| Discount Department Stores |
5 |
| Document Preparation Services |
3 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
66 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
8 |
| Educational Support Services |
11 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
4 |
| Electrical Contractors |
39 |
| Electronic Shopping |
2 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
20 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
3 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
11 |
| Engineering Services |
40 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
9 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
4 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
2 |
| Facilities Support Services |
2 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
26 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
10 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
9 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
26 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
12 |
| Flooring Contractors |
9 |
| Florists |
19 |
| Flour Milling |
1 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
7 |
| Food Service Contractors |
58 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
5 |
| Framing Contractors |
5 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
9 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
3 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
182 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
10 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
27 |
| General Automotive Repair |
41 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
18 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
5 |
| General Rental Centers |
5 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
8 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
33 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
3 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
5 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
12 |
| Graphic Design Services |
8 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Hardware Stores |
6 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
7 |
| Historical Sites |
4 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
7 |
| Home Centers |
3 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Home Health Care Services |
12 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
4 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
5 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
10 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
13 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
7 |
| Inland Water Passenger Transportation |
1 |
| Inorganic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
91 |
| Interior Design Services |
7 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
3 |
| Internet Service Providers |
5 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
3 |
| Investigation Services |
5 |
| Investment Advice |
25 |
| Janitorial Services |
38 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Jewelry Stores |
35 |
| Junior Colleges |
4 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
3 |
| Land Subdivision |
4 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
36 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
3 |
| Libraries and Archives |
6 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
201 |
| Limousine Service |
3 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
7 |
| Locksmiths |
4 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
10 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
13 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
9 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
3 |
| Meat Markets |
2 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
2 |
| Media Representatives |
5 |
| Medical Laboratories |
8 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
12 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
3 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
8 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
2 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
3 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
3 |
| Museums |
5 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
4 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
8 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
4 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
20 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
5 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
15 |
| News Syndicates |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
5 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
20 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
9 |
| Office Administrative Services |
18 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
13 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
4 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
48 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
12 |
| Offices of Dentists |
83 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
261 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
5 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
9 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
5 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
3 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
21 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paging |
3 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
1 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
13 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
10 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
5 |
| Payroll Services |
7 |
| Periodical Publishers |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
8 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
2 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
29 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
10 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
12 |
| Port and Harbor Operations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
21 |
| Poultry Processing |
1 |
| Prepress Services |
4 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
7 |
| Professional Organizations |
37 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
31 |
| Quick Printing |
4 |
| Radio Stations |
4 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
17 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
2 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
3 |
| Residential Property Managers |
23 |
| Residential Remodelers |
24 |
| Retail Bakeries |
5 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
8 |
| Sales Financing |
8 |
| Savings Institutions |
29 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
12 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
2 |
| Securities Brokerage |
33 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
6 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
4 |
| Ship Building and Repairing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
31 |
| Siding Contractors |
4 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
4 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
11 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
51 |
| Software Publishers |
16 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
5 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
3 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
17 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
13 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
2 |
| Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
17 |
| Taxi Service |
3 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
3 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
4 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
3 |
| Television Broadcasting |
4 |
| Temporary Help Services |
41 |
| Temporary Shelters |
5 |
| Testing Laboratories |
7 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
4 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
6 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Tire Dealers |
10 |
| Tire Retreading |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
10 |
| Tobacco Stores |
3 |
| Tour Operators |
4 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
14 |
| Used Car Dealers |
10 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
8 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
8 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
3 |
| Veterinary Services |
7 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
10 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
9 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
19 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Web Search Portals |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
29 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
47 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
50 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
2 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
As you drive around Albany, you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. But is franchising the right option for you?
Our recommendation is that you consider franchising as an option. To help you learn more about franchising, we've gathered a ton of articles on franchising, including Five Franchise Opportunities To Watch. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
Making the right decision when choosing a company name is very important. There are many decisions you'll make now that you can change later, but changing a company name years down the road is not very easy. So, choose a good company name at the outset.
Companies like Starbucks, Apple, Target, Microsoft and Intuit all have strong company names that are easy to remember and have become well-loved brands. Wouldn't it be nice if your new company name got on a similar track?
As a final piece of advice, remember that because you are starting a business in Albany, it's very important that you make sure no other New York company is using the business name you want to use.
Being able to sell is a key enabler to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Albany or are selling to customers throughout New York, 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. Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
Good business owners recognize that they need to continually improve.
Given that you are starting a business in Albany, New York, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby New York universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any Albany networking organizations.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Albany. 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 Albany 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.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Albany.
