Contemplating starting a business in Alexandria, Virginia? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Alexandria.
Choosing a business that is right for you is very important. To help you decide on a business type, we encourage you to read Good Business Ideas.
Don't forget that you are opening your new business in Alexandria. Some businesses will do better in Alexandria than others. Only by spending some time analyzing Alexandria demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.
Alexandria has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Alexandria demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Alexandria.
As a new Alexandria entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Alexandria 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 |
15 |
| Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
4 |
| Architectural Services |
58 |
| Art Dealers |
16 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
3 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
6 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
19 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
3 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Barber Shops |
9 |
| Beauty Salons |
118 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
13 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Publishers |
6 |
| Book Stores |
17 |
| Bowling Centers |
4 |
| Breweries |
2 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
6 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
115 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
5 |
| Cafeterias |
7 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
2 |
| Car Washes |
5 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
9 |
| Caterers |
14 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
4 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
8 |
| Child Day Care Services |
78 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
39 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
10 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
7 |
| Collection Agencies |
4 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
4 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
19 |
| Commercial Photography |
4 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
2 |
| Community Food Services |
3 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
10 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
19 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
167 |
| Computer Training |
6 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
5 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
58 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
27 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
5 |
| Couriers |
13 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
4 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
15 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
5 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
112 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
4 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
9 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
4 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
17 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
4 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
3 |
| Discount Department Stores |
5 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
12 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
2 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
23 |
| Educational Support Services |
16 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
35 |
| Electronic Auctions |
3 |
| Electronic Shopping |
7 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
26 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
5 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
6 |
| Engineering Services |
117 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
1 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
15 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
9 |
| Explosives Manufacturing |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
10 |
| Facilities Support Services |
8 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
20 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
17 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
28 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
22 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
24 |
| Flooring Contractors |
14 |
| Florists |
22 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
10 |
| Food Service Contractors |
22 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
10 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
16 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
246 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
8 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Furniture Stores |
38 |
| General Automotive Repair |
56 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
2 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
7 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
33 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
2 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
14 |
| Graphic Design Services |
48 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Hardware Stores |
4 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
6 |
| Home Centers |
7 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
7 |
| Home Health Care Services |
10 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
6 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
5 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
8 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
4 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
85 |
| Interior Design Services |
28 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
5 |
| Internet Service Providers |
10 |
| Investigation Services |
11 |
| Investment Advice |
20 |
| Janitorial Services |
105 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Jewelry Stores |
21 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
6 |
| Land Subdivision |
2 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
17 |
| Landscaping Services |
48 |
| Language Schools |
2 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
2 |
| Libraries and Archives |
3 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
229 |
| Limousine Service |
9 |
| Linen Supply |
3 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
5 |
| Locksmiths |
7 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
2 |
| Machine Shops |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
3 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
1 |
| Marinas |
5 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
76 |
| Masonry Contractors |
16 |
| Meat Markets |
3 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
3 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
5 |
| Media Representatives |
3 |
| Medical Laboratories |
4 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
6 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
4 |
| Mobile Food Services |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
18 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
1 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
25 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
8 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
1 |
| Museums |
7 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
4 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
18 |
| New Car Dealers |
22 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
5 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
1 |
| News Syndicates |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
5 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
14 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
9 |
| Office Administrative Services |
36 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
10 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
50 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
27 |
| Offices of Dentists |
135 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
204 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
9 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
6 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
8 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
17 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
6 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
17 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
2 |
| Packing and Crating |
4 |
| Paging |
2 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
6 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
60 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
38 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
14 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
10 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
10 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
16 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
31 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
14 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
25 |
| Portfolio Management |
19 |
| Prepress Services |
3 |
| Private Mail Centers |
3 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
6 |
| Professional Organizations |
111 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
68 |
| Quick Printing |
11 |
| Radio Stations |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
31 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
5 |
| Remediation Services |
3 |
| Residential Property Managers |
45 |
| Residential Remodelers |
100 |
| Retail Bakeries |
6 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
12 |
| Roofing Contractors |
13 |
| Sales Financing |
6 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
3 |
| Savings Institutions |
6 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
1 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
2 |
| Securities Brokerage |
15 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
7 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
3 |
| Shoe Stores |
23 |
| Siding Contractors |
11 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
3 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
9 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
52 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
14 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
8 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
3 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
13 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
25 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
22 |
| Taxi Service |
4 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
2 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
23 |
| Temporary Shelters |
6 |
| Testing Laboratories |
3 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
6 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
20 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Tire Dealers |
7 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
18 |
| Tobacco Stores |
4 |
| Tour Operators |
12 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
2 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
5 |
| Travel Agencies |
31 |
| Used Car Dealers |
5 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
17 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
19 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
4 |
| Veterinary Services |
19 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
23 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
8 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
18 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
2 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
24 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
18 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
30 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
2 |
As you drive around Alexandria, you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. So, it probably makes sense for you to consider franchising too.
For anybody who wants to buy a business, we recommend reading this useful article: Buying a 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.
Pick a company name that isn't too generic. If you do a search engine search for your proposed name and a billion results come up, you may want to reconsider the name. It's much easier to come up in the search engines when your name is fairly unique.
To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Branding Advice.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are starting a business in Alexandria, it's imperative that you check now that you will be the only Virginia company using the business name you have chosen.
A business plan is essential to the health of your new business. Simply put, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Starting a business without a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
The best entrepreneurs know that they need to continually improve.
With your business being located in Alexandria, Virginia, you will want to take advantage of the learning programs at local Virginia educational institutions. We also recommend you look into networking organizations for Alexandria entrepreneurs.
Most new Alexandria businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Alexandria 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 Alexandria.
