Thinking about starting a business in Allentown, Pennsylvania? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Allentown.
Before quitting your day job, take inventory of your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
Before you move forward with starting a business, be sure to do these three things:
Don't forget that you are starting a business in Allentown. If Allentown already has plenty of the kind of business you want to start, you might want to change your plans. Study Allentown demographics and do a competitive analysis as part of your startup planning process.
Allentown has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Allentown demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Allentown.
As a new Allentown entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Allentown 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 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
1 |
| Advertising Agencies |
10 |
| Ambulance Services |
6 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
2 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
13 |
| Armored Car Services |
1 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
2 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
6 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
22 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
4 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
2 |
| Barber Shops |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
89 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
22 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
1 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
3 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Publishers |
2 |
| Book Stores |
7 |
| Bowling Centers |
5 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
2 |
| Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business Associations |
5 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
2 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
3 |
| Cafeterias |
4 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
12 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
5 |
| Caterers |
9 |
| Cement Manufacturing |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
6 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Cheese Manufacturing |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
15 |
| Child Day Care Services |
48 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
37 |
| Claims Adjusting |
3 |
| Clay Refractory Manufacturing |
1 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
3 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
3 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
3 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
10 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
6 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
3 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
6 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
3 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
22 |
| Computer Training |
2 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
4 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
6 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
4 |
| Convenience Stores |
18 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Couriers |
9 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
12 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
17 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
4 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
6 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
8 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
3 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
8 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
4 |
| Display Advertising |
4 |
| Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
41 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
4 |
| Educational Support Services |
1 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
10 |
| Electrical Contractors |
31 |
| Electronic Shopping |
4 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
36 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
4 |
| Engineering Services |
42 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
4 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
3 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
8 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
6 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
8 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
11 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
22 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
10 |
| Flooring Contractors |
3 |
| Florists |
9 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
5 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food Service Contractors |
39 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
2 |
| Framing Contractors |
7 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
6 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
4 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
131 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
7 |
| Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Furniture Stores |
15 |
| General Automotive Repair |
65 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
9 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
3 |
| General Rental Centers |
8 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
14 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
20 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
4 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
6 |
| Graphic Design Services |
5 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Hardware Stores |
2 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
8 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
5 |
| Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Home Health Care Services |
18 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
10 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
8 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
1 |
| Hunting and Trapping |
1 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
2 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
3 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
3 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
80 |
| Interior Design Services |
3 |
| Internet Service Providers |
5 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
17 |
| Janitorial Services |
38 |
| Jewelry Stores |
18 |
| Junior Colleges |
3 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
5 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
6 |
| Landscaping Services |
39 |
| Language Schools |
2 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
1 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
102 |
| Limousine Service |
2 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
4 |
| Locksmiths |
2 |
| Machine Shops |
15 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
4 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
3 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
4 |
| Masonry Contractors |
15 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
8 |
| Media Representatives |
3 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Mineral Wool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
3 |
| Mobile Food Services |
3 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
14 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
7 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
2 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
1 |
| Museums |
4 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
7 |
| New Car Dealers |
17 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
4 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
2 |
| News Syndicates |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
9 |
| Nonwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
8 |
| Office Administrative Services |
13 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
6 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
47 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
22 |
| Offices of Dentists |
103 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
133 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
14 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
10 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
9 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
5 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Outerwear Knitting Mills |
1 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
2 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
6 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
14 |
| Paper Industry Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
7 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
5 |
| Payroll Services |
6 |
| Periodical Publishers |
2 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
2 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
3 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
32 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
4 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
2 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
6 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
3 |
| Private Mail Centers |
3 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
2 |
| Professional Organizations |
5 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
7 |
| Radio Stations |
2 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
22 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
2 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
4 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
11 |
| Residential Remodelers |
27 |
| Retail Bakeries |
3 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
| Roofing Contractors |
16 |
| Rope, Cordage, and Twine Mills |
1 |
| Sales Financing |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
14 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
9 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
19 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
3 |
| Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
4 |
| Shoe Stores |
11 |
| Siding Contractors |
4 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
5 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
10 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
26 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
4 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
10 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
8 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
13 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
3 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
3 |
| Temporary Help Services |
40 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Testing Laboratories |
5 |
| Textile Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
3 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
1 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Tire Dealers |
9 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
11 |
| Tobacco Stores |
5 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
2 |
| Tour Operators |
2 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
17 |
| Used Car Dealers |
16 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
5 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
9 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
9 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
12 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
6 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
5 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
23 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
18 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
18 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Preservation |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
Visit the business district of Allentown and you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. So, it probably makes sense for you to consider franchising too.
We highly recommend you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchise Law. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
Having 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. Not having a business plan makes you more prone to becoming a business failure statistic.
Getting your Allentown business the capital it needs to succeed is not an easy task. Bootstrapping, which means growing the business without outside funding, is the best alternative, but that's not a viable option for many startup plans.
To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as Angel Investors.
Whether your goal is to attract Allentown customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you need a solid marketing plan.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Allentown. 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.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Allentown and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Allentown, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Allentown.
