Are you starting a business in Ann Arbor, Michigan? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Ann Arbor.
Before you get too far along in the process, consider your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
While entrepreneurship has become a popular career choice, we recommend you do the following before you take the plunge:
Ann Arbor has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Ann Arbor demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Ann Arbor.
As a new Ann Arbor entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Ann Arbor 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 |
12 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
3 |
| Architectural Services |
45 |
| Art Dealers |
6 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
2 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
3 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
3 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
13 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
2 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
5 |
| Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing |
2 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
56 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
12 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
2 |
| Book Publishers |
8 |
| Book Stores |
18 |
| Books Printing |
5 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Breweries |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
2 |
| Business Associations |
9 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
3 |
| Cafeterias |
3 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Car Washes |
11 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
8 |
| Caterers |
13 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
10 |
| Child Day Care Services |
68 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
7 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
27 |
| Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
6 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
3 |
| Collection Agencies |
3 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
14 |
| Commercial Photography |
5 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
2 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
14 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
5 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
54 |
| Computer Training |
6 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
2 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
4 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
6 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
14 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
3 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Couriers |
6 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Creamery Butter Manufacturing |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
9 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
84 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
2 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
5 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
5 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
3 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
4 |
| Discount Department Stores |
3 |
| Display Advertising |
4 |
| Document Preparation Services |
6 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
14 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
6 |
| Educational Support Services |
4 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
11 |
| Electrical Contractors |
21 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
4 |
| Electronic Shopping |
6 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
13 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
10 |
| Engineering Services |
76 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
8 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
6 |
| Facilities Support Services |
4 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
22 |
| Family Planning Centers |
3 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
13 |
| Finfish Fishing |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
9 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
20 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
10 |
| Flooring Contractors |
4 |
| Florists |
10 |
| Flour Milling |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
5 |
| Food Service Contractors |
20 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
7 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
4 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
158 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
2 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Furniture Stores |
22 |
| General Automotive Repair |
25 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
4 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
3 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
8 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
26 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
10 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
7 |
| Graphic Design Services |
21 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
7 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
9 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Home Health Care Services |
20 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
8 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
7 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
5 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
4 |
| Industrial Design Services |
4 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
76 |
| Interior Design Services |
12 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
3 |
| Internet Service Providers |
6 |
| Investment Advice |
15 |
| Janitorial Services |
28 |
| Jewelry Stores |
25 |
| Land Subdivision |
6 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
11 |
| Landscaping Services |
45 |
| Language Schools |
4 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
1 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
110 |
| Limousine Service |
2 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
3 |
| Locksmiths |
2 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
2 |
| Machine Shops |
12 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
14 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
37 |
| Masonry Contractors |
6 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
4 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
2 |
| Media Representatives |
3 |
| Medical Laboratories |
4 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
11 |
| Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
8 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
11 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
10 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
3 |
| Museums |
3 |
| Music Publishers |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
6 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
2 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
3 |
| Natural Gas Liquid Extraction |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
13 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
11 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
3 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
14 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
5 |
| Office Administrative Services |
32 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
8 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
9 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
4 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
46 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
21 |
| Offices of Dentists |
108 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
137 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
7 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
6 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
6 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
7 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
16 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
2 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
6 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
19 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
2 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
3 |
| Payroll Services |
3 |
| Periodical Publishers |
13 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
8 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
5 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
16 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
9 |
| Portfolio Management |
17 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Prepress Services |
2 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
8 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
35 |
| Professional Organizations |
12 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
5 |
| Quick Printing |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
4 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
21 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
2 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
43 |
| Residential Remodelers |
51 |
| Retail Bakeries |
5 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
5 |
| Roofing Contractors |
4 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
20 |
| Sales Financing |
4 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
13 |
| Sawmills |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
30 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
1 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
2 |
| Shoe Stores |
23 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
2 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
10 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
32 |
| Software Publishers |
28 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
4 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
3 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
20 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
12 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
2 |
| Support Activities for Coal Mining |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
8 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
26 |
| Temporary Shelters |
6 |
| Testing Laboratories |
7 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
4 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
6 |
| Tire Dealers |
13 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
6 |
| Tobacco Stores |
4 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
4 |
| Travel Agencies |
20 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
4 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
19 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
4 |
| Veterinary Services |
20 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
12 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
5 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
4 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Web Search Portals |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
29 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
14 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
30 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
2 |
It's very important that you are forming a legal entity that operates independently from you. Doing so will separate you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
The entity you form can be a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporation is a very popular way to form a business. 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 Michigan, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Michigan. 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 How to Incorporate. You may also want to seek the advice of an lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Ann Arbor, Michigan, our information on Incorporating in Michigan may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Michigan.
Being able to sell is essential to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Ann Arbor or are selling to customers throughout Michigan, 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.
Good business owners recognize that they don't know everything.
Given that you are starting a business in Ann Arbor, Michigan, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Michigan universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also smart to see if there are any Ann Arbor networking organizations.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Ann Arbor. 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.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Ann Arbor and elsewhere to achieve real success. 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 Ann Arbor.
