Thinking about starting a business in Annapolis, Maryland? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Annapolis.
Being an entrepreneur is hard work, much more arduous than working as an employee. Are you certain you have the stamina and skills to succeed on your own?
With so much at stake when you start a business, we strongly recommend you do the following before you proceed:
Annapolis has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Annapolis demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Annapolis.
As a new Annapolis entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Annapolis 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 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
27 |
| Art Dealers |
8 |
|
Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
3 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
3 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
7 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
1 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
2 |
| Barber Shops |
3 |
|
Beauty Salons |
37 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
6 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
21 |
| Boat Building |
9 |
| Boat Dealers |
30 |
| Book Publishers |
2 |
| Book Stores |
7 |
|
Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
2 |
| Business Associations |
16 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
4 |
| Cafeterias |
4 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
3 |
|
Canvas and Related Product Mills |
6 |
| Car Washes |
6 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
6 |
| Caterers |
6 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
3 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
2 |
| Child Day Care Services |
16 |
|
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
6 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
17 |
| Claims Adjusting |
2 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
11 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
4 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
4 |
|
Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
4 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
3 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
56 |
| Computer Training |
2 |
|
Confectionery and Nut Stores |
3 |
| Consumer Lending |
7 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
2 |
| Convenience Stores |
8 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
4 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Couriers |
2 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
5 |
|
Credit Unions |
6 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
39 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Deep Sea Passenger Transportation |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
3 |
|
Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
3 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
1 |
|
Document Preparation Services |
2 |
| Doll and Stuffed Toy Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
7 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
5 |
| Educational Support Services |
9 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
23 |
| Electronic Shopping |
6 |
|
Elementary and Secondary Schools |
11 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
3 |
| Engineering Services |
65 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
15 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
6 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
3 |
| Facilities Support Services |
3 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
23 |
|
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
3 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
12 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
18 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
11 |
| Flooring Contractors |
4 |
| Florists |
8 |
|
Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
6 |
| Food Service Contractors |
9 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
2 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
2 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
4 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
2 |
|
Full-Service Restaurants |
98 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
4 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Furniture Stores |
21 |
| General Automotive Repair |
36 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
3 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
|
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
22 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
2 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
10 |
| Graphic Design Services |
18 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
5 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
|
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
7 |
| Home Centers |
3 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
4 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
7 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
2 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
2 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
|
Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Inland Water Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
51 |
| Interior Design Services |
21 |
| International Trade Financing |
1 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
23 |
|
Janitorial Services |
24 |
| Jewelry Stores |
27 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
7 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
13 |
| Landscaping Services |
31 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
83 |
|
Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
2 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Machine Shops |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
8 |
| Marinas |
21 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
22 |
| Masonry Contractors |
11 |
|
Meat Markets |
2 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
2 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
7 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
2 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
17 |
|
Motion Picture and Video Production |
12 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
2 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
2 |
| Museums |
4 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
4 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
6 |
|
New Car Dealers |
20 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
6 |
| News Syndicates |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
9 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
7 |
| Office Administrative Services |
16 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
|
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
6 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
34 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
12 |
| Offices of Dentists |
56 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
144 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
7 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
4 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
5 |
|
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
9 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
15 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
10 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
1 |
|
Passenger Car Leasing |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
1 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
12 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
5 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
12 |
|
Photography Studios, Portrait |
6 |
| Political Organizations |
6 |
| Port and Harbor Operations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
11 |
| Prepress Services |
2 |
| Private Mail Centers |
2 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
9 |
|
Public Relations Agencies |
12 |
| Quick Printing |
3 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
3 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
25 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
2 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
2 |
|
Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
13 |
| Residential Remodelers |
57 |
| Retail Bakeries |
2 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
4 |
| Roofing Contractors |
5 |
| Sales Financing |
3 |
|
Savings Institutions |
8 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
3 |
| Securities Brokerage |
15 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
2 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Ship Building and Repairing |
2 |
| Shoe Stores |
27 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
|
Sign Manufacturing |
7 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
7 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
20 |
| Software Publishers |
8 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
1 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
20 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
7 |
|
Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
9 |
| Taxi Service |
4 |
| Temporary Help Services |
14 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Testing Laboratories |
3 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
3 |
|
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
5 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
27 |
| Tobacco Stores |
3 |
| Tour Operators |
3 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
3 |
| Travel Agencies |
9 |
| Used Car Dealers |
2 |
|
Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
5 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
7 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
3 |
| Veterinary Services |
17 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
3 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
|
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
27 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
4 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
16 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
33 |
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.
Company names should be fun to say, and they should help people to understand what you do and how you differentiate yourself in the market.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are opening a business in Annapolis, it's critical that you ensure that no other Maryland company is using the business name you want to use.
Having a business plan is critical in maximizing the prospects of your new company. In effect, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Starting a business without a business plan makes you more prone to becoming a business failure statistic.
Getting your Annapolis business the capital it needs to succeed will be harder than you might expect. If you don't have a rich uncle to fund you, you'll need to be creative in how you approach your fundraising efforts.
To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as 504 Loans.
Whether your goal is to attract Annapolis customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.
We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Writing Contributed Articles is an article that will stimulate a few thoughts on your marketing plan. That's just one of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
As an entrepreneur in Annapolis, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
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 Annapolis 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 Annapolis.
