Are you starting a business in Arlington, Virginia? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Arlington.
Do You Have What It Takes?
Before you get too far along in the process, take inventory of your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
With so much at stake when you start a business, we strongly recommend you do the following before you proceed:
- Speak with other entrepreneurs in Arlington. Get their candid feedback on what it takes to start a successful business.
- You should read Business Failure. It's a good read for those who are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur.
- Involve a spouse, family member or trusted friend in the decision. A support network of family and friends can be a great sounding board for good advice before you decide for sure to go into business.
Arlington, Virginia Demographic Information
Arlington has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Arlington demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Arlington.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
159049 |
| 5-9 Employees |
55518 |
| 10-19 Employees |
43833 |
| 20-49 Employees |
33687 |
| 50-99 Employees |
12768 |
| 100-249 Employees |
8208 |
| 250-499 Employees |
2736 |
| 500-999 Employees |
627 |
| 1000+ Employees |
285 |
| All Arlington Businesses |
316711 |
As a new Arlington entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Arlington 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 |
9 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
25 |
| Art Dealers |
5 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
1 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
13 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
2 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
3 |
| Barber Shops |
7 |
| Beauty Salons |
63 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
8 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
5 |
| Book Stores |
9 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Business Associations |
90 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
2 |
| Cafeterias |
11 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Car Washes |
2 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
6 |
| Caterers |
7 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
3 |
| Child Day Care Services |
41 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
15 |
| Claims Adjusting |
2 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
11 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
5 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
4 |
| Commercial Photography |
3 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
3 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
3 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
6 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
41 |
| Computer Storage Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
224 |
| Computer Training |
3 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
3 |
| Consumer Lending |
4 |
| Convenience Stores |
41 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
11 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
5 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
4 |
| Credit Unions |
16 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
135 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
1 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
3 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Digital Printing |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
6 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
2 |
| Document Preparation Services |
8 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
6 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
9 |
| Educational Support Services |
13 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
11 |
| Electronic Shopping |
3 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
14 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
4 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
10 |
| Engineering Services |
131 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
13 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
6 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
1 |
| Facilities Support Services |
11 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
17 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
11 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
6 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
28 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
1 |
| Flooring Contractors |
4 |
| Florists |
13 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
7 |
| Food Service Contractors |
16 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
3 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
4 |
| Framing Contractors |
4 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
8 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
213 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
3 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Furniture Stores |
15 |
| General Automotive Repair |
36 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
1 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
23 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
2 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
16 |
| Graphic Design Services |
20 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
5 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Historical Sites |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
4 |
| Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
3 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
4 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
3 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
8 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
2 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
34 |
| Interior Design Services |
11 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
7 |
| Internet Service Providers |
8 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
20 |
| Janitorial Services |
56 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Jewelry Stores |
31 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
4 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
5 |
| Landscaping Services |
20 |
| Language Schools |
7 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
226 |
| Limousine Service |
7 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
7 |
| Locksmiths |
7 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
2 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
5 |
| Marinas |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
30 |
| Masonry Contractors |
7 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
4 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
7 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
3 |
| Mixed Mode Transit Systems |
4 |
| Mobile Food Services |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
6 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
21 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
6 |
| Museums |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
5 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
10 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
2 |
| New Car Dealers |
11 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
11 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
3 |
| News Syndicates |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
8 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
20 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
6 |
| Office Administrative Services |
30 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
8 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
6 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
23 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
9 |
| Offices of Dentists |
72 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
138 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
16 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
8 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
5 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
2 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
7 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
20 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
85 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
11 |
| Payroll Services |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
18 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
10 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
25 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
6 |
| Political Organizations |
6 |
| Portfolio Management |
22 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
3 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
40 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
36 |
| Quick Printing |
5 |
| Radio Stations |
3 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
11 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
5 |
| Record Production |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
26 |
| Residential Remodelers |
48 |
| Retail Bakeries |
5 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
6 |
| Roofing Contractors |
2 |
| Sales Financing |
1 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
3 |
| Savings Institutions |
11 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
2 |
| Securities and Commodity Exchanges |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
13 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
10 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
26 |
| Siding Contractors |
1 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
2 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
44 |
| Software Publishers |
18 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
12 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
8 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
16 |
| Taxi Service |
6 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
3 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
2 |
| Television Broadcasting |
6 |
| Temporary Help Services |
13 |
| Temporary Shelters |
2 |
| Testing Laboratories |
3 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
5 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
4 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
7 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
7 |
| Tobacco Stores |
5 |
| Tour Operators |
5 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
14 |
| Travel Agencies |
37 |
| Used Car Dealers |
26 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
3 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
6 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
10 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
9 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
4 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
6 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
14 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
80 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
31 |
Is a Franchise Opportunity Right For You?
As you drive around Arlington, you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. Is there a franchise opportunity out there that makes sense for you?
Most business experts recommend that you investigate buying a franchise. We have many articles on franchises, such as Opportunities in International Franchising. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
A comprehensive list of franchisors is available via our List of Franchise Opportunities.
Sample franchise opportunities include Apache Pizza and Jack in the Box Inc.. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Cartridge Recycling Franchises and Handyman Services Franchises.
Note on Arlington Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Arlington, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.
Choosing a Company Name
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.
Before you decide on a company name, run it by some prospective customers and see what they think. If they don't like it, it's probably a good idea to go back to the drawing board.
For other considerations regarding naming a company, we recommend this article: Branding Advice.
On a final note, given that you are opening a business in Arlington, it's very important that you make sure you will be the only Virginia company using the business name you have chosen.
Promoting Your New Company
To rise above the crowd in Arlington and build your business, you need a solid marketing plan.
There are myriad resources on this site to help you with your marketing plan. Holiday-Powered Marketing is a good read to get your marketing juices flowing. That's just one of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
The Art of Selling
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Arlington or are selling to customers throughout Virginia, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
The key to selling is to set sales goals goals and monitor your progress towards those goals. The good news is we can help you to make selling a big competitve advantage for your new firm.
Effective Sales Presentations offers some helpful tips on how to sell. It's one of several good articles on our site regarding Entrepreneurial Selling.
Learning More About Entrepreneurship
Good entrepreneurs know that they need to continually improve.
Given that you are starting a business in Arlington, Virginia, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Virginia universities, colleges and community colleges. We also recommend you look into Arlington networking organizations.
Now It's Up To You
You have a dream -- starting a business in Arlington. 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.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Arlington 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.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Arlington, Virginia
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Arlington.
- Resources for Arlington, Virginia Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Arlington entrepreneurs.
- Virginia Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Virginia.
- Virginia Small Business Development Center - Virginia Small Business Development Centers offer professional business counseling, training and information resources to help grow and strengthen Virginia businesses.
- Arlington, Virginia Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Arlington, Virginia newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Arlington area.
- Arlington, Virginia Radio Advertising Prices - To help you in your marketing efforts, we've gathered radio advertising rates for Arlington, Virginia area radio stations.
- Arlington, Virginia Payroll Services - This list includes Arlington, Virginia payroll services, national payroll services for Arlington, and helpful information on choosing a Arlington payroll service.
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