Are you starting a business in Asheville, North Carolina? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Asheville.
There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? If you are struggling with what type of business to start, read Good Business Ideas.
Always keep in mind that you are opening your new business in Asheville. Some businesses will do better in Asheville than others. Study Asheville demographics and do a competitive analysis as part of your startup planning process.
Asheville has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Asheville demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Asheville.
As a new Asheville entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Asheville 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 |
10 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
3 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
36 |
| Art Dealers |
7 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
2 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
3 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
33 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
6 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
46 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
23 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
9 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
1 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
2 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
5 |
| Book Stores |
13 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Breweries |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
3 |
| Business Associations |
13 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
2 |
| Cafeterias |
5 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
2 |
| Car Washes |
11 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
5 |
| Caterers |
9 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
3 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
9 |
| Child Day Care Services |
33 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
9 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
18 |
| Claims Adjusting |
5 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
4 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
6 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
8 |
| Commercial Photography |
5 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
4 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
10 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
19 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
2 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
11 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
4 |
| Convenience Stores |
12 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
2 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Couriers |
4 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
3 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
16 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
19 |
| Dance Companies |
2 |
| Dental Laboratories |
7 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
3 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
2 |
| Digital Printing |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
6 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
7 |
| Display Advertising |
2 |
| Document Preparation Services |
4 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
21 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
8 |
| Educational Support Services |
5 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
46 |
| Electronic Shopping |
3 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
18 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
5 |
| Engineering Services |
28 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
7 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
5 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
5 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
25 |
| Family Planning Centers |
3 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
9 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
23 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
2 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
17 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
13 |
| Flooring Contractors |
4 |
| Florists |
14 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
10 |
| Food Service Contractors |
5 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
3 |
| Framing Contractors |
9 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
7 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
166 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
8 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Furniture Stores |
29 |
| General Automotive Repair |
34 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
6 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
6 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
4 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
54 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
4 |
| Glove and Mitten Manufacturing |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
2 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
11 |
| Graphic Design Services |
19 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Hardware Stores |
5 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
1 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
4 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
14 |
| Home Centers |
4 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Home Health Care Services |
12 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
4 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
9 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
7 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
68 |
| Interior Design Services |
7 |
| Internet Service Providers |
2 |
| Investigation Services |
1 |
| Investment Advice |
15 |
| Janitorial Services |
30 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
3 |
| Jewelry Stores |
29 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
5 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
10 |
| Landscaping Services |
28 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
6 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
149 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Livestock Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
3 |
| Locksmiths |
2 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
8 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
5 |
| Malt Manufacturing |
1 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
9 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
15 |
| Masonry Contractors |
7 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
5 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
13 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
23 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
4 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
6 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
6 |
| Museums |
6 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
6 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
1 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
2 |
| New Car Dealers |
19 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
13 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
5 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
13 |
| Nonwoven Fabric Mills |
2 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
11 |
| Office Administrative Services |
19 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
7 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
45 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
39 |
| Offices of Dentists |
82 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
141 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
15 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
7 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
20 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
9 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
2 |
| Paging |
2 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
4 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
24 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
3 |
| Periodical Publishers |
8 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
8 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
12 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
4 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
25 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
13 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
8 |
| Poultry Processing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
3 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
3 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
3 |
| Quick Printing |
8 |
| Radio Stations |
16 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
25 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
3 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
29 |
| Residential Remodelers |
35 |
| Retail Bakeries |
6 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
| Rolled Steel Shape Manufacturing |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
6 |
| Sales Financing |
5 |
| Savings Institutions |
12 |
| Sawmills |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
1 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
27 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
2 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
2 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
3 |
| Shoe Stores |
25 |
| Siding Contractors |
6 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
9 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
30 |
| Software Publishers |
4 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
5 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
20 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
10 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
2 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
12 |
| Taxi Service |
4 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
3 |
| Temporary Help Services |
35 |
| Temporary Shelters |
5 |
| Testing Laboratories |
8 |
| Textile Bag Mills |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
3 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
2 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
14 |
| Tire Retreading |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
4 |
| Tobacco Stores |
3 |
| Tour Operators |
3 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
6 |
| Used Car Dealers |
26 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
4 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
33 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
4 |
| Veterinary Services |
22 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
10 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
3 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
7 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
20 |
| Wineries |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
10 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
34 |
It's very important that you form your business as a legal structure. The principal advantage of forming your new business as a legal entity is that it separates your business liabilities from your personal liabilities.
When forming a company, you will pick from many company types, such as a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
Incorporating is a very popular way to form a business. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. If you are starting a business in North Carolina, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in North Carolina. In fact, you can incorporate in any state you would like to. For example, it's very popular to incorporate in Delaware, and incorporating in Nevada has become very trendy as well. Don't forget, though, that you will have to register as a foreign entity in all states that you do business in.
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 Avoiding Personal Liability in Business. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Asheville, North Carolina, our web page covering Incorporating in North Carolina may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in North Carolina.
A business plan is vital in laying a solid foundation for your business success. 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.
To grow your Asheville business, you need a excellent marketing plan.
Successful entrepreneurs recognize that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.
Given that you are starting a business in Asheville, North Carolina, you should get information on some of the learning programs at local North Carolina educational institutions. Another way to keep up on your learning is to investigate networking organizations for Asheville entrepreneurs.
Most new Asheville businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Asheville and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Asheville, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Asheville.
