Thinking about starting a business in Ashland, Kentucky? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Ashland.
What Business Are You Starting?
Choosing a business that is right for you is very important. We recommend that you read Evaluating Your Idea.
For in-depth how-to guides on how to start specific businesses, browse our Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our Opening a Bedspreads Retail & Custom Made Business guide or our How to Start a Powder Coatings Business guide.
Don't forget that your new startup will be located in Ashland. Some businesses will do better in Ashland than others. Study Ashland demographics and do a competitive analysis as part of your startup planning process.
Ashland, Kentucky Demographic Information
Ashland has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Ashland demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Ashland.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
30090 |
| 5-9 Employees |
17340 |
| 10-19 Employees |
10098 |
| 20-49 Employees |
5508 |
| 50-99 Employees |
2397 |
| 100-249 Employees |
1122 |
| 250-499 Employees |
204 |
| 500-999 Employees |
51 |
| 1000+ Employees |
102 |
| All Ashland Businesses |
66912 |
As a new Ashland entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Ashland 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 |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
1 |
| Art Dealers |
4 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
4 |
|
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
9 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
1 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
15 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
4 |
| Bituminous Coal Underground Mining |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
|
Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
3 |
| Bowling Centers |
3 |
| Business Associations |
3 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
2 |
| Cafeterias |
1 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Car Washes |
1 |
|
Caterers |
4 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
3 |
| Child Day Care Services |
8 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
9 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
4 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
|
Computer and Software Stores |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
3 |
| Convenience Stores |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
2 |
| Couriers |
3 |
| Credit Unions |
5 |
| Dental Laboratories |
1 |
|
Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
4 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
2 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
6 |
|
Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
4 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
1 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
7 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
1 |
|
Finish Carpentry Contractors |
2 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
7 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
3 |
| Flooring Contractors |
5 |
| Florists |
2 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
2 |
| Food Service Contractors |
1 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
2 |
|
Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
32 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
6 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
9 |
| General Automotive Repair |
17 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
4 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
|
General Rental Centers |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
7 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
3 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
4 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
1 |
| Graphic Design Services |
3 |
| Hardware Stores |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
2 |
|
Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
4 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
2 |
|
Inland Water Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
16 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
2 |
| Janitorial Services |
13 |
| Jewelry Stores |
11 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
|
Landscaping Services |
5 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
47 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
6 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
1 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
4 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
1 |
|
Masonry Contractors |
2 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
2 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
|
Motorcycle Dealers |
1 |
| Museums |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
1 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
6 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
|
Nonresidential Property Managers |
3 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
4 |
| Office Administrative Services |
2 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
1 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
11 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
13 |
|
Offices of Dentists |
25 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
27 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
7 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
5 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
4 |
|
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Paging |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
4 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
3 |
|
Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
8 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
3 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
2 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
|
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
6 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
6 |
| Residential Remodelers |
11 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
2 |
|
Savings Institutions |
5 |
| Securities Brokerage |
7 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
3 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
7 |
| Siding Contractors |
3 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
13 |
|
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
4 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
3 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
5 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
6 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
1 |
| Support Activities for Coal Mining |
2 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
6 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
|
Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
4 |
| Temporary Shelters |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
5 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
2 |
| Tobacco Stores |
8 |
|
Travel Agencies |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
10 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
2 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
5 |
| Veterinary Services |
4 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
6 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
|
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
3 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
4 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
6 |
Have You Considered Franchising?
Visit the business district of Ashland and it's apparent that franchising has become a very popular way to start a business. Evidently, there must be some significant advantages to purchasing a franchise.
We advise the entrepreneurs we work with to look into purchasing a franchise. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as Understanding Franchise Contracts. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
You can find franchise opportunities by browsing our Franchise Opportunities Directory.
Representative franchise opportunities include The Little Gym International, Inc. and Blue Moon Mexican Café. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Flooring Franchises and Mexican Restaurant Franchises.
Note on Ashland Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Ashland.
Should You Buy an Existing Ashland Business?
An excellent way to get started in business is to Buy a Business in Kentucky. Follow that link and you can review several good businesses for sale in Ashland.
Before buying a business, be sure to read this article: How to Buy a Business.
Marketing Your New Company
Whether your goal is to attract Ashland customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.
There are myriad resources on this site to help you with your marketing plan. Phone Book Advertising Costs is an article that will generate a few thoughts on your marketing plan. That's just one of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Advancing Your Entrepreneurial Skills
The best entrepreneurs recognize that they need to continually improve.
As an entrepreneur who lives in Ashland, Kentucky, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Kentucky universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any networking groups or organizations in which Ashland entrepreneurs get together to network and trade their business experiences.
Next Steps
As an entrepreneur in Ashland, 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.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Ashland and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Ashland, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Ashland, Kentucky
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Ashland.
- Resources for Ashland, Kentucky Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Ashland entrepreneurs.
- Kentucky Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Kentucky.
- Kentucky Small Business Development Center - The Kentucky Small Business Development Center (KSBDC) has been assisting Kentucky small business community for more than 25 years. KSBDC is co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration and is administered by the University of Kentucky in partnership with regional universities, community and private colleges, and the private sector.
- Ashland, Kentucky Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Ashland, Kentucky newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Ashland area.
- Ashland, Kentucky Radio Advertising Prices - To help you in your marketing efforts, we've gathered radio advertising rates for Ashland, Kentucky area radio stations.
- Ashland, Kentucky Payroll Services - This list includes Ashland, Kentucky payroll services, national payroll services for Ashland, and helpful information on choosing a Ashland payroll service.
- Ashland, Kentucky Businesses for Sale - This list includes resources for buying a business in Ashland, Kentucky, such as business brokers in Ashland and other helpful information on how to buy a Ashland business.
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