Starting a Business in Astoria, New York

Thinking about starting a business in Astoria, New York? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Astoria.

Do You Have Entrepreneurial Drive and Passion?

Most new companies fail, in part because the entrepreneur did not have the tenacity and/or the skills to succeed. So, before jumping into the world of entrepreneurship, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.

With so much at stake when you start a business, we strongly recommend you do the following before you proceed:

• Talk to other entrepreneurs in Astoria. Get their candid feedback on what it takes to start a successful business.
• We recommend reading Why Small Businesses Fail. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
• Get feedback from somebody whom you trust. 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.

What Type of Business Should You Start?

An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. If you are struggling with what type of business to start, read How to Evaluate a Business Idea.

To view an extensive list of business types, complete with startup instructions, spend some time in the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our Starting a Dance Club guide or our Starting a Tatoo Parlor guide.

Always keep in mind that your new business will be in Astoria. The business you want to start may already be well-represented in Astoria. Study Astoria demographics and do a competitive analysis as part of your startup planning process.

Astoria, New York Demographic Information

Astoria has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.

To give you a better feel for Astoria demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Astoria.

Business Size	# of Businesses
1-4 Employees	22233
5-9 Employees	4617
10-19 Employees	2448
20-49 Employees	2007
50-99 Employees	378
100-249 Employees	189
250-499 Employees	45
500-999 Employees	72
1000+ Employees	27
All Astoria Businesses	32016

As a new Astoria entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Astoria 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	5
Appliance Repair and Maintenance	2
Architectural Services	11
Automobile Driving Schools	6
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores	2
Automotive Transmission Repair	3
Baked Goods Stores	10
Barber Shops	10
Beauty Salons	54
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers	1
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores	20
Book Stores	3
Bowling Centers	1
Building Inspection Services	1
Business Associations	1
Business to Business Electronic Markets	1
Cable and Other Program Distribution	3
Cafeterias	2
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores	1
Car Washes	4
Caterers	5
Child and Youth Services	4
Child Day Care Services	11
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores	4
Civic and Social Organizations	7
Clothing Accessories Stores	5
Coffee and Tea Manufacturing	1
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners	60
Commercial Bakeries	7
Commercial Flexographic Printing	1
Commercial Lithographic Printing	2
Commercial Photography	2
Commercial Screen Printing	2
Commodity Contracts Dealing	1
Community Food Services	2
Computer and Software Stores	2
Computer Facilities Management Services	3
Computer Systems Design Services	13
Confectionery and Nut Stores	5
Convenience Stores	14
Cosmetology and Barber Schools	1
Couriers	2
Curtain and Drapery Mills	1
Custom Computer Programming Services	11
Deep Sea Freight Transportation	1
Dental Laboratories	13
Diagnostic Imaging Centers	3
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers	1
Digital Printing	1
Direct Life Insurance Carriers	1
Direct Mail Advertising	2
Directory and Mailing List Publishers	1
Discount Department Stores	2
Document Preparation Services	2
Drafting Services	1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)	45
Drywall and Insulation Contractors	17
Electric Power Distribution	3
Electrical Contractors	89
Electronic Shopping	1
Elementary and Secondary Schools	14
Emergency and Other Relief Services	2
Employment Placement Agencies	5
Engineering Services	7
Environmental Consulting Services	2
Exam Preparation and Tutoring	3
Exterminating and Pest Control Services	4
Family Clothing Stores	5
Family Planning Centers	1
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers	1
Fine Arts Schools	6
Finish Carpentry Contractors	37
Fish and Seafood Markets	4
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers	2
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers	9
Floor Covering Stores	3
Flooring Contractors	6
Florists	19
Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing	1
Food (Health) Supplement Stores	7
Food Service Contractors	10
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair	1
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers	1
Formal Wear and Costume Rental	3
Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation	1
Framing Contractors	8
Freight Transportation Arrangement	8
Fruit and Vegetable Markets	14
Full-Service Restaurants	141
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services	10
Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing	2
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers	3
Furniture Stores	15
General Automotive Repair	58
General Freight Trucking, Local	10
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals	1
General Rental Centers	2
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores	9
Glass and Glazing Contractors	6
Graphic Design Services	7
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing	1
Hardware Manufacturing	1
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers	5
Hardware Stores	5
Hazardous Waste Collection	1
Heating Oil Dealers	4
Home Centers	1
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers	5
Home Health Care Services	3
Household Appliance Stores	3
Human Rights Organizations	1
Industrial Building Construction	1
Industrial Design Services	1
Institutional Furniture Manufacturing	3
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages	45
Interior Design Services	6
Internet Service Providers	1
Investigation Services	1
Investment Advice	1
Janitorial Services	14
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing	1
Jewelry Stores	17
Kidney Dialysis Centers	2
Land Subdivision	1
Landscaping Services	3
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property	2
Libraries and Archives	1
Limited-Service Restaurants	111
Limousine Service	21
Linen Supply	1
Local Messengers and Local Delivery	3
Locksmiths	3
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores	2
Machine Shops	3
Mail-Order Houses	4
Marketing Consulting Services	3
Masonry Contractors	12
Meat Markets	18
Meat Processed from Carcasses	2
Media Buying Agencies	2
Media Representatives	1
Medical Laboratories	2
Men's Clothing Stores	13
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers	8
Motion Picture and Video Production	8
Motor Vehicle Towing	1
Motorcycle Dealers	3
Museums	2
Musical Groups and Artists	2
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores	2
Musical Instrument Manufacturing	2
Nail Salons	21
Natural Gas Liquid Extraction	1
New Car Dealers	2
New Housing Operative Builders	4
News Dealers and Newsstands	7
Newspaper Publishers	3
Nonresidential Property Managers	7
Nursing Care Facilities	1
Office Administrative Services	10
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers	1
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores	1
Offices of Certified Public Accountants	13
Offices of Chiropractors	7
Offices of Dentists	73
Offices of Lawyers	48
Offices of Optometrists	5
Offices of Other Holding Companies	3
Offices of Podiatrists	10
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers	1
One-Hour Photofinishing	2
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers	1
Optical Goods Stores	12
Packing and Crating	1
Paint and Wallpaper Stores	5
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors	84
Parking Lots and Garages	3
Passenger Car Leasing	1
Payroll Services	1
Periodical Publishers	3
Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing	2
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores	4
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services	1
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals	2
Pharmacies and Drug Stores	33
Photography Studios, Portrait	6
Private Mail Centers	1
Professional Employer Organizations	2
Public Relations Agencies	1
Quick Printing	2
Radio Stations	3
Real Estate Credit	5
Remediation Services	4
Residential Property Managers	30
Residential Remodelers	82
Retail Bakeries	21
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair	5
Roofing Contractors	7
Rooming and Boarding Houses	1
Sales Financing	1
Savings Institutions	17
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation	1
School and Employee Bus Transportation	1
Securities Brokerage	4
Security Guards and Patrol Services	2
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing	7
Shoe Stores	16
Siding Contractors	2
Sign Manufacturing	4
Site Preparation Contractors	6
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars	44
Software Publishers	1
Solid Waste Collection	6
Sound Recording Studios	1
Special Needs Transportation	1
Sporting Goods Stores	4
Sports and Recreation Instruction	3
Tax Preparation Services	16
Taxi Service	21
Telephone Answering Services	1
Temporary Help Services	1
Testing Laboratories	1
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters	3
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors	15
Tire Dealers	3
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices	2
Tobacco Stores	1
Toilet Preparation Manufacturing	1
Tour Operators	5
Travel Agencies	28
Used Car Dealers	3
Used Household and Office Goods Moving	5
Used Merchandise Stores	6
Vending Machine Operators	1
Veterinary Services	7
Video Tape and Disc Rental	7
Vocational Rehabilitation Services	2
Voluntary Health Organizations	1
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters	1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers	12
Window Treatment Stores	2
Wired Telecommunications Carriers	6
Women's Clothing Stores	24
Women's Handbag and Purse Manufacturing	1
Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing	1
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing	1

Is Franchising a Better Option?

As you drive around Astoria, you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. But is franchising the right option for you?

Our recommendation is that you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Five Franchise Opportunities To Watch. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.

You can review hundreds of franchise opportunities by browing our Franchise Directory.

Sample franchise opportunities include Subway Franchises and Starbucks Franchises. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Accounting Franchises and Moving Franchises.

Note on Astoria Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Astoria.

What About Buying an Existing Astoria Business?

An excellent way to get started in business is to Buy a Business in New York. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Astoria.

For anybody who wants to buy a business, we recommend reading this useful article: Hold Harmless Agreements When Buying Businesses.

Naming the Company

A good company name can give a big boost to a new startup. It might seem like an easy thing to do, but there are many things to consider when naming a business.

We strongly advocate that you make sure the ".com" domain name is available for your company name. Every business needs a strong Web presence these days, and having a non ".com" domain means somebody else may outrank you in the search results for your own company name.

To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Naming a Business.

As a final piece of advice, remember that because you are planning on starting a business in Astoria, it's imperative that you check now that you will be the only New York company using the business name you have chosen.

Forming a Company in Astoria, New York

It's essential that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Among other things, forming a legal entity for the business limits your liabilities.

The entity you form can be a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.

Incorporation 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 New York, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in New York. As it turns out, you can incorporate wherever you want. 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 Company Formation. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Astoria, New York, our information on Incorporating in New York may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in New York.

Don't Skip the Business Plan

A business plan is critical in laying a solid foundation for your business success. In effect, 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 learn more about business plans, read Find Sample Business Plans Online. A great resource for business planning assistance is the free business counselors available to you through your local SCORE chapter in New York.

Startup Financing Basics

Finding the funds to fuel the growth of your Astoria business is not an easy task. The reality is that there is very little funding available for new small businesses, and you have to explore every possible alternative.

To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as 504 Loans.

For Astoria entrepreneurs in need of startup financing, you'll want to take a look at our List of New York Angel Investors and our List of New York Venture Capital Firms.

Marketing Your New Venture

To rise above the crowd in Astoria and build your business, you need a excellent marketing plan.

We have some great resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Phone Book Advertising Costs discusses marketing strategy and tactical marketing in a way that should get you thinking about how to creatively promote your business. There are many more articles on marketing on our site. Visit our Small Business Marketing resource section to see them all.

How to Sell

Mastering the art of selling is a must if you want your new Astoria business to do well.

Why should customers buy from you instead of buying from competitors? The good news is we can help you to make selling a big competitve advantage for your new firm.

How to Build and Motivate a Sales Team is worth reading, as it may give you some good ideas on how to sell your products or services. We have many more good articles on selling that you may enjoy reading.

How to Improve Your Entrepreneurial Abilities

Good business owners recognize that they don't know everything.

Given that you are starting a business in Astoria, New York, you will want to take advantage of the learning programs at local New York educational institutions. We also recommend you look into Astoria networking organizations.

Now It's Up To You

Most new Astoria businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.

Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.

We are here to help Astoria businesses to be successful. 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 Astoria, New York

Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Astoria.

• Resources for Astoria, New York Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Astoria entrepreneurs.
• New York Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in New York.
• New York Small Business Development Center - The New York State Small Business Development Center delivers high quality business counseling and training to New Yorkers who want to start a business or improve the performance of an existing business.
• Astoria, New York Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Astoria, New York newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Astoria area.

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