Thinking about starting a business in Auburn, California? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Auburn.
Are You Ready for Life as an Owner?
Most new businesses don't make it, 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.
While entrepreneurship has become a popular career choice, we recommend you do the following before you take the plunge:
- Reach out to other entrepreneurs in Auburn. Listen closely to their experiences and see if you think you too can be successful.
- Peruse Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs. This is one of our more popular articles for folks who want to go into business for themselves.
- Seek the advice of somebody who knows you well. Ask them directly: Do I have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Listen carefully to their answer, as they presumably know your strengths and weaknesses.
Auburn, California Demographic Information
Auburn has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Auburn demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Auburn.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
48864 |
| 5-9 Employees |
16704 |
| 10-19 Employees |
9888 |
| 20-49 Employees |
6432 |
| 50-99 Employees |
1824 |
| 100-249 Employees |
624 |
| 250-499 Employees |
144 |
| 500-999 Employees |
96 |
| 1000+ Employees |
0 |
| All Auburn Businesses |
84576 |
As a new Auburn entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Auburn 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 |
2 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
10 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
3 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
4 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
6 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
3 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
2 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
10 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
3 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
2 |
| Book Stores |
1 |
| Business Associations |
3 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
5 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
1 |
| Caterers |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
2 |
| Child Day Care Services |
15 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
6 |
| Claims Adjusting |
2 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
8 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
4 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
3 |
| Convenience Stores |
6 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
2 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
4 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
8 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
2 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
3 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
2 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
2 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Display Advertising |
2 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
8 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
9 |
| Educational Support Services |
5 |
| Electrical Contractors |
30 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
2 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
26 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
3 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
2 |
| Facilities Support Services |
2 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
8 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
11 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
4 |
| Flooring Contractors |
5 |
| Florists |
5 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
4 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
8 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
4 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
53 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
3 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
2 |
| General Automotive Repair |
23 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
2 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
8 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
4 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
6 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
2 |
| Graphic Design Services |
1 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
5 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
4 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
5 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
8 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
3 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Inland Water Passenger Transportation |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
21 |
| Interior Design Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
6 |
| Janitorial Services |
6 |
| Jewelry Stores |
7 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
2 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
2 |
| Landscaping Services |
25 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
4 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
42 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
2 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
4 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
3 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
1 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
2 |
| Marinas |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
6 |
| Masonry Contractors |
5 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
2 |
| Mobile Food Services |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
16 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
3 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
2 |
| New Car Dealers |
8 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
3 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
5 |
| Office Administrative Services |
10 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
5 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
12 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
18 |
| Offices of Dentists |
31 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
59 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
8 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
1 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
3 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
2 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
3 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
3 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
19 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
4 |
| Periodical Publishers |
6 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
2 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
8 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
3 |
| Portfolio Management |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
2 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
3 |
| Quick Printing |
3 |
| Radio Stations |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
9 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
2 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
4 |
| Residential Remodelers |
15 |
| Retail Bakeries |
2 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
| Roofing Contractors |
5 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
1 |
| Sales Financing |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
3 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
1 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
11 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
2 |
| Shoe Stores |
5 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
16 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
12 |
| Software Publishers |
4 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
9 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
2 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
3 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
4 |
| Tire Dealers |
6 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
6 |
| Tobacco Stores |
2 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
4 |
| Used Car Dealers |
11 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
1 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
4 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
9 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
3 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
7 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
1 |
| Wineries |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
9 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
Should You Franchise?
As you drive around Auburn, it becomes clear that purchasing a franchise is a common way to get started as an entrepreneur. So, it probably makes sense for you to consider franchising too.
We advise the entrepreneurs we work with to investigate buying a franchise. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as Questions to Ask Franchisors. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.
Sample franchise opportunities include Border Magic, LLC and Lady of America. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Candy and Chocolate Franchises and Fitness Franchises.
Note on Auburn Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Auburn, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.
Selecting a Name For Your Venture
A big decision when starting a company is choosing a company name. Believe it or not, choosing a good company name can be a big contributor to your business success.
Companies like Starbucks, Apple, Target, Microsoft and Intuit all have strong company names that are easy to remember and have become well-loved brands. Wouldn't it be nice if your new company name got on a similar track?
Numerous company naming issues are discussed in more detail in this article: Naming a Company.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are planning on starting a business in Auburn, it's imperative that you check now that no other California company is using the business name you want to use.
Getting Money to Start a Business
Getting your Auburn business the capital it needs to succeed will be harder than you might expect. Bootstrapping, which means growing the business without outside funding, is the best alternative, but that's not a viable option for many startup plans.
On the bright side, this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled Getting a Small Business Loan.
For Auburn entrepreneurs who need startup capital, check out our List of California Angel Investors and our List of California Venture Capital Firms.
Building Up Your Sales
Mastering the art of selling is a must if you want your new Auburn business to do well.
Not knowing how to sell can result in lost customers and minimal market share. Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
Writing Great Proposals offers some helpful tips on how to sell. It's one of several good articles on our site regarding Entrepreneurial Selling.
Never Give Up
Most new Auburn 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.
We are here to help Auburn 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 Auburn, California
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Auburn.
- Resources for Auburn, California Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Auburn entrepreneurs.
- California Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in California.
- Fresno, California Small Business Development Center - The UC Merced SBDC Regional Network assists Central California entrepreneurs and small business owners through counseling, training and business information.
- Los Angeles, California Small Business Development Center - The Los Angeles Regional Small Business Development Center Network (LA SBDC Network) is part of the national, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) effort to provide free one-on-one customized consulting services and low-cost training workshops to growing businesses and start-up businesses.
- Sacramento, California Small Business Development Center - As Northern California continues to grow demographically and economically, the Northeastern California Small Business Development Center (NECSBDC) at CSU, Chico is committed to helping communities prepare and plan for future growth.
- San Diego, California Small Business Development Center - The Small Business Development & International Trade Center (SBDITC) at Southwestern College is part of the California SBDC San Diego and Imperial Regional Network. The SBDITC provides no-cost business assistance to start-up & existing businesses.
- San Francisco, California Small Business Development Center - The Northern California Network of Small Business Development Centers helps individuals start, manage and grow their businesses.
- Santa Ana, California Small Business Development Center - The Tri-County Lead Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in the Santa Ana District provides oversight and support for SBDCs located in the Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The Santa Ana SBDC Network is a leader in providing consulting, training, and technical assistance to the small business community.
- Auburn, California Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Auburn, California newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Auburn area.
- Auburn, California Radio Advertising Prices - To help you in your marketing efforts, we've gathered radio advertising rates for Auburn, California area radio stations.
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