Contemplating starting a business in Baltimore, Maryland? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Baltimore.
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 Finding Your Niche in Life.
Don't forget that starting a business in Baltimore has some implications. Some businesses will do better in Baltimore than others. Don't forget to review Baltimore demographics to see if there's a market for what you want to sell.
Baltimore has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Baltimore demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Baltimore.
As a new Baltimore entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Baltimore 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 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
1 |
| Advertising Agencies |
41 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
2 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
|
Amusement Arcades |
5 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
2 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
4 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
7 |
| Architectural Services |
79 |
| Armored Car Services |
3 |
| Art Dealers |
11 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Automobile Driving Schools |
5 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
2 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
2 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
43 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
6 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
14 |
| Barber Shops |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
122 |
|
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
4 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
246 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
4 |
| Boat Dealers |
5 |
| Book Publishers |
5 |
| Book Stores |
28 |
| Books Printing |
2 |
|
Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
3 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
6 |
| Business Associations |
22 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
2 |
|
Cable and Other Program Distribution |
4 |
| Cafeterias |
15 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
7 |
| Cane Sugar Refining |
1 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
4 |
| Car Washes |
16 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
8 |
| Caterers |
30 |
|
Cement Manufacturing |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
11 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
7 |
| Child and Youth Services |
41 |
| Child Day Care Services |
141 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
13 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
62 |
| Claims Adjusting |
7 |
|
Clothing Accessories Stores |
20 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
3 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
35 |
| Collection Agencies |
14 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
15 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
29 |
|
Commercial Photography |
10 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
12 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
2 |
| Community Food Services |
16 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
18 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
5 |
| Computer Storage Device Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Computer Systems Design Services |
54 |
| Computer Training |
3 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
9 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
7 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
7 |
| Convenience Stores |
94 |
|
Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
11 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
2 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
2 |
| Couriers |
14 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
6 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
28 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
3 |
|
Custom Computer Programming Services |
63 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
1 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
5 |
| Dental Laboratories |
7 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
13 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
2 |
| Digital Printing |
7 |
| Dimension Stone Mining and Quarrying |
1 |
|
Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
24 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
7 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
9 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
5 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
7 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
|
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
196 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
17 |
| Educational Support Services |
32 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
11 |
| Electrical Contractors |
75 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
2 |
| Electronic Shopping |
14 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
61 |
|
Emergency and Other Relief Services |
6 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
14 |
| Engineering Services |
79 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
1 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
9 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
16 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
9 |
| Facilities Support Services |
2 |
|
Family Clothing Stores |
37 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Fats and Oils Refining and Blending |
2 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
14 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
24 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
15 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
|
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
37 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
8 |
| Flooring Contractors |
23 |
| Florists |
31 |
| Flour Milling |
1 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
8 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food Service Contractors |
118 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
2 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
4 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
2 |
| Framing Contractors |
6 |
|
Freight Transportation Arrangement |
57 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
9 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
345 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
27 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Furniture Stores |
30 |
| General Automotive Repair |
134 |
|
General Freight Trucking, Local |
35 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
12 |
| General Rental Centers |
7 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
21 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
58 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
6 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
6 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
42 |
|
Graphic Design Services |
62 |
| Greeting Card Publishers |
1 |
| Gypsum Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
8 |
| Hardware Stores |
12 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
2 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
3 |
|
Heating Oil Dealers |
6 |
| Historical Sites |
3 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
9 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
11 |
| Home Centers |
5 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
12 |
| Home Health Care Services |
19 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
29 |
|
Household Appliance Stores |
7 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
15 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
2 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
15 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
2 |
| Inland Water Freight Transportation |
1 |
|
Inland Water Passenger Transportation |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
125 |
| Interior Design Services |
34 |
| International Trade Financing |
1 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
5 |
| Internet Service Providers |
11 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
1 |
|
Investigation Services |
6 |
| Investment Advice |
28 |
| Iron and Steel Forging |
1 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Iron Foundries |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
99 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Jewelry Stores |
56 |
|
Junior Colleges |
3 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
18 |
| Land Subdivision |
17 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
12 |
| Landscaping Services |
50 |
| Language Schools |
3 |
| Lead Pencil and Art Good Manufacturing |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
7 |
|
Libraries and Archives |
3 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
629 |
| Limousine Service |
8 |
| Linen Supply |
5 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
17 |
| Locksmiths |
5 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
22 |
|
Mail-Order Houses |
9 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
2 |
| Marinas |
7 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
5 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
43 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
13 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
3 |
|
Mattress Manufacturing |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
30 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
4 |
| Medical Laboratories |
10 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
28 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
1 |
| Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
3 |
|
Miscellaneous Intermediation |
10 |
| Mobile Food Services |
4 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
27 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
19 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
14 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
2 |
|
Museums |
14 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
7 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
11 |
| Narrow Fabric Mills |
2 |
| Natural Gas Liquid Extraction |
1 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
3 |
|
New Car Dealers |
14 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
4 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
4 |
| News Syndicates |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
8 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
32 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
51 |
| Office Administrative Services |
51 |
|
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
17 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
14 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
4 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
70 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
26 |
| Offices of Dentists |
150 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
552 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
32 |
|
Offices of Other Holding Companies |
13 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
27 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
14 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
3 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
18 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
2 |
|
Packaging and Labeling Services |
2 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
3 |
| Packing and Crating |
3 |
| Paging |
2 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
4 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
11 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
62 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
158 |
|
Passenger Car Leasing |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
6 |
| Payroll Services |
7 |
| Periodical Publishers |
20 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
3 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
8 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
2 |
|
Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
118 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
16 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
2 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
2 |
| Political Organizations |
11 |
| Port and Harbor Operations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
40 |
|
Poultry Processing |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Prepress Services |
6 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
3 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
5 |
| Professional Organizations |
23 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
21 |
|
Quick Printing |
8 |
| Racetracks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
12 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
35 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
4 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
2 |
|
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
9 |
| Repossession Services |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
102 |
| Residential Remodelers |
143 |
| Retail Bakeries |
13 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
10 |
|
Roofing Contractors |
28 |
| Sales Financing |
13 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
44 |
| Saw Blade and Handsaw Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sawmills |
1 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
2 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
20 |
|
School and Employee Bus Transportation |
11 |
| Securities Brokerage |
32 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
25 |
| Setup Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
8 |
| Ship Building and Repairing |
3 |
| Shoe Stores |
91 |
|
Siding Contractors |
5 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
14 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
11 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
59 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
2 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
3 |
| Software Publishers |
14 |
| Software Reproducing |
1 |
|
Solid Waste Collection |
8 |
| Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators |
1 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
5 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
6 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
14 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
12 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
5 |
| Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply |
2 |
|
Steel Foundries (except Investment) |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
38 |
| Taxi Service |
11 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
4 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
6 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
7 |
| Television Broadcasting |
8 |
| Temporary Help Services |
74 |
|
Temporary Shelters |
17 |
| Testing Laboratories |
8 |
| Textile Bag Mills |
2 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
12 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
9 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
21 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
30 |
|
Tobacco Stores |
12 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
5 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
7 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
28 |
| Used Car Dealers |
26 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
17 |
|
Used Merchandise Stores |
57 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
15 |
| Veterinary Services |
17 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
23 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
32 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
22 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
|
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
35 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
1 |
| Wineries |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
56 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
77 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
4 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
2 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
2 |
A business plan is vital in laying a solid foundation for your business success. In effect, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. Starting a business without a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
Raising money to fund your new Baltimore business is not an easy task. Bootstrapping, which means growing the business without outside funding, is the best alternative, but that's not a viable option for many startup plans.
To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as Business Line of Credit.
Mastering the art of selling is a must if you want your new Baltimore business to do well.
Good selling involves demonstrating that your wares meet your customer's needs. Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
Successful entrepreneurs recognize that they don't know everything.
Given that you are starting a business in Baltimore, Maryland, you should check out some of the many programs available at nearby Maryland universities, colleges and community colleges. You should also check if there are any networking organizations for Baltimore entrepreneurs.
Most new Baltimore businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
We are here to help Baltimore businesses to be successful. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Baltimore entrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Baltimore.
