Are you starting a business in Battle Creek, Michigan? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Battle Creek.
Do You Have Entrepreneurial Drive and Passion?
Before you get too far along in the process, take inventory of your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
Because entrepreneurship is not for everyone, we recommend you do the following to help you assess whether you should move forward with starting a business:
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Battle Creek. Get their candid feedback on what it takes to start a successful business.
- We recommend reading Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Seek the advice of somebody who knows you well. 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 Business to Start
Choosing a business that is right for you is very important. To stir your creative juices on what kind of business to start, take a look at Business Ideas That Don't Make Sense.
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 Opening a Computer Technical Support Employment Agencies Business guide or our How to Start a Pictures & Prints Retail Business guide.
Don't forget that Battle Creek is the place where you are starting a business. Some businesses will do better in Battle Creek than others. Don't forget to review Battle Creek demographics to see if there's a market for what you want to sell.
Battle Creek, Michigan Demographic Information
Battle Creek has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Battle Creek demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Battle Creek.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
8082 |
| 5-9 Employees |
4275 |
| 10-19 Employees |
2781 |
| 20-49 Employees |
1836 |
| 50-99 Employees |
612 |
| 100-249 Employees |
414 |
| 250-499 Employees |
90 |
| 500-999 Employees |
63 |
| 1000+ Employees |
36 |
| All Battle Creek Businesses |
18189 |
As a new Battle Creek entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Battle Creek 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 |
4 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
3 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
3 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
4 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
15 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
1 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
2 |
| Barber Shops |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
19 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
8 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
2 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing |
4 |
| Breweries |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business Associations |
6 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
4 |
| Cafeterias |
1 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Car Washes |
6 |
| Caterers |
5 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
5 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
2 |
| Child Day Care Services |
20 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
10 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
2 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
5 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
8 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
2 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
5 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
3 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
2 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
1 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
20 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
2 |
| Couriers |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
15 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
12 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
3 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
5 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Discount Department Stores |
4 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
16 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
8 |
| Educational Support Services |
1 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
19 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
7 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
2 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
2 |
| Engineering Services |
12 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
1 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
4 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
8 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
5 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
6 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
6 |
| Flooring Contractors |
1 |
| Florists |
7 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
2 |
| Food Service Contractors |
15 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
4 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
60 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
6 |
| Furniture Stores |
8 |
| General Automotive Repair |
27 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
5 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
10 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
8 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
6 |
| Graphic Design Services |
6 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
7 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
2 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
10 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
3 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
10 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
2 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
3 |
| Industrial Launderers |
3 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
32 |
| Investment Advice |
3 |
| Janitorial Services |
18 |
| Jewelry Stores |
15 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
2 |
| Land Subdivision |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
18 |
| Language Schools |
2 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
2 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
72 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Machine Shops |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
2 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
1 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
3 |
| Masonry Contractors |
5 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
2 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Metal Can Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
1 |
| Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
1 |
| Motor Home Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
2 |
| Museums |
3 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
1 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
11 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
5 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
5 |
| Office Administrative Services |
6 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
3 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
17 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
9 |
| Offices of Dentists |
49 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
33 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
9 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
4 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
2 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
3 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
5 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
3 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
5 |
| Paperboard Mills |
2 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
4 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
1 |
| Payroll Services |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
3 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
1 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
10 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
10 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
4 |
| Quick Printing |
4 |
| Radio Stations |
6 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
3 |
| Real Estate Credit |
6 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
3 |
| Residential Property Managers |
3 |
| Residential Remodelers |
16 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
8 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
5 |
| Securities Brokerage |
9 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
4 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
3 |
| Shoe Stores |
14 |
| Siding Contractors |
1 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
2 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
6 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
12 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
6 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
2 |
| Surface-Coated Paperboard Manufacturing |
2 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
8 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
2 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
17 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
2 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
9 |
| Travel Agencies |
3 |
| Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
6 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
6 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
3 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
10 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
4 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
2 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
3 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
3 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
2 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
10 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
2 |
Is a Franchise Opportunity Right For You?
Visit the business district of Battle Creek and you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. But is franchising the right option for you?
We advise the entrepreneurs we work with to evaluate the possibility of your buying a franchise opportunity. We have many articles on franchises, such as How to Get More Franchisees. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.
Representative franchise opportunities include Mr. Greek Restaurants and Trailways. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Sports Franchises and Dollar Store Franchises.
Note on Battle Creek Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Battle Creek.
Selecting a Name For Your Venture
Making the right decision when choosing a company name is very important. There are many decisions you'll make now that you can change later, but changing a company name years down the road is not very easy. So, choose a good company name at the outset.
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?
For other considerations regarding naming a company, we recommend this article: Branding Advice.
On a final note, given that you are starting a business in Battle Creek, it's very important that you make sure no other Michigan company is using the business name you want to use.
Selling Tips
Being able to sell is essential to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Battle Creek or are selling to customers throughout Michigan, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
So what does it take to bring in more prospects and close more business? 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.
Increase Your Entrepreneurial Knowledge
The best entrepreneurs know that they don't know everything.
Given that you are starting a business in Battle Creek, Michigan, you will want to take advantage of the learning programs at local Michigan educational institutions. It's also beneficial to see if there are any networking organizations for Battle Creek entrepreneurs.
Now It's Up To You
You have a dream -- starting a business in Battle Creek. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Battle Creek and elsewhere to achieve real success. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Battle Creek entrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Battle Creek, Michigan
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Battle Creek.
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