Thinking about starting a business in Bay City, Michigan? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Bay City.
What Type of Business Should You Start?
Choosing a business that is right for you is very important. You might get some good ideas about what kind of business to start by reading Finding Your Niche in Life.
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 an Eggs Business guide or our Starting a Locks & Locksmiths Wholesale & Manufacturers Business guide.
Remember that your new business will be in Bay City. Some businesses will do better in Bay City than others. Only by spending some time analyzing Bay City demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.
Bay City, Michigan Demographic Information
Bay City has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Bay City demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Bay City.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
9556 |
| 5-9 Employees |
5040 |
| 10-19 Employees |
3192 |
| 20-49 Employees |
2216 |
| 50-99 Employees |
624 |
| 100-249 Employees |
276 |
| 250-499 Employees |
84 |
| 500-999 Employees |
12 |
| 1000+ Employees |
12 |
| All Bay City Businesses |
21012 |
As a new Bay City entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Bay City 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 |
2 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
3 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
3 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
11 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
2 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
17 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
5 |
| Beet Sugar Manufacturing |
1 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
3 |
| Book Stores |
2 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Business Associations |
4 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
2 |
| Cafeterias |
3 |
| Car Washes |
4 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
4 |
| Caterers |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
4 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
5 |
| Child Day Care Services |
14 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
11 |
| Claims Adjusting |
2 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
3 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
3 |
| Commercial Photography |
2 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
2 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Consumer Lending |
4 |
| Convenience Stores |
21 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
10 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
1 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
1 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
1 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
2 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
3 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
29 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
4 |
| Educational Support Services |
2 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
20 |
| Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
8 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
2 |
| Engineering Services |
10 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
2 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
3 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
8 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
5 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
4 |
| Flooring Contractors |
2 |
| Florists |
9 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
2 |
| Food Service Contractors |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
2 |
| Framing Contractors |
2 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
48 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
7 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
6 |
| General Automotive Repair |
23 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
3 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
15 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
2 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
2 |
| Graphic Design Services |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
2 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
4 |
| Home Centers |
3 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
7 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
5 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
9 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
31 |
| Interior Design Services |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
4 |
| Janitorial Services |
18 |
| Jewelry Stores |
7 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
2 |
| Land Subdivision |
1 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
20 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
3 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
57 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
2 |
| Locksmiths |
2 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
9 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
3 |
| Marinas |
3 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
3 |
| Masonry Contractors |
3 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
6 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
2 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
2 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
3 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
4 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
9 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
3 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
4 |
| Office Administrative Services |
1 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
3 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
12 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
7 |
| Offices of Dentists |
42 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
41 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
3 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
4 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
3 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
4 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
7 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
1 |
| Payroll Services |
3 |
| Periodical Publishers |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
3 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
4 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
12 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
7 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
2 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
3 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
4 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
11 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
7 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
3 |
| Remediation Services |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
2 |
| Residential Remodelers |
14 |
| Retail Bakeries |
2 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
3 |
| Roofing Contractors |
5 |
| Sales Financing |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
2 |
| Securities Brokerage |
8 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
8 |
| Siding Contractors |
3 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
7 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
4 |
| Software Publishers |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
6 |
| Steel Foundries (except Investment) |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
13 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
5 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
3 |
| Tire Dealers |
6 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
1 |
| Tobacco Stores |
5 |
| Travel Agencies |
2 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
5 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
4 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
6 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
4 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
7 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
4 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
6 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
6 |
| Wood Preservation |
1 |
What About Franchising Opportunities?
As you drive around Bay City, you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. But is franchising the right option for you?
We highly recommend you consider franchising as an option. To help you learn more about franchising, we've gathered a ton of articles on franchising, including Franchise Law. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.
You can review hundreds of franchise opportunities by browing our Franchise Directory.
Representative franchise opportunities include Real Estate One and Moran Industries, Inc.. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Dry Cleaning & Laundry Franchises and Kid Friendly Franchises.
Note on Bay City Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Bay City.
Company Formation in Bay City, Michigan
A critical step is ensuring that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. The principal advantage of forming your new business as a legal entity is that it separates your business liabilities from your personal liabilities.
The entity you form can be a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
Incorporating 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. Just because you are starting a business in Michigan, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Michigan. 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's a lot to know about forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Offshore Company Formation. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Bay City, Michigan, our information on Incorporating in Michigan may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Michigan.
Marketing Your New Venture
To grow your Bay City business, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.
You can learn quite a bit about marketing on our site. Customer Loyalty Programs 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.
Advancing Your Entrepreneurial Skills
The best entrepreneurs know that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.
As an entrepreneur who lives in Bay City, Michigan, you will want to take advantage of the learning programs at local Michigan educational institutions. It's also smart to see if there are any networking groups or organizations in which Bay City entrepreneurs get together to network and trade their business experiences.
Next Steps
Most new Bay City businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Bay City and elsewhere to achieve real success. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Bay City 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 Bay City, Michigan
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Bay City.
- Resources for Bay City, Michigan Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Bay City entrepreneurs.
- Michigan Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Michigan.
- Michigan Small Business Development Center - This organization supports 12 regional offices and over 30 satellite offices, each providing counseling and training to Michigan small business owners and entrepreneurs throughout the 83 counties in Michigan. Services to entrepreneurs are offered through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
- Bay City, Michigan Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Bay City, Michigan newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Bay City area.
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