Thinking about starting a business in Bethesda, Maryland? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Bethesda.
Do You Have What It Takes?
Before you get too far along in the process, assess your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
Before you move forward with starting a business, be sure to do these three things:
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Bethesda. 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
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.
For step-by-step instructions on starting a variety of business types, visit the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our How to Start a Creditors' Rights Attorneys Business guide or our Starting a Publishers' Shipping Services Business guide.
Always keep in mind that your new startup will be located in Bethesda. Some businesses will do better in Bethesda than others. Only by spending some time analyzing Bethesda demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.
Bethesda, Maryland Demographic Information
Bethesda has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Bethesda demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Bethesda.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
13418 |
| 5-9 Employees |
4296 |
| 10-19 Employees |
2892 |
| 20-49 Employees |
2088 |
| 50-99 Employees |
1008 |
| 100-249 Employees |
600 |
| 250-499 Employees |
150 |
| 500-999 Employees |
24 |
| 1000+ Employees |
54 |
| All Bethesda Businesses |
24530 |
As a new Bethesda entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Bethesda 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 |
16 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
37 |
| Art Dealers |
8 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
2 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
1 |
|
Baked Goods Stores |
3 |
| Barber Shops |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
40 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
6 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
7 |
| Book Stores |
4 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
|
Building Inspection Services |
5 |
| Business Associations |
18 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
4 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Car Washes |
1 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
1 |
|
Caterers |
5 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
2 |
| Child Day Care Services |
40 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
8 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
11 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
7 |
| Collection Agencies |
2 |
|
Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Photography |
2 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
8 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
9 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
83 |
|
Computer Training |
4 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
6 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
2 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
4 |
| Convenience Stores |
8 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
7 |
|
Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Couriers |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
8 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
60 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
2 |
| Dental Laboratories |
2 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
3 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
4 |
|
Digital Printing |
1 |
| Dimension Stone Mining and Quarrying |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
10 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
3 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
6 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
5 |
| Document Preparation Services |
7 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
1 |
|
Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
1 |
| Educational Support Services |
6 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
10 |
| Electronic Shopping |
4 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
19 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
2 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
5 |
|
Engineering Services |
23 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
16 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
8 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
1 |
| Facilities Support Services |
2 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
22 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
17 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
3 |
|
Fish and Seafood Markets |
2 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
26 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
5 |
| Flooring Contractors |
1 |
| Florists |
4 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
6 |
| Food Service Contractors |
24 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
|
Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
2 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
3 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
103 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Furniture Stores |
12 |
| General Automotive Repair |
7 |
|
General Freight Trucking, Local |
2 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
21 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
5 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
15 |
| Graphic Design Services |
29 |
| Hardware Stores |
1 |
|
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
4 |
| Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Home Health Care Services |
4 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
6 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
2 |
| Household Vacuum Cleaner Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Human Rights Organizations |
2 |
| Hunting and Trapping |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
86 |
| Interior Design Services |
25 |
|
International Trade Financing |
1 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
3 |
| Internet Service Providers |
3 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
51 |
| Janitorial Services |
25 |
| Jewelry Stores |
25 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
2 |
|
Land Subdivision |
10 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
3 |
| Landscaping Services |
22 |
| Language Schools |
3 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
4 |
| Libraries and Archives |
2 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
82 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
|
Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
4 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
2 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
5 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
28 |
| Masonry Contractors |
4 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
1 |
|
Media Representatives |
2 |
| Medical Laboratories |
5 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
7 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
10 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
11 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
24 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
|
Museums |
2 |
| Music Publishers |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
3 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
11 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
9 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
7 |
|
News Dealers and Newsstands |
2 |
| News Syndicates |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
37 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
3 |
| Office Administrative Services |
19 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
3 |
|
Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
87 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
9 |
| Offices of Dentists |
86 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
130 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
11 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
8 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
5 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
13 |
|
One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
12 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
10 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
26 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
2 |
|
Payroll Services |
7 |
| Periodical Publishers |
15 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
4 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
10 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
8 |
| Political Organizations |
3 |
| Portfolio Management |
27 |
|
Prepress Services |
2 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
31 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
19 |
| Quick Printing |
4 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
2 |
|
Real Estate Credit |
39 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
10 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
45 |
| Residential Remodelers |
44 |
| Retail Bakeries |
2 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
2 |
|
Sales Financing |
3 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
5 |
| Savings Institutions |
19 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
20 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
3 |
| Shoe Stores |
27 |
|
Site Preparation Contractors |
3 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
20 |
| Software Publishers |
19 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
1 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
4 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
7 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
4 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
|
Tax Preparation Services |
9 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
7 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
3 |
| Television Broadcasting |
2 |
| Temporary Help Services |
39 |
| Testing Laboratories |
2 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
1 |
|
Tire Dealers |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
17 |
| Tobacco Stores |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
3 |
| Travel Agencies |
18 |
| Used Car Dealers |
1 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
3 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
8 |
|
Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
8 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
8 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
6 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
10 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
9 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
|
Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
11 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
34 |
What About Buying an Existing Bethesda Business?
We've created a helpful website page for those who want to Buy a Business in Maryland. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Bethesda.
For anybody who wants to buy a business, we recommend reading this useful article: Hold Harmless Agreements When Buying Businesses.
Company Formation in Bethesda, Maryland
A critical step is ensuring that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will shield you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
The entity you form can be a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
Incorporating is a very common way to legally create a business entity. A key decision is whether to form and S-Corp or a C-Corp, and you also must decide in which state you will incorporate. Just because you are starting a business in Maryland, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Maryland. As it turns out, you are allowed to incorporate in the state of your choosing. 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 Dissolving a Corporation. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Bethesda, Maryland, our information on Incorporating in Maryland may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Maryland.
Don't Forget to Create a Business Plan
Having a business plan is essential to the health of your new business. In effect, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Not having a business plan makes you more prone to becoming a business failure statistic.
If writing a business plan is on your to-do list, be sure to read Business Plan Contests. You can also get free business counselors available to you through your local SCORE chapter in Maryland.
Raising Money for Your Venture
Getting your Bethesda business the capital it needs to succeed is very difficult due to the ongoing business credit crunch. If you don't have a rich uncle to fund you, you'll need to be creative in how you approach your fundraising efforts.
To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as Only Idiots Send Venture Capitalists Business Plans.
For Bethesda entrepreneurs on the hunt for startup funding, check out our List of Maryland Angel Investors and our List of Maryland Venture Capital Firms.
Now It's Up To You
You have a dream -- starting a business in Bethesda. 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 Bethesda and elsewhere to achieve real success. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Bethesda 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 Bethesda, Maryland
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Bethesda.
- Resources for Bethesda, Maryland Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Bethesda entrepreneurs.
- Maryland Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Maryland.
- Maryland Small Business Development Center - The Maryland Small Business Development Center Network has six regional offices and more than 20 locations where Maryland entrepreneurs can receive comprehensive, resources and relevant assistance.
- Bethesda, Maryland Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Bethesda, Maryland newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Bethesda area.
- Bethesda, Maryland Payroll Services - This list includes Bethesda, Maryland payroll services, national payroll services for Bethesda, and helpful information on choosing a Bethesda payroll service.
- Bethesda, Maryland Businesses for Sale - This list includes resources for buying a business in Bethesda, Maryland, such as business brokers in Bethesda and other helpful information on how to buy a Bethesda business.
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