Thinking about starting a business in Boston, Massachusetts? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Boston.
Most new businesses do not succeed, in part because the entrepreneur did not have the perseverance and abilities that are necessary to succeed. So, before you open a business, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
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:
Boston has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Boston demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Boston.
As a new Boston entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Boston 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 |
45 |
| Ambulance Services |
2 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
8 |
| Architectural Services |
191 |
| Armored Car Services |
1 |
| Art Dealers |
45 |
|
Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
2 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
2 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
3 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
14 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
18 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
5 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
7 |
| Barber Shops |
15 |
|
Beauty Salons |
175 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
10 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
87 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
2 |
| Boat Building |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
24 |
| Book Stores |
40 |
|
Bowling Centers |
4 |
| Breweries |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
2 |
| Burial Casket Manufacturing |
1 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
2 |
| Business Associations |
55 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
9 |
|
Cafeterias |
11 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
10 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
4 |
| Car Washes |
18 |
| Caterers |
19 |
| Cement Manufacturing |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
3 |
|
Cheese Manufacturing |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
38 |
| Child Day Care Services |
118 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
6 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
97 |
| Claims Adjusting |
12 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
33 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
29 |
| Collection Agencies |
3 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
4 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
19 |
| Commercial Photography |
21 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
3 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
2 |
|
Commodity Contracts Dealing |
2 |
| Community Food Services |
13 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
11 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
8 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
68 |
| Computer Training |
3 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
14 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
|
Consumer Lending |
3 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
3 |
| Convenience Stores |
135 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
15 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
2 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
6 |
| Couriers |
22 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
10 |
|
Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
9 |
| Credit Unions |
25 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
3 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
110 |
| Dance Companies |
2 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
2 |
| Dental Laboratories |
4 |
|
Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
12 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Digital Printing |
3 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
46 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
7 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
7 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
|
Display Advertising |
3 |
| Document Preparation Services |
7 |
| Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
158 |
| Dry Pasta Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
4 |
| Educational Support Services |
32 |
|
Electric Power Distribution |
6 |
| Electrical Contractors |
45 |
| Electronic Shopping |
14 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
35 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
5 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
47 |
| Engineering Services |
101 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
9 |
|
Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
13 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
6 |
| Facilities Support Services |
15 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
50 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Farm Management Services |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fats and Oils Refining and Blending |
1 |
|
Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
21 |
| Finfish Fishing |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
11 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
12 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
41 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
71 |
| Flight Training |
2 |
|
Floor Covering Stores |
7 |
| Flooring Contractors |
12 |
| Florists |
40 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
11 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food Service Contractors |
181 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
3 |
|
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
5 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
3 |
| Framing Contractors |
7 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
55 |
| Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing |
9 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
5 |
|
Full-Service Restaurants |
559 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
15 |
| Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
22 |
| Furniture Stores |
34 |
| General Automotive Repair |
50 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
19 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
9 |
|
General Rental Centers |
5 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
10 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
59 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
7 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
52 |
| Graphic Design Services |
64 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Hardware Stores |
11 |
|
Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
1 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
10 |
| Historical Sites |
11 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
6 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
15 |
|
Home Health Care Services |
17 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
14 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
4 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
18 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
2 |
| Industrial Design Services |
6 |
| Industrial Launderers |
10 |
| Inland Water Freight Transportation |
1 |
|
Inland Water Passenger Transportation |
2 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
221 |
| Interior Design Services |
56 |
| International Trade Financing |
2 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
16 |
| Internet Service Providers |
13 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
3 |
| Investigation Services |
14 |
|
Investment Advice |
145 |
| Janitorial Services |
61 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
6 |
| Jewelry Stores |
89 |
| Junior Colleges |
7 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
6 |
| Land Subdivision |
13 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
15 |
|
Landscaping Services |
16 |
| Language Schools |
12 |
| Lead Pencil and Art Good Manufacturing |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
8 |
| Libraries and Archives |
11 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
385 |
| Limousine Service |
5 |
| Linen Supply |
3 |
|
Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
5 |
| Locksmiths |
8 |
| Logging |
2 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
10 |
| Machine Shops |
4 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
16 |
| Marinas |
10 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
2 |
|
Marketing Consulting Services |
75 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
7 |
| Meat Markets |
15 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
7 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
3 |
| Media Representatives |
15 |
| Medical Laboratories |
7 |
|
Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
28 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
65 |
| Mobile Food Services |
3 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
16 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
2 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
20 |
|
Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
10 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
1 |
| Museums |
18 |
| Music Publishers |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
15 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
11 |
| Nail Salons |
24 |
|
Natural Gas Distribution |
7 |
| New Car Dealers |
8 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
5 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
13 |
| News Syndicates |
4 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
27 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
75 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
16 |
|
Office Administrative Services |
73 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
38 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
11 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
107 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
26 |
| Offices of Dentists |
161 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
1,107 |
|
Offices of Optometrists |
19 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
29 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
8 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
14 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
6 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
6 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
21 |
|
Packing and Crating |
2 |
| Paging |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
5 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
17 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
195 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
30 |
| Payroll Services |
6 |
|
Periodical Publishers |
36 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
9 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
4 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
63 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
15 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
2 |
|
Political Organizations |
20 |
| Port and Harbor Operations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
263 |
| Poultry Processing |
2 |
| Prepress Services |
5 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
7 |
| Professional Organizations |
33 |
|
Public Relations Agencies |
71 |
| Quick Printing |
12 |
| Racetracks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
31 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
38 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
12 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
|
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
4 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
5 |
| Remediation Services |
7 |
| Repossession Services |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
113 |
| Residential Remodelers |
48 |
| Retail Bakeries |
19 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
4 |
|
Roofing Contractors |
8 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
16 |
| Sales Financing |
29 |
| Savings Institutions |
75 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
4 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
42 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
3 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
4 |
|
Securities and Commodity Exchanges |
2 |
| Securities Brokerage |
151 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
29 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shellfish Fishing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
58 |
| Siding Contractors |
1 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
6 |
|
Silverware and Hollowware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
11 |
| Small Arms Manufacturing |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
163 |
| Software Publishers |
41 |
| Software Reproducing |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
6 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
5 |
|
Special Needs Transportation |
6 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
17 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
16 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
4 |
| Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply |
2 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
27 |
| Taxi Service |
9 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
5 |
|
Telemarketing Bureaus |
4 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
2 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
5 |
| Temporary Help Services |
96 |
| Temporary Shelters |
28 |
| Testing Laboratories |
2 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
17 |
|
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
5 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
11 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
7 |
| Tobacco Stores |
11 |
| Tour Operators |
14 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
3 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
7 |
|
Travel Agencies |
83 |
| Truck Trailer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
4 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
6 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
21 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
4 |
| Veterinary Services |
9 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
16 |
|
Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
24 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
16 |
| Web Search Portals |
6 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
30 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
102 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
82 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
2 |
For anybody who wants to buy a business, we recommend reading this useful article: How to Buy a Business.
A good company name can give a big boost to a new startup. It might seem like an easy thing to do, but there are many things to consider when naming a business.
Company names need to be easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and easy to remember.
To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Naming a Company.
As a final piece of advice, remember that because you are opening a business in Boston, it's imperative that you check now that no Massachusetts company has already registered the company name you have selected.
Obtaining startup financing for your Boston business will be harder than you might expect. The reality is that there is very little funding available for new small businesses, and you have to explore every possible alternative.
To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as Getting a Small Business Loan.
Good entrepreneurs know that they need to continually improve.
With your business being located in Boston, Massachusetts, you should get information on some of the many programs available at nearby Massachusetts universities, colleges and community colleges. Another way to keep up on your entrepreneurial education is to investigate Boston networking organizations.
Most new Boston businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Boston and throughout the United States . 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.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Boston.
