Are you starting a business in Bowling Green, Kentucky? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Bowling Green.
Are You Sure You Want to Do This?
Before announcing to the world that you are going to start your own business, assess your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
Before you move forward with starting a business, be sure to do these three things:
- Speak with other entrepreneurs in Bowling Green. Ask them candidly what it's like to run a business.
- You should read Starting a Company. It's a good read for those who are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur.
- Talk it over with a close friend or partner. The people who know you best are often in the best position to tell you bluntly whether you will be a good entrepreneur.
What Type of Business Should You Start?
There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? To help you decide on a business type, we encourage you to read Good Business Ideas.
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 How to Start a Valves & Fittings Retail Business guide or our Starting a Laser Surgeons Business guide.
Always keep in mind that you are starting a business in Bowling Green. Some businesses will do better in Bowling Green than others. A critical consideration is whether Bowling Green demographics mesh well with your startup concept.
Bowling Green, Kentucky Demographic Information
Bowling Green has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Bowling Green demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Bowling Green.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
17170 |
| 5-9 Employees |
7680 |
| 10-19 Employees |
6720 |
| 20-49 Employees |
4110 |
| 50-99 Employees |
1395 |
| 100-249 Employees |
735 |
| 250-499 Employees |
240 |
| 500-999 Employees |
90 |
| 1000+ Employees |
30 |
| All Bowling Green Businesses |
38170 |
As a new Bowling Green entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Bowling Green 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 |
2 |
| Aluminum Die-Casting Foundries |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
3 |
|
Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
3 |
| Art Dealers |
2 |
| Automobile Manufacturing |
2 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
2 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
5 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
18 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
4 |
|
Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
19 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
16 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Book Stores |
7 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
|
Business Associations |
6 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
2 |
| Cafeterias |
2 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Car Washes |
4 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
4 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
|
Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
4 |
| Child Day Care Services |
21 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
14 |
| Claims Adjusting |
4 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
7 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
5 |
|
Collection Agencies |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
5 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
3 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
4 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
2 |
|
Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
11 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
3 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
2 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
6 |
|
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
5 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
5 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
2 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
1 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
1 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
|
Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
6 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
3 |
| Display Advertising |
2 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
6 |
|
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
11 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
5 |
| Educational Support Services |
1 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
34 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
4 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
2 |
|
Employment Placement Agencies |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
8 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
3 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
7 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
15 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Farm Labor Contractors and Crew Leaders |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
|
Fine Arts Schools |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
8 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
9 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
10 |
| Flooring Contractors |
4 |
| Florists |
7 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
5 |
| Food Service Contractors |
5 |
|
Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
5 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
5 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
63 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
5 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
17 |
|
General Automotive Repair |
21 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
7 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
9 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
8 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
4 |
|
Grantmaking Foundations |
3 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Hardware Stores |
3 |
| Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
5 |
| Home Centers |
3 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
3 |
|
Home Health Equipment Rental |
4 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
5 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
6 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
4 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
44 |
| Interior Design Services |
2 |
|
Internet Service Providers |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
4 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
30 |
| Jewelry Stores |
13 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
26 |
|
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
5 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
75 |
| Livestock Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
4 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
5 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
4 |
|
Marketing Consulting Services |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
13 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
2 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
1 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
|
Medical Laboratories |
2 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
6 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
2 |
|
Motorcycle Dealers |
4 |
| Museums |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
13 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
|
Nonferrous Forging |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
2 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
6 |
| Office Administrative Services |
5 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
5 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
16 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
12 |
|
Offices of Dentists |
51 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
66 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
8 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
2 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
10 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
5 |
|
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
6 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
15 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
1 |
|
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
3 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
14 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
10 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
2 |
| Poultry Processing |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
|
Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
2 |
| Racetracks |
1 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
6 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
13 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1 |
|
Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
9 |
| Residential Remodelers |
10 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
6 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
1 |
| Sales Financing |
4 |
|
Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
19 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
4 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
2 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
13 |
| Siding Contractors |
3 |
|
Sign Manufacturing |
3 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
12 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
12 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
3 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
9 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
2 |
|
Spring (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
5 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
3 |
| Television Broadcasting |
2 |
| Temporary Help Services |
15 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Testing Laboratories |
2 |
|
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
3 |
| Tire Dealers |
8 |
| Tobacco Stores |
6 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
6 |
| Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing |
1 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
2 |
|
Used Car Dealers |
12 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
12 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
10 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
7 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
1 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
|
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
9 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
4 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
16 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
3 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
Choosing a Business Name
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.
Pick a company name that isn't too generic. If you do a search engine search for your proposed name and a billion results come up, you may want to reconsider the name. It's much easier to come up in the search engines when your name is fairly unique.
For other considerations regarding naming a company, we recommend this article: Naming a Company.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are starting a business in Bowling Green, it's very important that you make sure your company name has not already been claimed by another Kentucky business.
Company Formation in Bowling Green, Kentucky
It's essential 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.
When forming a company, you will pick from many company types, such as 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 Kentucky, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Kentucky. In fact, 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. To learn the basics of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Getting an EIN. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Bowling Green, Kentucky, our web page covering Incorporating in Kentucky may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Kentucky.
Bring in Revenues
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Bowling Green or are selling to customers throughout Kentucky, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
Not knowing how to sell can result in lost customers and minimal market share. Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
Good Sales Strategies 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.
Next Steps
You have a dream -- starting a business in Bowling Green. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
We are here to help Bowling Green businesses to be successful. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Bowling Green, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Bowling Green, Kentucky
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Bowling Green.
- Resources for Bowling Green, Kentucky Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Bowling Green entrepreneurs.
- Kentucky Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Kentucky.
- Kentucky Small Business Development Center - The Kentucky Small Business Development Center (KSBDC) has been assisting Kentucky small business community for more than 25 years. KSBDC is co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration and is administered by the University of Kentucky in partnership with regional universities, community and private colleges, and the private sector.
- Bowling Green, Kentucky Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Bowling Green, Kentucky newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Bowling Green area.
- Bowling Green, Kentucky Radio Advertising Prices - To help you in your marketing efforts, we've gathered radio advertising rates for Bowling Green, Kentucky area radio stations.
- Bowling Green, Kentucky Payroll Services - This list includes Bowling Green, Kentucky payroll services, national payroll services for Bowling Green, and helpful information on choosing a Bowling Green payroll service.
- Bowling Green, Kentucky Businesses for Sale - This list includes resources for buying a business in Bowling Green, Kentucky, such as business brokers in Bowling Green and other helpful information on how to buy a Bowling Green business.
More Business Startup Guides for Kentucky
Starting a Business in Berea
Starting a Business in Brandenburg
Browse All
Business Startup Guides for Kentucky
Starting a Business
Guides for Other States
