Thinking about starting a business in Brandon, Florida? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Brandon.
What Business Are You Starting?
There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? 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 an Aircraft Manufacturer guide or our How to Start a Stairs Wholesale & Manufacture Business guide.
Don't forget that you are starting a business in Brandon. If Brandon already has plenty of the kind of business you want to start, you might want to change your plans. Make sure you fully understand Brandon demographics before you lock in on your business idea.
Brandon, Florida Demographic Information
Brandon has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Brandon demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Brandon.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
25263 |
| 5-9 Employees |
8169 |
| 10-19 Employees |
5775 |
| 20-49 Employees |
3717 |
| 50-99 Employees |
1365 |
| 100-249 Employees |
672 |
| 250-499 Employees |
0 |
| 500-999 Employees |
84 |
| 1000+ Employees |
42 |
| All Brandon Businesses |
45087 |
As a new Brandon entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Brandon 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 |
3 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
4 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
2 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
10 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
1 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
32 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
3 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
2 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
5 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business Associations |
2 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
6 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Car Washes |
4 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
4 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
2 |
| Child Day Care Services |
21 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
3 |
| Claims Adjusting |
2 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
4 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
4 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
9 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
9 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
10 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
3 |
| Convenience Stores |
9 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
3 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
5 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
8 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
13 |
| Dental Laboratories |
2 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
11 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Digital Printing |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
2 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
12 |
| Discount Department Stores |
3 |
| Display Advertising |
2 |
| Document Preparation Services |
4 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
5 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
3 |
| Electrical Contractors |
16 |
| Electronic Shopping |
2 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
3 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
2 |
| Engineering Services |
13 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
3 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
3 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
7 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
21 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Farm Management Services |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
3 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
6 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
13 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
3 |
| Flooring Contractors |
5 |
| Florists |
4 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
7 |
| Food Service Contractors |
3 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
2 |
| Framing Contractors |
4 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
2 |
| Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
71 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
14 |
| General Automotive Repair |
19 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
8 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
14 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Graphic Design Services |
2 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
7 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
5 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
4 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
5 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
55 |
| Interior Design Services |
1 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
5 |
| Investment Advice |
3 |
| Janitorial Services |
27 |
| Jewelry Stores |
24 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
2 |
| Landscaping Services |
20 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
2 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
57 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
2 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
13 |
| Masonry Contractors |
3 |
| Meat Markets |
2 |
| Media Representatives |
2 |
| Medical Laboratories |
3 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
6 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
19 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
1 |
| Museums |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Nail Salons |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
4 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
3 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
5 |
| Office Administrative Services |
4 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
4 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
9 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
19 |
| Offices of Dentists |
61 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
53 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
9 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
4 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
4 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
11 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
15 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
2 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
4 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
8 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
12 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
13 |
| Portfolio Management |
3 |
| Private Mail Centers |
4 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
6 |
| Professional Organizations |
3 |
| Quick Printing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
14 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
2 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
10 |
| Residential Remodelers |
5 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
4 |
| Savings Institutions |
8 |
| Securities Brokerage |
2 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
2 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
19 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
7 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
15 |
| Software Publishers |
2 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
6 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
3 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
6 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
3 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
7 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
5 |
| Tire Dealers |
6 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
12 |
| Tobacco Stores |
3 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
3 |
| Used Car Dealers |
6 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
1 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
5 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
13 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
3 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
1 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
4 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
13 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
4 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
23 |
Should You Franchise?
As you drive around Brandon, it's apparent that franchising has become a very popular way to start a business. 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 Franchisees Versus Licensees. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.
To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.
Representative franchise opportunities include Valcourt Building Services, L.C. and Monkey Joe's. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Cartridge Recycling Franchises and Handyman Services Franchises.
Note on Brandon Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Brandon.
Company Formation in Brandon, Florida
It's very important 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 traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporation 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 Florida, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Florida. In fact, you are allowed to incorporate wherever you want. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.
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 Registered Agents. You may also want to seek the advice of an lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Brandon, Florida, our information on Incorporating in Florida may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Florida.
Do You Need a Business Plan?
A business plan is critical in maximizing the prospects of your new company. Indeed, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Failure to write a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
If writing a business plan is on your to-do list, be sure to read Find Sample Business Plans Online. You should also take advantage of free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Florida.
How to Improve Your Entrepreneurial Abilities
Successful entrepreneurs know that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.
Given that you are starting a business in Brandon, Florida, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Florida universities, colleges and community colleges. We also recommend you look into networking organizations for Brandon entrepreneurs.
Now It's Up To You
As an entrepreneur in Brandon, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Brandon and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Brandon, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Brandon, Florida
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Brandon.
- Resources for Brandon, Florida Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Brandon entrepreneurs.
- Florida Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Florida.
- Florida Small Business Development Center - The Florida Small Business Development Center Network (FSBDCN) is a statewide economic development partnership between higher education and other stakeholder organizations dedicated to providing entrepreneurs and established businesses with the assistance needed to start, grow and succeed, contributing to the Florida economy.
- Brandon, Florida Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Brandon, Florida newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Brandon area.
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