Thinking about starting a business in Brandon, Mississippi? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Brandon.
Do You Have What It Takes?
Before you get too far along in the process, take inventory of your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
While entrepreneurship has become a popular career choice, we recommend you do the following before you take the plunge:
- Grab a meal or cofee with other entrepreneurs in Brandon. Get their candid feedback on what it takes to start a successful business.
- Take a look at The Entrepreneurial Personality. It's a short article but it's a good reality check for those are about to jump into the world of entrepreneurship.
- Reach out to a trusted acquaintance. 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
Choosing a business that is right for you is very important. To stir your creative juices on what kind of business to start, take a look at How to Evaluate a Business Idea.
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 Computer & Equipment Dealers Industrial Business guide or our How to Start a Leather Findings & Finishes Business guide.
Remember that your new business will be in Brandon. Some businesses will do better in Brandon than others. Don't forget to review Brandon demographics to see if there's a market for what you want to sell.
Brandon, Mississippi 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 |
15470 |
| 5-9 Employees |
3780 |
| 10-19 Employees |
2352 |
| 20-49 Employees |
1449 |
| 50-99 Employees |
399 |
| 100-249 Employees |
252 |
| 250-499 Employees |
42 |
| 500-999 Employees |
0 |
| 1000+ Employees |
0 |
| All Brandon Businesses |
23744 |
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 |
| Architectural Services |
3 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
2 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
2 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
3 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
8 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business Associations |
4 |
| Cafeterias |
1 |
| Car Washes |
1 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
2 |
| Caterers |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
1 |
| Child Day Care Services |
13 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
4 |
| Claims Adjusting |
2 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
2 |
| Collection Agencies |
3 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
4 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
4 |
| Convenience Stores |
3 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
4 |
| Dental Laboratories |
1 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
5 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
13 |
| Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
3 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
9 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
4 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
8 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
3 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
14 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
5 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
2 |
| Flooring Contractors |
5 |
| Florists |
5 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
4 |
| Food Service Contractors |
1 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
4 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
22 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
2 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
1 |
| General Automotive Repair |
8 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
5 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
6 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
3 |
| Graphic Design Services |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
1 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
1 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
1 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
2 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
35 |
| Interior Design Services |
6 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
3 |
| Janitorial Services |
11 |
| Jewelry Stores |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
5 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
21 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
1 |
| Libraries and Archives |
3 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
37 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
1 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
1 |
| Marinas |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
4 |
| Masonry Contractors |
2 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
2 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
1 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
1 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
1 |
| Natural Gas Liquid Extraction |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
5 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
3 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
2 |
| Office Administrative Services |
2 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
2 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
13 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
3 |
| Offices of Dentists |
20 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
39 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
2 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
5 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
4 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
13 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
7 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
2 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
2 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
2 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
2 |
| Residential Remodelers |
7 |
| Roofing Contractors |
3 |
| Securities Brokerage |
2 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
2 |
| Siding Contractors |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
14 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
4 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
2 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
1 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
3 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
4 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
2 |
| Temporary Help Services |
1 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
3 |
| Tire Dealers |
5 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
3 |
| Tobacco Stores |
3 |
| Travel Agencies |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
5 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
2 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
1 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
7 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
4 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
7 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
18 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
4 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
6 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
Choosing a Company Name
A big decision when starting a company is choosing a company name. Believe it or not, choosing a good company name can be a big contributor to your business success.
We strongly advocate that you make sure the ".com" domain name is available for your company name. Every business needs a strong Web presence these days, and having a non ".com" domain means somebody else may outrank you in the search results for your own company name.
For other considerations regarding naming a company, we recommend this article: Naming a Business.
As a final piece of advice, remember that because you are planning on starting a business in Brandon, it's very important that you make sure your company name has not already been claimed by another Mississippi business.
Company Formation in Brandon, Mississippi
It's very important that you form your business as a legal structure. The main advantage of forming your new business as a legal entity is that it separates your business liabilities from your personal liabilities.
When forming a company, you will pick from many company types, such as 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 Mississippi, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Mississippi. As it turns out, you are allowed to incorporate in the state of your choosing. 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. To learn the fundamentals of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Corporate Formalities. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Brandon, Mississippi, our web page covering Incorporating in Mississippi may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Mississippi.
Marketing Your New Venture
To rise above the crowd in Brandon and build your business, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.
We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Typical Direct Mail Response Rates is a good read to get your marketing juices flowing. There are many more articles on marketing on our site. Visit our Small Business Marketing resource section to see them all.
Ramping Up Sales
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Brandon or are selling to customers throughout Mississippi, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
Good selling involves demonstrating that your wares meet your customer's needs. The good news is we can help you to make selling a big competitve advantage for your new firm.
Sales Training is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.
Now It's Up To You
You have a dream -- starting a business in Brandon. 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.
We are here to help Brandon businesses to be successful. 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.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Brandon, Mississippi
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Brandon.
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