Are you starting a business in Brattleboro, Vermont? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Brattleboro.
Will You Be a Good Entrepreneur?
An entrepreneurial life is demanding, much more arduous than working as an employee. Are you sure you have the stamina and skills to succeed on your own?
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:
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Brattleboro. They are usually very willing to share their insights on the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur.
- We recommend reading Why Small Businesses Fail. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Get feedback from somebody whom you trust. Others sometimes know you better than you know yourself.
What Type of Business Should You Start?
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. You might get some good ideas about what kind of business to start by reading Finding Your Niche in Life.
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 Starting a Foreign Insurance Business guide or our How to Start a Septic Tank Cleaning & Pumping Business guide.
Remember that you are starting a business in Brattleboro. Some businesses will do better in Brattleboro than others. Only by spending some time analyzing Brattleboro demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.
Brattleboro, Vermont Demographic Information
Brattleboro has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Brattleboro demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Brattleboro.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
1230 |
| 5-9 Employees |
516 |
| 10-19 Employees |
321 |
| 20-49 Employees |
219 |
| 50-99 Employees |
42 |
| 100-249 Employees |
45 |
| 250-499 Employees |
12 |
| 500-999 Employees |
3 |
| 1000+ Employees |
0 |
| All Brattleboro Businesses |
2388 |
As a new Brattleboro entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Brattleboro 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 |
| Air Traffic Control |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
1 |
| Art Dealers |
2 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
2 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
6 |
| Beauty Salons |
8 |
|
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
3 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
2 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Business Associations |
3 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Car Washes |
2 |
|
Caterers |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
4 |
| Child Day Care Services |
7 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
8 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
2 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
3 |
|
Commercial Bakeries |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
1 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
2 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Couriers |
1 |
|
Credit Unions |
3 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
3 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
8 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
1 |
| Educational Support Services |
3 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
7 |
|
Electronic Shopping |
2 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
6 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
3 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
3 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
|
Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
6 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
2 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
4 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
2 |
| Florists |
4 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
1 |
|
Food Service Contractors |
6 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
28 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
2 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
2 |
| General Automotive Repair |
12 |
|
General Freight Trucking, Local |
1 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
7 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
1 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
|
Historical Sites |
1 |
| Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
4 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
1 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
4 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
10 |
|
Investment Advice |
3 |
| Janitorial Services |
6 |
| Jewelry Stores |
2 |
| Land Subdivision |
1 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
9 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
21 |
|
Linen Supply |
1 |
| Livestock Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Logging |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
2 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
2 |
| Masonry Contractors |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
|
Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
| Museums |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
6 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
3 |
|
Nuclear Electric Power Generation |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
2 |
| Office Administrative Services |
3 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
4 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
3 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
4 |
| Offices of Dentists |
13 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
23 |
|
Offices of Optometrists |
5 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
1 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
2 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
1 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
1 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
2 |
| Paper (except Newsprint) Mills |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
5 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
2 |
|
Portfolio Management |
2 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
4 |
| Radio Stations |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
4 |
|
Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
2 |
| Residential Remodelers |
8 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
2 |
| Sawmills |
2 |
|
School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
5 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
2 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
2 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
4 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
2 |
|
Solid Waste Collection |
4 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
5 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
1 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
2 |
| Temporary Shelters |
2 |
|
Textile Bag Mills |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
3 |
| Tire Dealers |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
1 |
| Tobacco Stores |
1 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
3 |
|
Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
5 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
1 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
2 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
3 |
|
Women's Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
What About Buying an Existing Brattleboro Business?
If you have some capital to play with, you may want to Buy a Business in Vermont. Follow that link and you can review several good businesses for sale in Brattleboro.
If you are serious about buying a business, you may want to read this article: Hold Harmless Agreements When Buying Businesses.
Naming the Company
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.
Companies like Starbucks, Apple, Target, Microsoft and Intuit all have strong company names that are easy to remember and have become well-loved brands. Wouldn't it be nice if your new company name got on a similar track?
Numerous company naming issues are discussed in more detail in this article: Naming a Company.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are opening a business in Brattleboro, it's critical that you ensure that your company name has not already been claimed by another Vermont business.
Forming a Company in Brattleboro, Vermont
It's essential that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will separate you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
When forming a company, you will choose from many company types, such as a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
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. If you are starting a business in Vermont, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Vermont. As it turns out, you can incorporate in any state you would like to. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.
There are many nuances to forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Company Formation. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Brattleboro, Vermont, our web page covering Incorporating in Vermont may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Vermont.
How to Improve Your Entrepreneurial Abilities
Good entrepreneurs recognize that they don't know everything.
As an entrepreneur who lives in Brattleboro, Vermont, you should get information on some of the many programs available at nearby Vermont universities, colleges and community colleges. You should also check if there are any networking organizations for Brattleboro entrepreneurs.
What's Next?
As an entrepreneur in Brattleboro, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
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 Brattleboro and elsewhere to achieve real success. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Brattleboro 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 Brattleboro, Vermont
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Brattleboro.
- Resources for Brattleboro, Vermont Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Brattleboro entrepreneurs.
- Vermont Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Vermont.
- Vermont Small Business Development Center - The missionof Vermont Small Business Development Centers is to strengthen existing business entities and assist start-ups with high-quality, no-cost counseling and affordable training programs.
- Brattleboro, Vermont Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Brattleboro, Vermont newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Brattleboro area.
- Brattleboro, Vermont Radio Advertising Prices - To help you in your marketing efforts, we've gathered radio advertising rates for Brattleboro, Vermont area radio stations.
- Brattleboro, Vermont Payroll Services - This list includes Brattleboro, Vermont payroll services, national payroll services for Brattleboro, and helpful information on choosing a Brattleboro payroll service.
- Brattleboro, Vermont Businesses for Sale - This list includes resources for buying a business in Brattleboro, Vermont, such as business brokers in Brattleboro and other helpful information on how to buy a Brattleboro business.
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