Thinking about starting a business in Brighton, Michigan? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Brighton.
Will You Be a Good Entrepreneur?
Most startup businesses fail, in part because the business owner did not have the entrepreneurial skills and traits needed to succeed. So, before you start your business, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
With so much at stake when you start a business, we strongly recommend you do the following before you proceed:
- Reach out to other entrepreneurs in Brighton. They are usually very willing to share their insights on the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur.
- Peruse Why Small Businesses Fail. This is one of our more popular articles for folks who want to go into business for themselves.
- Get feedback from somebody whom you trust. Others sometimes know you better than you know yourself.
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.
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 Caulking Contractors Business guide or our Starting a Marble Tiles Wholesale & Manufacturers Business guide.
Remember that your new startup will be located in Brighton. Some businesses will do better in Brighton than others. Make sure you fully understand Brighton demographics before you lock in on your business idea.
Brighton, Michigan Demographic Information
Brighton has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Brighton demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Brighton.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
17836 |
| 5-9 Employees |
7154 |
| 10-19 Employees |
3906 |
| 20-49 Employees |
3129 |
| 50-99 Employees |
966 |
| 100-249 Employees |
651 |
| 250-499 Employees |
105 |
| 500-999 Employees |
0 |
| 1000+ Employees |
0 |
| All Brighton Businesses |
33747 |
As a new Brighton entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Brighton 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 |
1 |
| Alkalies and Chlorine Manufacturing |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
3 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
4 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
2 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
12 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
23 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
3 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
2 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Business Associations |
2 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
2 |
| Car Washes |
5 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
2 |
| Caterers |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
2 |
| Child Day Care Services |
13 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
3 |
| Claims Adjusting |
4 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
2 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
3 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
7 |
| Consumer Lending |
2 |
| Convenience Stores |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
12 |
| Dental Laboratories |
1 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
3 |
| Drafting Services |
2 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
3 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
6 |
| Educational Support Services |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
14 |
| Electronic Capacitor Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
3 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
3 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
2 |
| Engineering Services |
23 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
8 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
2 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
2 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
13 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
12 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
7 |
| Flooring Contractors |
1 |
| Florists |
2 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
3 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food Service Contractors |
2 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
2 |
| Framing Contractors |
7 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
39 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Furniture Stores |
7 |
| General Automotive Repair |
10 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
5 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
3 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
6 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
2 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
2 |
| Graphic Design Services |
1 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Hardware Stores |
3 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
3 |
| Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
3 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
2 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
31 |
| Interior Design Services |
3 |
| Investment Advice |
6 |
| Janitorial Services |
17 |
| Jewelry Stores |
9 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
2 |
| Land Subdivision |
4 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
2 |
| Landscaping Services |
23 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
3 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
28 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
8 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
4 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
8 |
| Masonry Contractors |
6 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
9 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
3 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
2 |
| New Car Dealers |
6 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
9 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
6 |
| Office Administrative Services |
5 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
6 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
12 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
13 |
| Offices of Dentists |
40 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
32 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
5 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
4 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
5 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
4 |
| Outerwear Knitting Mills |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
5 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
2 |
| Payroll Services |
4 |
| Periodical Publishers |
4 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
2 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
5 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
3 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
2 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
2 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
9 |
| Quick Printing |
2 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
4 |
| Real Estate Credit |
13 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
5 |
| Residential Remodelers |
18 |
| Retail Bakeries |
3 |
| Roofing Contractors |
4 |
| Sales Financing |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
5 |
| Securities Brokerage |
10 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
2 |
| Siding Contractors |
3 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
3 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
14 |
| Skiing Facilities |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
6 |
| Software Publishers |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
7 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
5 |
| Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing |
2 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
2 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
12 |
| Testing Laboratories |
5 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
4 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
5 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
2 |
| Tobacco Stores |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
1 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
1 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
1 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
5 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
6 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
3 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
2 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
27 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
2 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
4 |
Have You Considered Franchising?
As you drive around Brighton, you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. Is franchising maybe a better way for you to start your business?
Our advice is to consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Multi-Unit Franchising. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.
Sample franchise opportunities include San Francisco Oven Pizza Restaurant Franchise and High Touch-High Tech. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Cartridge Recycling Franchises and Handyman Services Franchises.
Note on Brighton Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Brighton.
Company Formation in Brighton, Michigan
It's essential that you choose the right legal structure for your new entity. Doing so will separate you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
The entity you form can be a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
Incorporating is a very popular way to form a business. A key decision is whether to form and S-Corp or a C-Corp, and you also must decide in which state you will incorporate. Just because you are starting a business in Michigan, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Michigan. 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. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as How to Incorporate. You may also want to seek the advice of an lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Brighton, Michigan, our information on Incorporating in Michigan may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Michigan.
Make Sure You Have a Business Plan
A business plan is essential to the health of your new business. Indeed, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Not having a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
To learn more about business plans, read Business Presentations. A great resource for business planning assistance is the free business counselors available to you through your local SCORE chapter in Michigan.
Promoting Your New Venture
To rise above the crowd in Brighton and build your business, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your business achieving its goals.
We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Customer Loyalty Programs discusses marketing strategy and tactical marketing in a way that should get you thinking about how to creatively promote your business. That's just a taste of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
What's Next?
Most new Brighton businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Brighton and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Brighton 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 Brighton, Michigan
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Brighton.
- Resources for Brighton, Michigan Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Brighton entrepreneurs.
- Michigan Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Michigan.
- Michigan Small Business Development Center - This organization supports 12 regional offices and over 30 satellite offices, each providing counseling and training to Michigan small business owners and entrepreneurs throughout the 83 counties in Michigan. Services to entrepreneurs are offered through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
- Brighton, Michigan Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Brighton, Michigan newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Brighton area.
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