New York Business Startup Guides

Start a Business in Brooklyn, New York

Are you starting a business in Brooklyn, New York? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Brooklyn.

Is Becoming an Entrepreneur Right for You?

An entrepreneurial life is demanding, and can be orders of magnitude more strenuous than working as an employee. Are you certain you want to go into business for yourself?

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 Brooklyn. Get their take on what it's really like to be an entrepreneur.
  • We recommend reading Should You Become an Entrepreneur?. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
  • Have a candid conversation with friends and family. That's the best way to get a truly objective assessment as to whether others think you have what it takes.

Brooklyn, New York Demographic Information

Brooklyn has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.

To give you a better feel for Brooklyn demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Brooklyn.

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
620074
5-9 Employees
127806
10-19 Employees
75348
20-49 Employees
52675
50-99 Employees
14805
100-249 Employees
7098
250-499 Employees
2226
500-999 Employees
945
1000+ Employees
1029
All Brooklyn Businesses
902006

As a new Brooklyn entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Brooklyn 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
Adhesive Manufacturing
4
Advertising Agencies
53
Aluminum Die-Casting Foundries
1
Ambulance Services
35
Amusement and Theme Parks
8
Amusement Arcades
2
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
5
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
52
Apprenticeship Training
4
Armored Car Services
8
Art Dealers
18
Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing
5
Automobile Driving Schools
44
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
10
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
22
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
101
Baked Goods Stores
114
Barber Shops
69
Beauty Salons
503
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns
5
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
31
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
249
Blind and Shade Manufacturing
12
Book Publishers
23
Book Stores
62
Bowling Centers
7
Breweries
3
Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills
15
Broadwoven Fabric Mills
9
Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing
5
Business and Secretarial Schools
3
Business Associations
27
Business to Business Electronic Markets
3
Cable and Other Program Distribution
10
Cafeterias
24
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
18
Cane Sugar Refining
2
Car Washes
77
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
19
Caterers
93
Cemeteries and Crematories
6
Charter Bus Industry
12
Cheese Manufacturing
5
Child and Youth Services
108
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
93
Civic and Social Organizations
63
Claims Adjusting
12
Clothing Accessories Stores
92
Coffee and Tea Manufacturing
2
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
344
Collection Agencies
19
Commercial Flexographic Printing
3
Commercial Lithographic Printing
52
Commercial Photography
22
Commercial Screen Printing
16
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
8
Commodity Contracts Dealing
5
Community Food Services
15
Computer Facilities Management Services
15
Computer Systems Design Services
249
Computer Training
14
Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing
1
Confectionery and Nut Stores
28
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
39
Construction Machinery Manufacturing
1
Consumer Lending
11
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
10
Convenience Stores
144
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
11
Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing
6
Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting)
3
Copper Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding
1
Couriers
29
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
7
Creamery Butter Manufacturing
1
Credit Bureaus
2
Credit Card Issuing
1
Credit Unions
11
Crown and Closure Manufacturing
2
Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins
1
Custom Computer Programming Services
255
Custom Roll Forming
3
Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing
1
Dance Companies
9
Deep Sea Freight Transportation
2
Deep Sea Passenger Transportation
2
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
61
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
14
Digital Printing
8
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
10
Direct Mail Advertising
10
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
11
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
2
Display Advertising
11
Document Preparation Services
31
Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing
1
Doll and Stuffed Toy Manufacturing
6
Drafting Services
8
Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing
1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
233
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
75
Educational Support Services
37
Electric Power Distribution
16
Electrical Contractors
417
Electronic Auctions
1
Electronic Computer Manufacturing
1
Electronic Connector Manufacturing
1
Elementary and Secondary Schools
288
Emergency and Other Relief Services
4
Employment Placement Agencies
52
Engineering Services
56
Envelope Manufacturing
2
Environmental Consulting Services
19
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
48
Fabric Coating Mills
1
Facilities Support Services
8
Family Clothing Stores
128
Family Planning Centers
9
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
9
Fine Arts Schools
47
Finfish Fishing
1
Fish and Seafood Markets
101
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers
51
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
121
Flat Glass Manufacturing
1
Floor Covering Stores
66
Flooring Contractors
73
Florists
98
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
2
Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing
2
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
59
Food Product Machinery Manufacturing
1
Food Service Contractors
60
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
8
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers
28
Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation
2
Framing Contractors
39
Freight Transportation Arrangement
65
Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing
4
Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing
5
Fruit and Vegetable Canning
5
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
177
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
87
Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing
4
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
65
Furniture Stores
252
General Automotive Repair
485
General Freight Trucking, Local
228
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
21
General Warehousing and Storage
42
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
165
Glass and Glazing Contractors
45
Glove and Mitten Manufacturing
1
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
4
Grantmaking Foundations
41
Graphic Design Services
99
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
4
Hardware Manufacturing
4
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
36
Hardware Stores
135
Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing
15
Hazardous Waste Collection
3
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
1
Historical Sites
5
HMO Medical Centers
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
55
Home Centers
21
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
120
Home Health Care Services
106
Home Health Equipment Rental
3
House Slipper Manufacturing
1
Household Appliance Stores
59
Human Rights Organizations
19
Ice Manufacturing
2
Industrial Building Construction
11
Industrial Design Services
15
Industrial Launderers
11
Industrial Pattern Manufacturing
3
Industrial Valve Manufacturing
1
Inland Water Freight Transportation
1
Inland Water Passenger Transportation
1
Institutional Furniture Manufacturing
8
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
337
Interior Design Services
84
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
9
Internet Service Providers
20
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
2
Investigation Services
20
Investment Advice
35
Iron and Steel Forging
1
Iron and Steel Mills
4
Janitorial Services
128
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
24
Jewelry Stores
192
Junior Colleges
5
Kidney Dialysis Centers
16
Land Subdivision
21
Landscape Architectural Services
11
Language Schools
13
Lead Pencil and Art Good Manufacturing
1
Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing
1
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
48
Libraries and Archives
4
Limited-Service Restaurants
1,146
Limousine Service
100
Livestock Merchant Wholesalers
1
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
39
Locksmiths
49
Logging
1
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
8
Luggage Manufacturing
5
Machine Shops
17
Manifold Business Forms Printing
1
Marinas
7
Marine Cargo Handling
2
Marketing Consulting Services
101
Marking Device Manufacturing
2
Masonry Contractors
84
Materials Recovery Facilities
4
Meat Markets
193
Meat Processed from Carcasses
13
Media Buying Agencies
2
Media Representatives
6
Medical Laboratories
25
Men's and Boys' Neckwear Manufacturing
6
Men's Clothing Stores
139
Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing
8
Metal Stamping
3
Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
1
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
23
Mineral Wool Manufacturing
1
Miscellaneous Intermediation
9
Mobile Food Services
5
Motion Picture and Video Distribution
2
Motion Picture and Video Production
112
Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing
2
Motor Vehicle Towing
41
Motorcycle Dealers
9
Museums
12
Music Publishers
4
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
10
Musical Instrument Manufacturing
2
Nail Salons
301
Narrow Fabric Mills
1
Natural Gas Distribution
14
Navigational Services to Shipping
3
New Car Dealers
52
News Dealers and Newsstands
36
News Syndicates
1
Newspaper Publishers
37
Nonresidential Property Managers
106
Nonwoven Fabric Mills
2
Nursing Care Facilities
45
Office Administrative Services
206
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
41
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
163
Offices of Chiropractors
130
Offices of Dentists
876
Offices of Lawyers
630
Offices of Optometrists
55
Offices of Other Holding Companies
11
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
46
One-Hour Photofinishing
14
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
2
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
12
Optical Goods Stores
129
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
1
Outerwear Knitting Mills
26
Packaging Machinery Manufacturing
2
Packing and Crating
10
Paging
5
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
11
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
31
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
161
Paper Industry Machinery Manufacturing
2
Passenger Car Leasing
8
Passenger Car Rental
15
Payroll Services
25
Pen and Mechanical Pencil Manufacturing
4
Periodical Publishers
30
Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing
16
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
51
Petrochemical Manufacturing
1
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
14
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
593
Photography Studios, Portrait
53
Plastics Bag Manufacturing
17
Plastics Bottle Manufacturing
2
Plate Work Manufacturing
3
Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing
1
Portfolio Management
14
Poultry Processing
5
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
1
Prepress Services
5
Primary Aluminum Production
1
Private Mail Centers
23
Professional Organizations
14
Public Relations Agencies
31
Quick Printing
36
Racetracks
1
Radio Networks
1
Radio Stations
1
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
8
Real Estate Investment Trusts
7
Record Production
4
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
1
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage
7
Remediation Services
24
Repossession Services
2
Residential Property Managers
469
Resilient Floor Covering Manufacturing
2
Retail Bakeries
132
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
45
Roofing Contractors
78
Rooming and Boarding Houses
3
Sales Financing
4
Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing
1
Savings Institutions
140
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
1
School and Employee Bus Transportation
72
Seafood Canning
2
Securities Brokerage
34
Security Guards and Patrol Services
49
Septic Tank and Related Services
2
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
18
Ship Building and Repairing
6
Shoe Stores
275
Siding Contractors
10
Sign Manufacturing
38
Silverware and Hollowware Manufacturing
3
Site Preparation Contractors
64
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
311
Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing
5
Soft Drink Manufacturing
4
Software Publishers
12
Software Reproducing
1
Solid Waste Collection
43
Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators
1
Sound Recording Studios
13
Soybean Processing
2
Special Needs Transportation
55
Specialty Canning
1
Spice and Extract Manufacturing
7
Sporting Goods Stores
59
Sports and Recreation Instruction
40
Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing
3
Steel Wire Drawing
3
Surface-Coated Paperboard Manufacturing
2
Tax Preparation Services
103
Taxi Service
249
Telecommunications Resellers
28
Telemarketing Bureaus
10
Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing
2
Television Broadcasting
1
Temporary Help Services
56
Temporary Shelters
37
Testing Laboratories
5
Textile Bag Mills
5
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
27
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
8
Tire Dealers
35
Tire Retreading
3
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
44
Tobacco Stores
13
Toilet Preparation Manufacturing
2
Tortilla Manufacturing
1
Tradebinding and Related Work
15
Translation and Interpretation Services
20
Travel Agencies
155
Used Car Dealers
83
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
84
Used Merchandise Stores
63
Vending Machine Operators
17
Video Tape and Disc Rental
76
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
38
Voluntary Health Organizations
18
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
2
Watch, Clock, and Part Manufacturing
1
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
1
Web Search Portals
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
196
Window Treatment Stores
20
Wineries
1
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
91
Women's Clothing Stores
369
Women's Handbag and Purse Manufacturing
2
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
5
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
7
Zoos and Botanical Gardens
4

Is Franchising a Better Option?

As you drive around Brooklyn, you'll see that franchises make up a large percentage of local businesses. But is franchising the right option for you?

We highly recommend you look into purchasing a franchise. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as Why Franchises Fail. 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 Subway Franchises and Starbucks Franchises. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Accounting Franchises and Moving Franchises.

Note on Brooklyn Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Brooklyn.

Forming a Company in Brooklyn, New York

It's very important that you form your business as a legal structure. Doing so will shield you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.

When forming a company, you will select one of 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 New York, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in New York. In fact, 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 Where to Incorporate. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Brooklyn, New York, our web page covering Incorporating in New York may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in New York.

Don't Skip the Business Plan

A business plan is vital to the health of your new business. In effect, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Failure to write a business plan is a recipe for disaster.

Before you start writing a business plan, we suggest you skim The Art of the Executive Summary. You should also take advantage of face-to-face free consulting available from your local SCORE chapter in New York.

Marketing Your New Startup

Whether your goal is to attract Brooklyn customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.

We have some great resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Advertising in Magazines is an article that will stimulate a few thoughts on your marketing plan. That's just a taste of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.

Moving Forward

As an entrepreneur in Brooklyn, 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.

Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Brooklyn and throughout the United States . 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 Brooklyn, New York

Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Brooklyn.

Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in New York

Starting a Business in Bronxville
Starting a Business in Buffalo

Browse All Business Startup Guides for New York
Starting a Business Guides for Other States

 

 

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Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs

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