Thinking about starting a business in Buffalo, New York? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Buffalo.
Most new ventures do not succeed, in part because the entrepreneur did not have the perseverance and abilities that are necessary to succeed. So, before jumping into the world of entrepreneurship, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.
Buffalo has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Buffalo demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Buffalo.
As a new Buffalo entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Buffalo 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 |
| Abrasive Product Manufacturing |
3 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
1 |
| Advertising Agencies |
33 |
| Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing |
2 |
| Air Traffic Control |
1 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
4 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
5 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
9 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
42 |
| Armored Car Services |
5 |
| Art Dealers |
3 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
7 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
14 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
22 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
65 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
12 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
9 |
| Barber Shops |
9 |
| Beauty Salons |
201 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
67 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
1 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
3 |
| Boat Building |
2 |
| Boat Dealers |
7 |
| Book Publishers |
7 |
| Book Stores |
24 |
| Books Printing |
2 |
| Bottled Water Manufacturing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
20 |
| Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing |
1 |
| Breweries |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
11 |
| Burial Casket Manufacturing |
1 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
25 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
11 |
| Cafeterias |
11 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Cane Sugar Refining |
1 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
3 |
| Car Washes |
11 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
19 |
| Caterers |
36 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
12 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
3 |
| Cheese Manufacturing |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
16 |
| Child Day Care Services |
188 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
20 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
82 |
| Claims Adjusting |
12 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
14 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
2 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
19 |
| Collection Agencies |
52 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
9 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
3 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
38 |
| Commercial Photography |
5 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
8 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
2 |
| Community Food Services |
7 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
24 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
7 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
57 |
| Computer Training |
2 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
2 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
4 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
9 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
16 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
5 |
| Convenience Stores |
87 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
9 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
3 |
| Copper Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
3 |
| Couriers |
25 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
10 |
| Credit Bureaus |
6 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
4 |
| Credit Unions |
57 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
2 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
60 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
1 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
20 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
22 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
11 |
| Digital Printing |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
31 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
12 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
8 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
10 |
| Display Advertising |
4 |
| Document Preparation Services |
8 |
| Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
3 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
216 |
| Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters |
2 |
| Dry Pasta Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
15 |
| Educational Support Services |
14 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
7 |
| Electrical Contractors |
71 |
| Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Capacitor Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
2 |
| Electronic Shopping |
22 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
78 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
2 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
16 |
| Engineering Services |
82 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
11 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
9 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
9 |
| Fabric Coating Mills |
1 |
| Facilities Support Services |
2 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
53 |
| Family Planning Centers |
4 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing |
2 |
| Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
29 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
52 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
6 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
57 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
32 |
| Flooring Contractors |
35 |
| Florists |
35 |
| Flour Milling |
2 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
3 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
3 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
28 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Food Service Contractors |
93 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
3 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
13 |
| Framing Contractors |
10 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
53 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
3 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
5 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
457 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
59 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
9 |
| Furniture Stores |
57 |
| General Automotive Repair |
173 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
43 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
8 |
| General Rental Centers |
15 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
33 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
77 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
10 |
| Glove and Mitten Manufacturing |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
7 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
26 |
| Graphic Design Services |
24 |
| Greeting Card Publishers |
1 |
| Gypsum Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
3 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
14 |
| Hardware Stores |
22 |
| Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
3 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Historical Sites |
2 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
27 |
| Home Centers |
17 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
11 |
| Home Health Care Services |
35 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
6 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
20 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
17 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
21 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
2 |
| Industrial Design Services |
2 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
5 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
1 |
| Inland Water Passenger Transportation |
1 |
| Inorganic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
3 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
262 |
| Interior Design Services |
10 |
| International Trade Financing |
1 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
2 |
| Internet Service Providers |
10 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
2 |
| Investigation Services |
18 |
| Investment Advice |
58 |
| Iron and Steel Forging |
2 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
4 |
| Iron Foundries |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
181 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
3 |
| Jewelry Stores |
80 |
| Junior Colleges |
7 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
5 |
| Land Subdivision |
6 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
8 |
| Landscaping Services |
126 |
| Language Schools |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
9 |
| Libraries and Archives |
4 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
439 |
| Limousine Service |
8 |
| Linen Supply |
2 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
16 |
| Locksmiths |
9 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
2 |
| Machine Shops |
36 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
15 |
| Marinas |
4 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
24 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
31 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
3 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
2 |
| Meat Markets |
32 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
10 |
| Media Representatives |
2 |
| Medical Laboratories |
8 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
25 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
2 |
| Metal Stamping |
4 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
3 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
7 |
| Mobile Food Services |
8 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
22 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
1 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
17 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
3 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
4 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
12 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
4 |
| Museums |
9 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
8 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
12 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
11 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
7 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
48 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
9 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
6 |
| News Syndicates |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
13 |
| Nonclay Refractory Manufacturing |
2 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
30 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
35 |
| Office Administrative Services |
46 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
24 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
17 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
113 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
64 |
| Offices of Dentists |
276 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
479 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
21 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
28 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
36 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
28 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
4 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
3 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
54 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
6 |
| Outerwear Knitting Mills |
1 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
7 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
3 |
| Paging |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
4 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
13 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
63 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
65 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
3 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
8 |
| Payroll Services |
8 |
| Periodical Publishers |
13 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
17 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
8 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
95 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
38 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
1 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
2 |
| Political Organizations |
5 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Port and Harbor Operations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
35 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
3 |
| Prepress Services |
7 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
3 |
| Private Mail Centers |
5 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
12 |
| Professional Organizations |
17 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
7 |
| Quick Printing |
15 |
| Radio Stations |
9 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
3 |
| Real Estate Credit |
43 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Remediation Services |
5 |
| Repossession Services |
6 |
| Residential Property Managers |
43 |
| Residential Remodelers |
132 |
| Resilient Floor Covering Manufacturing |
1 |
| Retail Bakeries |
16 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
8 |
| Rolled Steel Shape Manufacturing |
2 |
| Roofing Contractors |
30 |
| Sales Financing |
21 |
| Savings Institutions |
20 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
3 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
14 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
12 |
| Securities Brokerage |
56 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
20 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
2 |
| Setup Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
11 |
| Shoe Stores |
79 |
| Siding Contractors |
26 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
14 |
| Silverware and Hollowware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
18 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
84 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
2 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
13 |
| Software Reproducing |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
4 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
2 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
3 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
10 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
44 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
20 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
4 |
| Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
1 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
55 |
| Taxi Service |
9 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
3 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
11 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
3 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
2 |
| Television Broadcasting |
5 |
| Temporary Help Services |
72 |
| Temporary Shelters |
10 |
| Testing Laboratories |
15 |
| Textile Bag Mills |
1 |
| Textile Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
11 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
8 |
| Timber Tract Operations |
1 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
11 |
| Tire Dealers |
29 |
| Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading) |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
19 |
| Tobacco Stores |
9 |
| Tour Operators |
5 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
4 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
23 |
| Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
33 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
16 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
24 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
12 |
| Veterinary Services |
28 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
29 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
26 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
30 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
3 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
3 |
| Web Search Portals |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
84 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
45 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
106 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
10 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
2 |
| Wood Preservation |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
2 |
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.
Even if the name doesn't do it by itself, many naming experts believe there should be a story behind the name that ties into your company mission.
To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Branding Advice.
On a final note, given that you are opening a business in Buffalo, it's imperative that you check now that no other New York company is using the business name you want to use.
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.
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 New York, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in New York. In fact, you can 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 Piercing the Corporate Veil. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Buffalo, New York, our information on Incorporating in New York may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in New York.
Writing a business plan is vital to the health of your new business. Indeed, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. Starting a business without a business plan will greatly reduce your chances of business success.
Whether your goal is to attract Buffalo customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your doing well.
Successful business owners know that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.
Given that you are starting a business in Buffalo, New York, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby New York universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any Buffalo networking organizations.
Most new Buffalo businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Buffalo and elsewhere to achieve real success. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Buffalo, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Buffalo.
