Thinking about starting a business in Burbank, California? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Burbank.
Most startup ventures don't make it, in part because the founder did not have the tenacity and/or the skills to succeed. So, before jumping into the world of entrepreneurship, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
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:
There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? If you are struggling with what type of business to start, read Business Ideas That Don't Make Sense.
Don't forget that you are starting a business in Burbank. Some businesses will do better in Burbank than others. Only by spending some time analyzing Burbank demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.
Burbank has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Burbank demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Burbank.
As a new Burbank entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Burbank 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 |
16 |
| Aluminum Die-Casting Foundries |
2 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
7 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
4 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
2 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
15 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
3 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
3 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
24 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
14 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
7 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
4 |
| Business Associations |
4 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
4 |
| Cafeterias |
5 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Car Washes |
5 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
3 |
| Caterers |
4 |
| Child and Youth Services |
5 |
| Child Day Care Services |
17 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
10 |
| Claims Adjusting |
3 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
3 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
4 |
| Collection Agencies |
7 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
5 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
14 |
| Commercial Photography |
2 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
3 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
5 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
4 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
16 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
4 |
| Consumer Lending |
3 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
6 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
14 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
4 |
| Credit Bureaus |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
8 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
3 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
40 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
5 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
6 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
1 |
| Digital Printing |
3 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
2 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Display Advertising |
3 |
| Document Preparation Services |
9 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
7 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
5 |
| Educational Support Services |
5 |
| Electrical Contractors |
28 |
| Electronic Shopping |
6 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
15 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
2 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
11 |
| Engineering Services |
33 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
1 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
3 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
2 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
14 |
| Facilities Support Services |
3 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
9 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
8 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
9 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
11 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
4 |
| Flooring Contractors |
4 |
| Florists |
7 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
3 |
| Food Service Contractors |
7 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
2 |
| Framing Contractors |
1 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
4 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
107 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
4 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
10 |
| General Automotive Repair |
53 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
4 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
23 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
5 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
4 |
| Graphic Design Services |
26 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Hardware Stores |
7 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
8 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Home Health Care Services |
9 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
8 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
6 |
| Industrial Design Services |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
14 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
2 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
62 |
| Interior Design Services |
11 |
| International Trade Financing |
1 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
3 |
| Internet Service Providers |
3 |
| Investigation Services |
4 |
| Investment Advice |
9 |
| Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
15 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
4 |
| Jewelry Stores |
7 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
2 |
| Land Subdivision |
4 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
3 |
| Landscaping Services |
10 |
| Language Schools |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
2 |
| Libraries and Archives |
2 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
94 |
| Limousine Service |
3 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
8 |
| Locksmiths |
2 |
| Logging |
1 |
| Luggage Manufacturing |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
20 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
5 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
13 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
3 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
2 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
7 |
| Media Representatives |
6 |
| Medical Laboratories |
8 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
2 |
| Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
5 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
8 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
3 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
202 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
4 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
5 |
| Music Publishers |
8 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
10 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
15 |
| New Car Dealers |
3 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
2 |
| News Syndicates |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
4 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
10 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
5 |
| Office Administrative Services |
23 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
6 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
29 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
20 |
| Offices of Dentists |
88 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
36 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
12 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
8 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
9 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
10 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
4 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
3 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Outerwear Knitting Mills |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
12 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
30 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
19 |
| Payroll Services |
34 |
| Periodical Publishers |
4 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
8 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
5 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
26 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
4 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
8 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Prepress Services |
5 |
| Private Mail Centers |
4 |
| Professional Organizations |
2 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
5 |
| Quick Printing |
12 |
| Racetracks |
1 |
| Radio Networks |
2 |
| Radio Stations |
24 |
| Real Estate Credit |
20 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1 |
| Record Production |
4 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
2 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
14 |
| Residential Remodelers |
34 |
| Retail Bakeries |
2 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
13 |
| Sales Financing |
7 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
10 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
7 |
| Securities Brokerage |
8 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
10 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
3 |
| Shoe Stores |
14 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
2 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
4 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
33 |
| Software Publishers |
8 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
23 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
2 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
8 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
6 |
| Steel Investment Foundries |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
17 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
4 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
6 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
3 |
| Television Broadcasting |
7 |
| Temporary Help Services |
19 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Testing Laboratories |
6 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
5 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
3 |
| Tire Dealers |
5 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
3 |
| Tobacco Stores |
1 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
2 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
9 |
| Used Car Dealers |
5 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
1 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
7 |
| Veterinary Services |
5 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
7 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
2 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Web Search Portals |
4 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
15 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
3 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
12 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
12 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
3 |
As you drive around Burbank, you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. But is franchising the right option for you?
We advise the entrepreneurs we work with to look into purchasing a franchise. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as Franchise Marketing Support. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
For anybody who wants to buy a business, we recommend reading this useful article: Buying a Business.
Making the right decision when choosing a company name is very important. There are many decisions you'll make now that you can change later, but changing a company name years down the road is not very easy. So, choose a good company name at the outset.
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?
To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Branding Advice.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are planning on starting a business in Burbank, it's imperative that you check now that your company name has not already been claimed by another California business.
Most new Burbank businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
We are here to help Burbank 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.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Burbank.
