Contemplating starting a business in Campbell, California? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Campbell.
What Type of Business Should You Start?
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. To stir your creative juices on what kind of business to start, take a look at How to Evaluate a Business Idea.
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 Opening a Lithographers Business guide or our Starting a Pedodontics Dentists Business guide.
Always keep in mind that you are opening your new business in Campbell. Some businesses will do better in Campbell than others. Don't forget to review Campbell demographics to see if there's a market for what you want to sell.
Campbell, California Demographic Information
Campbell has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Campbell demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Campbell.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
23856 |
| 5-9 Employees |
8148 |
| 10-19 Employees |
5586 |
| 20-49 Employees |
3738 |
| 50-99 Employees |
1281 |
| 100-249 Employees |
609 |
| 250-499 Employees |
147 |
| 500-999 Employees |
0 |
| 1000+ Employees |
0 |
| All Campbell Businesses |
43365 |
As a new Campbell entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Campbell 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 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
10 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automobile Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
10 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
5 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
26 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
8 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business Associations |
3 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
2 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
1 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Car Washes |
6 |
| Carpet and Rug Mills |
1 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
1 |
| Caterers |
3 |
| Cement Manufacturing |
1 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
1 |
| Child Day Care Services |
23 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
4 |
| Claims Adjusting |
3 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
5 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
5 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Storage Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
22 |
| Computer Training |
2 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
3 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
4 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
3 |
| Couriers |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
2 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
49 |
| Dental Laboratories |
3 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
2 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
6 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
3 |
| Document Preparation Services |
2 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
6 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
5 |
| Educational Support Services |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
27 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
2 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
5 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
6 |
| Engineering Services |
30 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
3 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
4 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
8 |
| Facilities Support Services |
2 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
4 |
| Finfish Fishing |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
12 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
11 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
6 |
| Flooring Contractors |
14 |
| Florists |
8 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food Service Contractors |
2 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
2 |
| Framing Contractors |
4 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
51 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Furniture Stores |
4 |
| General Automotive Repair |
54 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
3 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
3 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
2 |
| Graphic Design Services |
3 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
2 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
4 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
2 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
3 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
47 |
| Interior Design Services |
6 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
1 |
| Internet Service Providers |
2 |
| Investigation Services |
1 |
| Investment Advice |
15 |
| Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
11 |
| Jewelry Stores |
3 |
| Land Subdivision |
2 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
30 |
| Language Schools |
2 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
50 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
2 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
14 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
5 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
10 |
| Masonry Contractors |
6 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
37 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
9 |
| New Car Dealers |
1 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
1 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
2 |
| Office Administrative Services |
3 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
4 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
28 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
26 |
| Offices of Dentists |
21 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
43 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
5 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
2 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
1 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
12 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
4 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
5 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
2 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
2 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
6 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
4 |
| Professional Organizations |
1 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
7 |
| Quick Printing |
3 |
| Radio Stations |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
22 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
5 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
15 |
| Residential Remodelers |
29 |
| Retail Bakeries |
3 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
3 |
| Roofing Contractors |
7 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
7 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
8 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
12 |
| Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
3 |
| Shoe Stores |
1 |
| Siding Contractors |
4 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
8 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
18 |
| Software Publishers |
15 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
8 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
10 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
12 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
2 |
| Temporary Help Services |
12 |
| Testing Laboratories |
3 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
4 |
| Tire Dealers |
7 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
6 |
| Tobacco Stores |
3 |
| Travel Agencies |
4 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
1 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
1 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
12 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
2 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
12 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
5 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
3 |
Have You Considered Franchising?
As you drive around Campbell, you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. But is franchising the right option for you?
Our recommendation is that you evaluate the possibility of your buying a franchise opportunity. On our site, you can read many articles about franchising, such as Buying a Franchise. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
You can review hundreds of franchise opportunities by browing our Franchise Directory.
Sample franchise opportunities include The Haagen-Dazs Shoppe Company, Inc. and Duskin Co., Ltd.. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Closet Design and Construction Franchises and Fast Food Franchises.
Note on Campbell Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Campbell.
Naming the Company
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.
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.
For other considerations regarding naming a company, we recommend this article: Naming a Business.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are planning on starting a business in Campbell, it's very important that you make sure no other California company is using the business name you want to use.
Forming a Company in Campbell, California
It's very important that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. The principal advantage of forming your new business as a legal entity is that it separates your business liabilities from your personal liabilities.
The entity you form can be a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
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. If you are starting a business in California, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in California. As it turns out, you are allowed to 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 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 ESOP Formation. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Campbell, California, our information on Incorporating in California may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in California.
Don't Skip the Business Plan
A business plan is vital in maximizing the prospects of your new company. In effect, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Not having a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
If writing a business plan is on your to-do list, be sure to read Business Plan Contests. You can also get free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in California.
Moving Forward
You have a dream -- starting a business in Campbell. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
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 Campbell and elsewhere to achieve real success. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Campbell, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Campbell, California
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Campbell.
- Resources for Campbell, California Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Campbell entrepreneurs.
- California Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in California.
- Fresno, California Small Business Development Center - The UC Merced SBDC Regional Network assists Central California entrepreneurs and small business owners through counseling, training and business information.
- Los Angeles, California Small Business Development Center - The Los Angeles Regional Small Business Development Center Network (LA SBDC Network) is part of the national, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) effort to provide free one-on-one customized consulting services and low-cost training workshops to growing businesses and start-up businesses.
- Sacramento, California Small Business Development Center - As Northern California continues to grow demographically and economically, the Northeastern California Small Business Development Center (NECSBDC) at CSU, Chico is committed to helping communities prepare and plan for future growth.
- San Diego, California Small Business Development Center - The Small Business Development & International Trade Center (SBDITC) at Southwestern College is part of the California SBDC San Diego and Imperial Regional Network. The SBDITC provides no-cost business assistance to start-up & existing businesses.
- San Francisco, California Small Business Development Center - The Northern California Network of Small Business Development Centers helps individuals start, manage and grow their businesses.
- Santa Ana, California Small Business Development Center - The Tri-County Lead Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in the Santa Ana District provides oversight and support for SBDCs located in the Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The Santa Ana SBDC Network is a leader in providing consulting, training, and technical assistance to the small business community.
- Campbell, California Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Campbell, California newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Campbell area.
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