Thinking about starting a business in Canton, Georgia? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Canton.
Is Becoming an Entrepreneur Right for You?
Before you get too far along in the process, assess your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
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:
- Speak with other entrepreneurs in Canton. Get their take on what it's really like to be an entrepreneur.
- You should read The Entrepreneurial Personality. It's a good read for those who are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur.
- Reach out to a trusted acquaintance. That's the best way to get a truly objective assessment as to whether others think you have what it takes.
What Business to Start
Choosing a business that is right for you is very important. If you are struggling with what type of business to start, read Business Ideas That Don't Make Sense.
For step-by-step instructions on starting a variety of business types, visit the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our How to Start a Learning Disabilities Information Services Business guide or our How to Start a Steel Detailers Business guide.
Always keep in mind that your new business will be in Canton. The business you want to start may already be well-represented in Canton. A critical consideration is whether Canton demographics mesh well with your startup concept.
Canton, Georgia Demographic Information
Canton has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Canton demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Canton.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
41174 |
| 5-9 Employees |
10514 |
| 10-19 Employees |
7182 |
| 20-49 Employees |
4158 |
| 50-99 Employees |
1890 |
| 100-249 Employees |
546 |
| 250-499 Employees |
84 |
| 500-999 Employees |
42 |
| 1000+ Employees |
0 |
| All Canton Businesses |
65590 |
As a new Canton entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Canton 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 |
| Aluminum Extruded Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
4 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
8 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
1 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
15 |
| Book Stores |
2 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
3 |
| Business Associations |
2 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
1 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
6 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
1 |
| Caterers |
2 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
1 |
| Child Day Care Services |
12 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
2 |
| Claims Adjusting |
2 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
1 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
3 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
20 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
5 |
| Convenience Stores |
4 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
2 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
17 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
2 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
2 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
7 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
32 |
| Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
2 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
2 |
| Engineering Services |
9 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
5 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
4 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
4 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
10 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
9 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
2 |
| Flooring Contractors |
7 |
| Florists |
6 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
4 |
| Food Service Contractors |
3 |
| Framing Contractors |
6 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
54 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
4 |
| Furniture Stores |
4 |
| General Automotive Repair |
15 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
3 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
2 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
3 |
| Graphic Design Services |
6 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
4 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
1 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
22 |
| Interior Design Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
3 |
| Janitorial Services |
8 |
| Jewelry Stores |
4 |
| Land Subdivision |
6 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
4 |
| Landscaping Services |
43 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
2 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
33 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Logging |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
5 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
4 |
| Masonry Contractors |
3 |
| Meat Markets |
2 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
2 |
| Museums |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
4 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
10 |
| News Syndicates |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
2 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
4 |
| Office Administrative Services |
6 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
3 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
5 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
11 |
| Offices of Dentists |
18 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
28 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
3 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
2 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
10 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
1 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
2 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
9 |
| Payroll Services |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
4 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
3 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
9 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
5 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Poultry Processing |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
6 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
6 |
| Real Estate Credit |
2 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
5 |
| Residential Remodelers |
22 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
5 |
| Rope, Cordage, and Twine Mills |
1 |
| Sales Financing |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
1 |
| Sawmills |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
6 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
3 |
| Shoe Stores |
5 |
| Siding Contractors |
5 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
10 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
10 |
| Software Publishers |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
3 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
2 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
2 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
5 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
7 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
4 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
2 |
| Used Car Dealers |
4 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
1 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
3 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
12 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
6 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
30 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
2 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
2 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
Should You Franchise?
As you drive around Canton, you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. Is there a franchise opportunity out there that makes sense for you?
We highly recommend you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Buying an Existing Franchise. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
A comprehensive list of franchisors is available via our List of Franchise Opportunities.
Sample franchise opportunities include IDENT-A-Kid Services of America, Inc. and Mac Tools. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Child Care Franchises and Home Services Franchises.
Note on Canton Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Canton, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.
Don't Forget to Create a Business Plan
A business plan is critical in maximizing the prospects of your new company. In effect, 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 Plan Contests. You can also get free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Georgia.
The Art of Selling
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Canton or are selling to customers throughout Georgia, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
Why should customers buy from you instead of buying from competitors? Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
Cold Call Selling is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.
Moving Forward
You have a dream -- starting a business in Canton. 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.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Canton and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Canton 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 Canton, Georgia
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Canton.
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