Starting a Business in Canton, Massachusetts

Thinking about starting a business in Canton, Massachusetts? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Canton.

Are You Sure You Want to Do This?

Running your own business is difficult, much more challenging than working as an employee. Are you sure you are ready to take on this challenge?

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. Ask them candidly what it's like to run a business.
• You should read Starting a Company. It's a good read for those who are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur.
• Talk it over with a close friend or partner. The people who know you best are often in the best position to tell you bluntly whether you will be a good entrepreneur.

What Business to 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 Business Ideas That Don't Make Sense.

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 Starting a Dance Club guide or our Starting a Tatoo Parlor guide.

Remember that you are starting a business in Canton. The business you want to start may already be well-represented in Canton. Make sure you fully understand Canton demographics before you lock in on your business idea.

Canton, Massachusetts 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	17570
5-9 Employees	6804
10-19 Employees	4998
20-49 Employees	4620
50-99 Employees	1890
100-249 Employees	1008
250-499 Employees	252
500-999 Employees	210
1000+ Employees	126
All Canton Businesses	37478

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
Adhesive Manufacturing	1
Advertising Agencies	3
Apprenticeship Training	1
Architectural Services	2
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops	2
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores	2
Baked Goods Stores	1
Beauty Salons	6
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores	6
Book Stores	1
Business Associations	2
Cable and Other Program Distribution	2
Cafeterias	2
Car Washes	1
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services	1
Caterers	1
Child and Youth Services	1
Child Day Care Services	3
Civic and Social Organizations	5
Claims Adjusting	1
Clothing Accessories Stores	1
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners	2
Commercial Bakeries	1
Commercial Lithographic Printing	5
Computer and Software Stores	1
Computer Systems Design Services	10
Computer Training	1
Confectionery and Nut Stores	2
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers	1
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining	1
Continuing Care Retirement Communities	1
Convenience Stores	5
Convention and Trade Show Organizers	1
Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting)	1
Couriers	1
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services	1
Credit Unions	1
Custom Computer Programming Services	8
Dental Laboratories	1
Diagnostic Imaging Centers	2
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers	1
Direct Life Insurance Carriers	1
Direct Mail Advertising	2
Document Preparation Services	1
Drafting Services	1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)	4
Drywall and Insulation Contractors	4
Educational Support Services	2
Electrical Contractors	21
Electron Tube Manufacturing	1
Electronic Capacitor Manufacturing	1
Electronic Computer Manufacturing	1
Electronic Shopping	1
Elementary and Secondary Schools	1
Employment Placement Agencies	3
Engineering Services	7
Environmental Consulting Services	1
Exterminating and Pest Control Services	2
Facilities Support Services	2
Family Clothing Stores	3
Fats and Oils Refining and Blending	1
Fine Arts Schools	1
Finish Carpentry Contractors	9
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers	1
Flight Training	1
Floor Covering Stores	1
Flooring Contractors	4
Florists	3
Food (Health) Supplement Stores	1
Food Service Contractors	12
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers	4
Framing Contractors	1
Fruit and Vegetable Canning	1
Full-Service Restaurants	18
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services	4
Furniture Stores	1
General Automotive Repair	6
General Warehousing and Storage	2
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores	2
Glass and Glazing Contractors	1
Golf Courses and Country Clubs	6
Grantmaking Foundations	1
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers	4
Hardware Stores	2
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers	1
Home Health Care Services	3
Household Appliance Stores	1
Hunting and Trapping	1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages	16
Interior Design Services	1
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation	1
Investigation Services	1
Investment Advice	2
Janitorial Services	8
Jewelry Stores	2
Land Subdivision	2
Landscaping Services	13
Limited-Service Restaurants	17
Limousine Service	1
Linen Supply	1
Local Messengers and Local Delivery	1
Machine Shops	4
Marketing Consulting Services	3
Masonry Contractors	4
Meat Markets	1
Men's Clothing Stores	2
Metal Stamping	1
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers	1
Motion Picture and Video Production	1
Motor Vehicle Towing	1
New Car Dealers	2
New Housing Operative Builders	2
Newspaper Publishers	2
Nonresidential Property Managers	1
Nursing Care Facilities	2
Office Administrative Services	3
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers	1
Offices of Certified Public Accountants	14
Offices of Chiropractors	1
Offices of Dentists	14
Offices of Lawyers	20
Offices of Optometrists	4
Offices of Other Holding Companies	1
Offices of Podiatrists	2
One-Hour Photofinishing	1
Optical Goods Stores	2
Packing and Crating	1
Paint and Wallpaper Stores	1
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors	3
Periodical Publishers	1
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores	1
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services	2
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals	1
Pharmacies and Drug Stores	3
Photography Studios, Portrait	1
Primary Battery Manufacturing	1
Printing Ink Manufacturing	1
Private Mail Centers	1
Public Relations Agencies	1
Quick Printing	2
Real Estate Credit	1
Residential Property Managers	1
Residential Remodelers	12
Retail Bakeries	1
Roofing Contractors	1
Savings Institutions	5
School and Employee Bus Transportation	1
Security Guards and Patrol Services	2
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing	1
Shoe Stores	3
Siding Contractors	1
Sign Manufacturing	1
Site Preparation Contractors	7
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars	10
Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing	1
Software Publishers	1
Special Needs Transportation	2
Sporting Goods Stores	2
Tax Preparation Services	2
Taxi Service	1
Temporary Help Services	3
Testing Laboratories	5
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors	1
Tour Operators	1
Tradebinding and Related Work	2
Travel Agencies	2
Used Car Dealers	1
Used Household and Office Goods Moving	1
Vending Machine Operators	1
Veterinary Services	3
Video Tape and Disc Rental	2
Voluntary Health Organizations	2
Weft Knit Fabric Mills	1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers	10
Wired Telecommunications Carriers	1
Women's Clothing Stores	4

Have You Considered Franchising?

Examine a list of Canton businesses and you'll see that franchises make up a large percentage of local businesses. Should you be giving franchising serious consideration?

Our recommendation is that you investigate buying a franchise. To help you learn more about franchising, we've gathered a ton of articles on franchising, including How to Get More Franchisees. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.

To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.

Representative franchise opportunities include Subway Franchises and Starbucks Franchises. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Accounting Franchises and Moving Franchises.

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

Have You Considered Buying an Existing Canton Business?

If you have some capital to play with, you may want to Buy a Business in Massachusetts. Follow that link and you might discover several good businesses for sale in Canton.

For anybody who wants to buy a business, we recommend reading this useful article: How to Buy a Business.

Naming the Company

A good company name can give a big boost to a new startup. It might seem like an easy thing to do, but there are many things to consider when naming a business.

Before you decide on a company name, run it by some prospective customers and see what they think. If they don't like it, it's probably a good idea to go back to the drawing board.

Numerous company naming issues are discussed in more detail in this article: Naming a Business.

There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are opening a business in Canton, it's critical that you ensure that you will be the only Massachusetts company using the business name you have chosen.

Forming a Company in Canton, Massachusetts

It's essential that you are forming a legal entity that operates independently from you. Doing so will separate 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 common way to legally create a business entity. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. If you are starting a business in Massachusetts, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Massachusetts. In fact, you are allowed to incorporate in the state of your choosing. 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. To learn the fundamentals of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Pre-Incorporation Agreements. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Canton, Massachusetts, our information on Incorporating in Massachusetts may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Massachusetts.

Don't Skip the Business Plan

Creating a business plan is vital in laying a solid foundation for your business success. Simply put, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. Not having a business plan

If you want more information on writing business plans, we recommend reading Find Sample Business Plans Online. You should also take advantage of free business counselors available to you through your local SCORE chapter in Massachusetts.

Raising Money for Your New Venture

Finding the funds to fuel the growth of your Canton business will be harder than you might expect. In fact, financing your new business may be the hardest challenge you ever face.

To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as Getting a Small Business Loan.

For Canton entrepreneurs in need of startup financing, you'll want to take a look at our List of Massachusetts Angel Investors and our List of Massachusetts Venture Capital Firms.

Marketing Your New Business

To grow your Canton business, you need a great marketing plan.

You can learn quite a bit about marketing on our site. Typical Direct Mail Response Rates is an article that will generate a few thoughts on your marketing plan. That's just one of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.

Selling Tips

Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Canton business, you need to focus on sales.

Why should customers buy from you instead of buying from competitors? Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.

Tips on Customer Referrals is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.

How to Improve Your Entrepreneurial Abilities

Good business owners recognize that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.

With your business being located in Canton, Massachusetts, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Massachusetts universities, colleges and community colleges. We also recommend you look into networking organizations for Canton entrepreneurs.

Next Steps

As an entrepreneur in Canton, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.

From this point on, you control your own destiny.

We are here to help Canton 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.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Canton, Massachusetts

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

• Resources for Canton, Massachusetts Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Canton entrepreneurs.
• Massachusetts Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Massachusetts.
• Massachusetts Small Business Development Center - The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) Network provides one-to-one free comprehensive and confidential services focusing on, business growth and strategies, financing and loan assistance as well as strategic, marketing and operational analysis.
• Canton, Massachusetts Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Canton, Massachusetts newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Canton area.

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