Are you starting a business in Cape Coral, Florida? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Cape Coral.
Is Becoming a Business Owner Right for You?
Running your own business is demanding, much harder than working as an employee. Are you sure you are ready to take on this challenge?
To determine whether you have what it takes to run a business, we recommend these three steps to help you decide:
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Cape Coral. Get their take on what it's really like to be an entrepreneur.
- We recommend reading Why Small Businesses Fail. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Get feedback from somebody whom you trust. That's the best way to get a truly objective assessment as to whether others think you have what it takes.
Cape Coral, Florida Demographic Information
Cape Coral has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Cape Coral demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Cape Coral.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
7206 |
| 5-9 Employees |
1473 |
| 10-19 Employees |
951 |
| 20-49 Employees |
567 |
| 50-99 Employees |
147 |
| 100-249 Employees |
48 |
| 250-499 Employees |
9 |
| 500-999 Employees |
3 |
| 1000+ Employees |
3 |
| All Cape Coral Businesses |
10407 |
As a new Cape Coral entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Cape Coral 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 |
5 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
4 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
10 |
| Art Dealers |
4 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
1 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
12 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
2 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Barber Shops |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
38 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
5 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Boat Building |
3 |
| Boat Dealers |
9 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
2 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
4 |
| Business Associations |
4 |
| Cafeterias |
1 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
5 |
| Car Washes |
9 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
13 |
| Casino Hotels |
1 |
| Caterers |
4 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
2 |
| Child Day Care Services |
16 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
9 |
| Claims Adjusting |
4 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
2 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
3 |
| Collection Agencies |
3 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
3 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
2 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
3 |
| Computer Storage Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
9 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
3 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
2 |
| Convenience Stores |
9 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
2 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
11 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
11 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
7 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
3 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
19 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Document Preparation Services |
7 |
| Drafting Services |
7 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
10 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
23 |
| Educational Support Services |
3 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
50 |
| Electronic Shopping |
8 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
6 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
2 |
| Engineering Services |
25 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
2 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
24 |
| Facilities Support Services |
2 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
2 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
63 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
9 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
10 |
| Flooring Contractors |
25 |
| Florists |
8 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
5 |
| Food Service Contractors |
1 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
14 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
5 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
78 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
2 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
12 |
| General Automotive Repair |
39 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
21 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
13 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
10 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
2 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
1 |
| Graphic Design Services |
12 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Hardware Stores |
4 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
2 |
| Home Centers |
4 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Home Health Care Services |
5 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
3 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
5 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
4 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
2 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
53 |
| Interior Design Services |
6 |
| Internet Service Providers |
2 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
5 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Iron Foundries |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
52 |
| Jewelry Stores |
10 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
11 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
4 |
| Landscaping Services |
77 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
3 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
57 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Linen Supply |
3 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Machine Shops |
3 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
2 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
1 |
| Marinas |
7 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
8 |
| Masonry Contractors |
12 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
2 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
2 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
34 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
4 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
2 |
| Museums |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
3 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
2 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
23 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
2 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
4 |
| Office Administrative Services |
11 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
3 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
19 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
25 |
| Offices of Dentists |
31 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
37 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
7 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
5 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
30 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
1 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
3 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
6 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
49 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
1 |
| Payroll Services |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
4 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
11 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
2 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
2 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
2 |
| Professional Organizations |
3 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
11 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
20 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
34 |
| Residential Remodelers |
53 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
5 |
| Roofing Contractors |
12 |
| Savings Institutions |
3 |
| Saw Blade and Handsaw Manufacturing |
1 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
11 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
4 |
| Siding Contractors |
9 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
2 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
35 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
6 |
| Software Publishers |
2 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
1 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
11 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
6 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
7 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
6 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
37 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
8 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
19 |
| Tobacco Stores |
3 |
| Travel Agencies |
7 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
7 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
2 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
7 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
3 |
| Veterinary Services |
9 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
8 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
1 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
29 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
7 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
5 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
7 |
What About Franchising Opportunities?
Visit the business district of Cape Coral and you'll see that franchises make up a large percentage of local businesses. But is franchising the right option for you?
We advise the entrepreneurs we work with to evaluate the possibility of your buying a franchise opportunity. To help you learn more about franchising, we've gathered a ton of articles on franchising, including Franchising Mistakes. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.
Sample franchise opportunities include Ruby Tuesday, Inc. and Woody's Chicago Style. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Sports Franchises and Carpet Retail Franchises.
Note on Cape Coral Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Cape Coral, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.
Have You Considered Buying an Existing Cape Coral Business?
If you have some capital to play with, you may want to Buy a Business in Florida. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Cape Coral.
Before buying a business, be sure to read this article: Buying a Business.
Company Formation in Cape Coral, Florida
It's essential that you are forming a legal entity that operates independently from you. The principal advantage of forming your new business as a legal entity is that it separates your business liabilities from your personal liabilities.
When forming a company, you will pick from many company types, such as a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
Incorporating 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. Just because you are starting a business in Florida, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Florida. In fact, you are allowed to incorporate in any state you would like to. For example, it's very popular to incorporate in Delaware, and incorporating in Nevada has become very trendy as well. Don't forget, though, that you will have to register as a foreign entity in all states that you do business in.
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 Company Formation. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Cape Coral, Florida, our web page covering Incorporating in Florida may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Florida.
Raising Capital for Your Venture
Raising money to fund your new Cape Coral business will be harder than you might expect. To obtain business financing, you will need to hear a lot of rejections before you finally find a funding solution that works for you.
Take advantage of our many articles on raising capital, such as Getting a Small Business Loan.
For Cape Coral entrepreneurs who need startup capital, we have assembled a List of Florida Angel Investors and our List of Florida Venture Capital Firms.
Increase Your Entrepreneurial Knowledge
Successful entrepreneurs know that they don't know everything.
Given that you are starting a business in Cape Coral, Florida, you should get information on some of the learning programs at local Florida educational institutions. You should also check if there are any Cape Coral networking organizations.
Moving Forward
As an entrepreneur in Cape Coral, 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 Cape Coral businesses to be successful. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Cape Coral 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 Cape Coral, Florida
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Cape Coral.
- Resources for Cape Coral, Florida Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Cape Coral entrepreneurs.
- Florida Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Florida.
- Florida Small Business Development Center - The Florida Small Business Development Center Network (FSBDCN) is a statewide economic development partnership between higher education and other stakeholder organizations dedicated to providing entrepreneurs and established businesses with the assistance needed to start, grow and succeed, contributing to the Florida economy.
- Cape Coral, Florida Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Cape Coral, Florida newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Cape Coral area.
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