Contemplating starting a business in Cerritos, California? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Cerritos.
What Type of Business Should You Start?
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. To help you decide on a business type, we encourage you to read Good Business Ideas.
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 Pet Sitting & Day Care Business guide or our How to Start a Pictures & Prints Retail Business guide.
Always keep in mind that Cerritos is the place where you are starting a business. Some businesses will do better in Cerritos than others. Make sure you fully understand Cerritos demographics before you lock in on your business idea.
Cerritos, California Demographic Information
Cerritos has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Cerritos demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Cerritos.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
2817 |
| 5-9 Employees |
666 |
| 10-19 Employees |
654 |
| 20-49 Employees |
510 |
| 50-99 Employees |
183 |
| 100-249 Employees |
150 |
| 250-499 Employees |
27 |
| 500-999 Employees |
12 |
| 1000+ Employees |
3 |
| All Cerritos Businesses |
5022 |
As a new Cerritos entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Cerritos 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 Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
2 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
2 |
| Armored Car Services |
1 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
10 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
6 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
2 |
| Book Stores |
2 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Business Associations |
2 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
2 |
| Cafeterias |
2 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
2 |
| Caterers |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
1 |
| Child Day Care Services |
6 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
1 |
| Claims Adjusting |
4 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
4 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
3 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
4 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
4 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
13 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
4 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
1 |
| Couriers |
1 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
15 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
2 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
1 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
2 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
4 |
| Display Advertising |
3 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
2 |
| Educational Support Services |
3 |
| Electrical Contractors |
7 |
| Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
5 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
3 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
15 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
3 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
11 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
2 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
13 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
4 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
4 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
3 |
| Flooring Contractors |
3 |
| Florists |
5 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
6 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
8 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
45 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Furniture Stores |
7 |
| General Automotive Repair |
2 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
6 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
6 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
6 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Graphic Design Services |
2 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
2 |
| Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
8 |
| Home Health Care Services |
17 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
3 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
25 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investment Advice |
7 |
| Janitorial Services |
8 |
| Jewelry Stores |
10 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
2 |
| Land Subdivision |
1 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
5 |
| Language Schools |
1 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
48 |
| Limousine Service |
2 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
4 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
6 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
9 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
12 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
3 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
11 |
| New Car Dealers |
18 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
3 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
4 |
| Office Administrative Services |
8 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
8 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
18 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
6 |
| Offices of Dentists |
37 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
11 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
11 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
1 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
4 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paging |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
1 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
3 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
4 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
4 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
17 |
| Professional Organizations |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
3 |
| Real Estate Credit |
17 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
3 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
3 |
| Residential Remodelers |
9 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
4 |
| Savings Institutions |
3 |
| Securities Brokerage |
5 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
17 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
2 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
17 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
5 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
1 |
| Steel Foundries (except Investment) |
1 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
4 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
2 |
| Temporary Help Services |
6 |
| Textile Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
3 |
| Tire Dealers |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
1 |
| Tobacco Stores |
2 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
6 |
| Used Car Dealers |
1 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
1 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
2 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
4 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
1 |
| Watch, Clock, and Part Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
26 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
3 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
14 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
Naming the Company
A big decision when starting a company is choosing a company name. Believe it or not, choosing a good company name can be a big contributor to your business success.
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.
To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Naming a Business.
On a final note, given that you are planning on starting a business in Cerritos, it's imperative that you check now that you will be the only California company using the business name you have chosen.
The Role of the Business Plan
A business plan is vital to the health of your new business. In effect, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. Starting a business without a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
Before you start writing a business plan, we suggest you skim Find Sample Business Plans Online. A great resource for business planning assistance is the free business counselors available to you through your local SCORE chapter in California.
Marketing Your New Business
To rise above the crowd in Cerritos and build your business, you need a excellent marketing plan.
We have some excellent resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Conducting Sweepstakes and Contests discusses marketing strategy and tactical marketing in a way that should get you thinking about how to creatively promote your business. There are many more articles on marketing on our site. Visit our Small Business Marketing resource section to see them all.
Bring in Revenues
Mastering the art of selling is essential if you want your new Cerritos business to do well.
Good selling involves demonstrating that your wares meet your customer's needs. Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
Writing Great Proposals offers some helpful tips on how to sell. It's one of several good articles on our site regarding Entrepreneurial Selling.
What's Next?
Most new Cerritos businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
We are here to help Cerritos businesses to be successful. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Cerritos, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Cerritos, California
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Cerritos.
- Resources for Cerritos, California Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Cerritos 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.
- Cerritos, California Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Cerritos, California newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Cerritos area.
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