Are you starting a business in Champaign, Illinois? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Champaign.
Most startup companies fail, in part because the founder did not have the entrepreneurial skills and traits needed to succeed. So, before you start your business, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
While entrepreneurship has become a popular career choice, we recommend you do the following before you take the plunge:
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 Free Business Ideas.
Always keep in mind that starting a business in Champaign has some implications. Some businesses will do better in Champaign than others. Study Champaign demographics and do a competitive analysis as part of your startup planning process.
Champaign has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Champaign demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Champaign.
As a new Champaign entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Champaign 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 |
4 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
3 |
| Architectural Services |
12 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automatic Vending Machine Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
2 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
3 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
10 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
4 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
34 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
7 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
5 |
| Book Stores |
9 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
3 |
| Building Inspection Services |
3 |
| Business Associations |
6 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
2 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Car Washes |
6 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
4 |
| Caterers |
5 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
11 |
| Child Day Care Services |
21 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
12 |
| Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Clay Refractory Manufacturing |
2 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
4 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
1 |
| Collection Agencies |
2 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
6 |
| Commercial Photography |
4 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
3 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
6 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
7 |
| Computer Training |
2 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
3 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
15 |
| Convenience Stores |
5 |
| Couriers |
4 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
9 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
20 |
| Dental Laboratories |
4 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
5 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
4 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
33 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
3 |
| Educational Support Services |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
10 |
| Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
11 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
3 |
| Engineering Services |
28 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
2 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
5 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
4 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
15 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Farm Management Services |
1 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Fats and Oils Refining and Blending |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
2 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
4 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
2 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
8 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
5 |
| Flooring Contractors |
5 |
| Florists |
9 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
5 |
| Food Service Contractors |
4 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
3 |
| Framing Contractors |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
85 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
12 |
| General Automotive Repair |
10 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
9 |
| General Rental Centers |
4 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
3 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
16 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
3 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
2 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
4 |
| Graphic Design Services |
7 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Hardware Stores |
3 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
5 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Home Health Care Services |
6 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
2 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
2 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
56 |
| Interior Design Services |
4 |
| Internet Service Providers |
2 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
9 |
| Iron and Steel Forging |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
14 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Jewelry Stores |
16 |
| Land Subdivision |
1 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
24 |
| Language Schools |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
5 |
| Libraries and Archives |
2 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
94 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
3 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Machine Shops |
4 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
5 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
12 |
| Masonry Contractors |
7 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
2 |
| Media Representatives |
2 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
6 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
3 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
1 |
| Museums |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
3 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
6 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
6 |
| News Syndicates |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
4 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
7 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
4 |
| Office Administrative Services |
7 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
3 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
6 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
14 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
12 |
| Offices of Dentists |
48 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
47 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
5 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
1 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
8 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
8 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
9 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
3 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
3 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
8 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
9 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
5 |
| Prepress Services |
2 |
| Private Mail Centers |
4 |
| Professional Organizations |
5 |
| Quick Printing |
4 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
4 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
3 |
| Real Estate Credit |
7 |
| Residential Property Managers |
16 |
| Residential Remodelers |
12 |
| Retail Bakeries |
5 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
3 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
16 |
| Sales Financing |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
2 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
15 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
3 |
| Shoe Stores |
18 |
| Siding Contractors |
5 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
6 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
14 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
7 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
4 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Soybean Processing |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
9 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
4 |
| Steel Foundries (except Investment) |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
4 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
2 |
| Temporary Help Services |
11 |
| Temporary Shelters |
4 |
| Testing Laboratories |
3 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
2 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
8 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
2 |
| Tobacco Stores |
3 |
| Tour Operators |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
3 |
| Used Car Dealers |
6 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
3 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
7 |
| Veterinary Services |
6 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
10 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
4 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
5 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
11 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
23 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
Getting your Champaign business the capital it needs to succeed is very difficult due to the ongoing business credit crunch. To obtain business financing, you will need to hear a lot of rejections before you finally find a funding solution that works for you.
To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as Realistic Debt Financing Options.
Mastering the art of selling is essential if you want your new Champaign business to do well.
Good selling involves demonstrating that your wares meet your customer's needs. The good news is we can help you to make selling a big competitve advantage for your new firm.
Most new Champaign businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Champaign and elsewhere to achieve real success. 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.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Champaign.
