Are you starting a business in Charlotte, North Carolina? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Charlotte.
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.
Remember that you are starting a business in Charlotte. Some businesses will do better in Charlotte than others. Don't forget to review Charlotte demographics to see if there's a market for what you want to sell.
Charlotte has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Charlotte demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Charlotte.
As a new Charlotte entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Charlotte 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 |
| Abrasive Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
4 |
| Advertising Agencies |
59 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
2 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
3 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
10 |
| Architectural Services |
132 |
| Armored Car Services |
6 |
| Art Dealers |
13 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automatic Vending Machine Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
4 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
5 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
12 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
87 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
17 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
11 |
| Barber Shops |
16 |
| Beauty Salons |
190 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
2 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
35 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
6 |
| Boat Dealers |
5 |
| Book Publishers |
7 |
| Book Stores |
26 |
| Books Printing |
4 |
| Bowling Centers |
4 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
5 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
5 |
| Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing |
3 |
| Building Inspection Services |
27 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
3 |
| Business Associations |
35 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
4 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
8 |
| Cafeterias |
15 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
14 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
3 |
| Car Washes |
33 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
27 |
| Caterers |
30 |
| Cellulosic Organic Fiber Manufacturing |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
7 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
20 |
| Child Day Care Services |
264 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
18 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
44 |
| Claims Adjusting |
23 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
19 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
35 |
| Collection Agencies |
11 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
7 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
5 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
43 |
| Commercial Photography |
20 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
15 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
3 |
| Community Food Services |
6 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
36 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
13 |
| Computer Storage Device Manufacturing |
3 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
188 |
| Computer Training |
9 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
3 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
2 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
9 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
7 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
24 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
13 |
| Convenience Stores |
65 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
19 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
2 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
8 |
| Couriers |
42 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
9 |
| Credit Bureaus |
7 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
37 |
| Crop Harvesting, Primarily by Machine |
1 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
7 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
172 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
2 |
| Dance Companies |
3 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
3 |
| Dental Laboratories |
20 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
23 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
13 |
| Digital Printing |
6 |
| Dimension Stone Mining and Quarrying |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
69 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
12 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
17 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
8 |
| Discount Department Stores |
15 |
| Display Advertising |
12 |
| Document Preparation Services |
10 |
| Drafting Services |
7 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
69 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
78 |
| Educational Support Services |
16 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
7 |
| Electrical Contractors |
196 |
| Electron Tube Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
16 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
40 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
7 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
44 |
| Engineering Services |
240 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
1 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
32 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
24 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
33 |
| Fabric Coating Mills |
1 |
| Facilities Support Services |
12 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
85 |
| Family Planning Centers |
3 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
10 |
| Fats and Oils Refining and Blending |
1 |
| Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
39 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
74 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
4 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
103 |
| Flat Glass Manufacturing |
1 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
28 |
| Flooring Contractors |
50 |
| Florists |
36 |
| Flour Milling |
1 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
2 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
26 |
| Food Service Contractors |
199 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
8 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
5 |
| Framing Contractors |
46 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
107 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
5 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
607 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
16 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
32 |
| Furniture Stores |
85 |
| General Automotive Repair |
163 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
52 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
5 |
| General Rental Centers |
11 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
61 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
61 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
16 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
23 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
16 |
| Graphic Design Services |
72 |
| Gypsum Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
3 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
45 |
| Hardware Stores |
19 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
2 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
3 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
10 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
3 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
19 |
| Home Centers |
15 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
37 |
| Home Health Care Services |
34 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
7 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
26 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
22 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
8 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
3 |
| Industrial Design Services |
7 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
10 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
3 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
424 |
| Interior Design Services |
57 |
| International Trade Financing |
2 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
5 |
| Internet Service Providers |
14 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
3 |
| Investigation Services |
16 |
| Investment Advice |
94 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
2 |
| Iron Foundries |
2 |
| Janitorial Services |
216 |
| Jewelry Stores |
82 |
| Junior Colleges |
3 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
8 |
| Land Subdivision |
61 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
35 |
| Landscaping Services |
225 |
| Language Schools |
6 |
| Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
15 |
| Libraries and Archives |
3 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
538 |
| Limousine Service |
4 |
| Linen Supply |
4 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
22 |
| Locksmiths |
6 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
5 |
| Machine Shops |
28 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
18 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
3 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
3 |
| Marinas |
4 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
130 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
3 |
| Masonry Contractors |
52 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
2 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
2 |
| Meat Markets |
5 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
5 |
| Media Representatives |
13 |
| Medical Laboratories |
14 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
2 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
43 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
2 |
| Metal Stamping |
4 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
5 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
29 |
| Mobile Food Services |
8 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
105 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
42 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
4 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
17 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
5 |
| Museums |
8 |
| Music Publishers |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
13 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
14 |
| Nail Salons |
19 |
| Narrow Fabric Mills |
3 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
9 |
| New Car Dealers |
59 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
76 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
3 |
| News Syndicates |
3 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
16 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
58 |
| Nonwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
24 |
| Office Administrative Services |
101 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
49 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
27 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
215 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
87 |
| Offices of Dentists |
324 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
447 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
45 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
27 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
9 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
66 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
3 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
3 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
21 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
6 |
| Outerwear Knitting Mills |
1 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
7 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Packing and Crating |
8 |
| Paging |
4 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
5 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
23 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
120 |
| Paper (except Newsprint) Mills |
2 |
| Paper Industry Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paperboard Mills |
1 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
48 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
5 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
29 |
| Payroll Services |
12 |
| Periodical Publishers |
43 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
14 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
22 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
12 |
| Petroleum Refineries |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
100 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
55 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
3 |
| Political Organizations |
3 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
63 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
3 |
| Prepress Services |
11 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
12 |
| Private Mail Centers |
18 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
25 |
| Professional Organizations |
11 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
19 |
| Quick Printing |
23 |
| Racetracks |
2 |
| Radio Networks |
5 |
| Radio Stations |
26 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
7 |
| Real Estate Credit |
173 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
19 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
3 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
2 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
4 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
12 |
| Remediation Services |
12 |
| Repossession Services |
4 |
| Residential Property Managers |
134 |
| Residential Remodelers |
168 |
| Retail Bakeries |
12 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
15 |
| Roofing Contractors |
25 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
6 |
| Sales Financing |
30 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
3 |
| Savings Institutions |
8 |
| Sawmills |
1 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
16 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities and Commodity Exchanges |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
98 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
31 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
2 |
| Setup Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
12 |
| Shoe Stores |
92 |
| Siding Contractors |
44 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
30 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
46 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
110 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
3 |
| Software Publishers |
46 |
| Software Reproducing |
3 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
8 |
| Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators |
1 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
4 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
9 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
3 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
50 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
40 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
3 |
| Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing |
2 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
4 |
| Surface Active Agent Manufacturing |
3 |
| Surface-Coated Paperboard Manufacturing |
2 |
| Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
86 |
| Taxi Service |
9 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
8 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
7 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
4 |
| Television Broadcasting |
14 |
| Temporary Help Services |
205 |
| Temporary Shelters |
6 |
| Testing Laboratories |
12 |
| Textile Machinery Manufacturing |
6 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
10 |
| Thread Mills |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
34 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
16 |
| Tire Dealers |
50 |
| Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading) |
3 |
| Tire Retreading |
2 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
17 |
| Tobacco Stores |
8 |
| Tour Operators |
6 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
7 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
9 |
| Travel Agencies |
51 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
58 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
33 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
51 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
39 |
| Veterinary Services |
50 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
34 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
18 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
20 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
6 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
6 |
| Web Search Portals |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
315 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
8 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
78 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
104 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
6 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
2 |
| Wood Preservation |
2 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Yarn Spinning Mills |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
Browse the Yellow Pages for Charlotte and it's apparent that franchising has become a very popular way to start a business. But is franchising the right option for you?
We advise the entrepreneurs we work with to look into purchasing a franchise. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as The Franchising Process. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
Writing a business plan is vital in laying a solid foundation for your business success. Indeed, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Failure to write a business plan will greatly reduce your chances of business success.
Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Charlotte business, you need to focus on sales.
Clever sales techniques can transform any business from good to great. Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
As an entrepreneur in Charlotte, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Charlotte and elsewhere to achieve real success. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Charlotteentrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Charlotte.
