Contemplating starting a business in Chattanooga, Tennessee? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Chattanooga.
There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? We recommend that you read Business Ideas That Don't Make Sense.
Don't forget that your new business will be in Chattanooga. If Chattanooga already has plenty of the kind of business you want to start, you might want to change your plans. Make sure you fully understand Chattanooga demographics before you lock in on your business idea.
Chattanooga has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Chattanooga demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Chattanooga.
As a new Chattanooga entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Chattanooga 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 |
14 |
| Aluminum Die-Casting Foundries |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
4 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
6 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
3 |
| Architectural Services |
22 |
| Armored Car Services |
2 |
| Art Dealers |
4 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
2 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
4 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
8 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
40 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
13 |
| Barber Shops |
4 |
| Beauty Salons |
72 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
2 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
27 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
4 |
| Boat Dealers |
7 |
| Book Publishers |
2 |
| Book Stores |
15 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
6 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
17 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
10 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
2 |
| Car Washes |
15 |
| Carpet and Rug Mills |
2 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
10 |
| Caterers |
8 |
| Cement Manufacturing |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
6 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
12 |
| Child Day Care Services |
63 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
14 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
39 |
| Claims Adjusting |
5 |
| Clay Refractory Manufacturing |
1 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
5 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
6 |
| Collection Agencies |
8 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
2 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
19 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
8 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
12 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
19 |
| Computer Training |
2 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
4 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
4 |
| Consumer Lending |
27 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
4 |
| Convenience Stores |
15 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
2 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
2 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
2 |
| Couriers |
7 |
| Credit Bureaus |
3 |
| Credit Unions |
39 |
| Crown and Closure Manufacturing |
1 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
27 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
1 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
12 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
5 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
6 |
| Digital Printing |
4 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
20 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
4 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
3 |
| Discount Department Stores |
8 |
| Display Advertising |
7 |
| Document Preparation Services |
2 |
| Drafting Services |
2 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
15 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
14 |
| Educational Support Services |
3 |
| Electrical Contractors |
45 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
5 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
25 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
5 |
| Engineering Services |
49 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
3 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
3 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
14 |
| Fabric Coating Mills |
1 |
| Facilities Support Services |
5 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
37 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fats and Oils Refining and Blending |
1 |
| Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
5 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
14 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
29 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
11 |
| Flooring Contractors |
4 |
| Florists |
14 |
| Flour Milling |
2 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
10 |
| Food Service Contractors |
18 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
3 |
| Framing Contractors |
4 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
13 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
217 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
13 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
10 |
| Furniture Stores |
25 |
| General Automotive Repair |
53 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
13 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
5 |
| General Rental Centers |
10 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
21 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
37 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
3 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
8 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
13 |
| Graphic Design Services |
12 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
8 |
| Hardware Stores |
12 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
3 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
14 |
| Home Centers |
4 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
8 |
| Home Health Care Services |
12 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
8 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
11 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
13 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
3 |
| Hydroelectric Power Generation |
1 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
3 |
| Industrial Launderers |
6 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
130 |
| Interior Design Services |
8 |
| Internet Service Providers |
3 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
18 |
| Iron and Steel Forging |
1 |
| Iron Foundries |
3 |
| Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
48 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
2 |
| Jewelry Stores |
41 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
6 |
| Land Subdivision |
11 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
3 |
| Landscaping Services |
33 |
| Language Schools |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
4 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
224 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
3 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
4 |
| Machine Shops |
22 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
9 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
1 |
| Marinas |
4 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
7 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
18 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
2 |
| Meat Markets |
3 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
4 |
| Medical Laboratories |
7 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
9 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
1 |
| Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing |
3 |
| Metal Stamping |
2 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
4 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
6 |
| Mobile Food Services |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
22 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
6 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
8 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
5 |
| Museums |
7 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Nail Salons |
1 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
4 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
22 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
4 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
12 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
15 |
| Office Administrative Services |
25 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
14 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
10 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
57 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
26 |
| Offices of Dentists |
114 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
158 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
16 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
7 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
7 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
23 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
16 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
3 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
5 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paging |
3 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
11 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
13 |
| Paperboard Mills |
2 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
16 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
13 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
6 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
7 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
5 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
7 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
50 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
26 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
2 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
3 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
18 |
| Poultry Processing |
2 |
| Powder Metallurgy Part Manufacturing |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Prepress Services |
5 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
2 |
| Private Mail Centers |
4 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
10 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
2 |
| Pulp Mills |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
7 |
| Radio Networks |
5 |
| Radio Stations |
15 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
5 |
| Real Estate Credit |
39 |
| Record Production |
1 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
3 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
4 |
| Repossession Services |
4 |
| Residential Property Managers |
15 |
| Residential Remodelers |
31 |
| Retail Bakeries |
6 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
9 |
| Rolled Steel Shape Manufacturing |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
12 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
1 |
| Sales Financing |
13 |
| Sawmills |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
4 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
29 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
14 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
2 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
11 |
| Shoe Stores |
43 |
| Siding Contractors |
5 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
8 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
19 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
27 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
2 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
3 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
9 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
24 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
3 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Steel Foundries (except Investment) |
1 |
| Steel Investment Foundries |
1 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
1 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
3 |
| Surface Active Agent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing |
2 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
16 |
| Taxi Service |
2 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
3 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
3 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
2 |
| Television Broadcasting |
6 |
| Temporary Help Services |
50 |
| Temporary Shelters |
5 |
| Testing Laboratories |
8 |
| Textile Bag Mills |
2 |
| Textile Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
3 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
6 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
9 |
| Tire Dealers |
17 |
| Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading) |
1 |
| Tire Retreading |
2 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
10 |
| Tobacco Stores |
7 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
2 |
| Tour Operators |
2 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
10 |
| Used Car Dealers |
31 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
6 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
22 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
6 |
| Veterinary Services |
18 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
12 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
4 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
10 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
44 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
27 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
40 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
2 |
| Yarn Spinning Mills |
2 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
4 |
Browse the Yellow Pages for Chattanooga and you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. But is franchising the right option for you?
We highly recommend you evaluate the possibility of your buying a franchise opportunity. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as Franchising My Business. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
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.
We strongly advocate that you make sure the ".com" domain name is available for your company name. Every business needs a strong Web presence these days, and having a non ".com" domain means somebody else may outrank you in the search results for your own company name.
As a final piece of advice, remember that because you are planning on starting a business in Chattanooga, it's imperative that you check now that no other Tennessee company is using the business name you want to use.
Writing a business plan is essential in laying a solid foundation for your business success. Indeed, 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 will greatly reduce your chances of business success.
Mastering the art of selling is a must if you want your new Chattanooga business to do well.
So what does it take to bring in more prospects and close more business? Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
Most new Chattanooga businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Chattanooga and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Chattanooga entrepreneur 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 Chattanooga.
