Thinking about starting a business in Cincinnati, Ohio? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Cincinnati.
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. We recommend that you read Finding Your Niche in Life.
Always keep in mind that your new startup will be located in Cincinnati. Some businesses will do better in Cincinnati than others. Make sure you fully understand Cincinnati demographics before you lock in on your business idea.
Cincinnati has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Cincinnati demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Cincinnati.
As a new Cincinnati entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Cincinnati 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 |
4 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
6 |
| Advertising Agencies |
67 |
| Aluminum Extruded Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
10 |
| Ambulance Services |
4 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
2 |
| Amusement Arcades |
3 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
11 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
10 |
| Architectural Services |
93 |
| Armored Car Services |
4 |
| Art Dealers |
19 |
| Automatic Vending Machine Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
10 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
22 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
8 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
81 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
22 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
19 |
| Barber Shops |
27 |
| Beauty Salons |
267 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
68 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
3 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
5 |
| Boat Dealers |
10 |
| Book Publishers |
9 |
| Book Stores |
40 |
| Books Printing |
6 |
| Bowling Centers |
18 |
| Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing |
1 |
| Breweries |
2 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
18 |
| Burial Casket Manufacturing |
1 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
2 |
| Business Associations |
34 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
7 |
| Cafeterias |
17 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
11 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
3 |
| Car Washes |
43 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
27 |
| Casinos (except Casino Hotels) |
1 |
| Caterers |
40 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
18 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
4 |
| Child and Youth Services |
38 |
| Child Day Care Services |
199 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
23 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
97 |
| Claims Adjusting |
12 |
| Clay Refractory Manufacturing |
1 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
26 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
18 |
| Collection Agencies |
22 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
12 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
10 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
67 |
| Commercial Photography |
20 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
19 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
11 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
52 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
13 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
145 |
| Computer Training |
12 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
3 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
14 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
9 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
20 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
25 |
| Convenience Stores |
107 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
22 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
2 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
1 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
2 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
8 |
| Couriers |
27 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
15 |
| Credit Bureaus |
5 |
| Credit Unions |
49 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
6 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
176 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
2 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
2 |
| Dance Companies |
2 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
2 |
| Dental Laboratories |
13 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
26 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
11 |
| Digital Printing |
6 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
72 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
20 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
29 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
7 |
| Discount Department Stores |
23 |
| Display Advertising |
11 |
| Distilleries |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
19 |
| Drafting Services |
4 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
246 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
47 |
| Educational Support Services |
19 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
38 |
| Electrical Contractors |
171 |
| Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
2 |
| Electronic Connector Manufacturing |
4 |
| Electronic Shopping |
20 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
97 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
32 |
| Engineering Services |
212 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
3 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
20 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
29 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
18 |
| Fabric Coating Mills |
3 |
| Facilities Support Services |
10 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
73 |
| Family Planning Centers |
7 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
3 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
8 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
39 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
73 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
2 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
115 |
| Flight Training |
2 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
40 |
| Flooring Contractors |
32 |
| Florists |
57 |
| Flour Milling |
1 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
6 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
24 |
| Food Service Contractors |
83 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
7 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
10 |
| Framing Contractors |
31 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
29 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
5 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
8 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
608 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
59 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
27 |
| Furniture Stores |
82 |
| General Automotive Repair |
210 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
49 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
13 |
| General Rental Centers |
17 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
41 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
94 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
28 |
| Glass Container Manufacturing |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
22 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
33 |
| Graphic Design Services |
94 |
| Greeting Card Publishers |
1 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
4 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
4 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
32 |
| Hardware Stores |
42 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
2 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
2 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
4 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
40 |
| Home Centers |
14 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
19 |
| Home Health Care Services |
63 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
7 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
13 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
20 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
13 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
6 |
| Industrial Design Services |
14 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
11 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
4 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
4 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
4 |
| Inorganic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing |
3 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
470 |
| Interior Design Services |
48 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
7 |
| Internet Service Providers |
6 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
11 |
| Investment Advice |
81 |
| Iron and Steel Forging |
2 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Iron Foundries |
2 |
| Janitorial Services |
179 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
6 |
| Jewelry Stores |
120 |
| Junior Colleges |
4 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
18 |
| Land Subdivision |
27 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
14 |
| Landscaping Services |
238 |
| Language Schools |
9 |
| Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
12 |
| Libraries and Archives |
4 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
693 |
| Limousine Service |
9 |
| Linen Supply |
3 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
17 |
| Locksmiths |
12 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
6 |
| Luggage Manufacturing |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
70 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
20 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
5 |
| Marinas |
4 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
92 |
| Masonry Contractors |
60 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
3 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
34 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
8 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
4 |
| Media Representatives |
7 |
| Medical Laboratories |
31 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
33 |
| Metal Can Manufacturing |
2 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
9 |
| Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Stamping |
6 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
2 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
5 |
| Mineral Wool Manufacturing |
2 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
12 |
| Mobile Food Services |
5 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
84 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
2 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
34 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
3 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
5 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
21 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
15 |
| Museums |
14 |
| Music Publishers |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
8 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
18 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
48 |
| Narrow Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
4 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
82 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
34 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
2 |
| News Syndicates |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
12 |
| Nonclay Refractory Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
51 |
| Nonwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
73 |
| Office Administrative Services |
82 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
53 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
49 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
4 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
211 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
85 |
| Offices of Dentists |
401 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
466 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
46 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
36 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
33 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
42 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
5 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
60 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
11 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
17 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
5 |
| Packing and Crating |
5 |
| Paging |
3 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
10 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
30 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
102 |
| Paper (except Newsprint) Mills |
1 |
| Paperboard Mills |
2 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
108 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
3 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
17 |
| Payroll Services |
15 |
| Periodical Publishers |
32 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
35 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
33 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
10 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
102 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
49 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil |
2 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
2 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
2 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
2 |
| Political Organizations |
11 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
3 |
| Port and Harbor Operations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
67 |
| Power-Driven Handtool Manufacturing |
2 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
8 |
| Prepress Services |
18 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
5 |
| Private Mail Centers |
12 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
27 |
| Professional Organizations |
22 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
12 |
| Pulp Mills |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
45 |
| Racetracks |
1 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
40 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
6 |
| Real Estate Credit |
95 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
4 |
| Record Production |
3 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
2 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
2 |
| Remediation Services |
11 |
| Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
3 |
| Residential Property Managers |
117 |
| Residential Remodelers |
199 |
| Retail Bakeries |
17 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
12 |
| Roofing Contractors |
62 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
8 |
| Sales Financing |
26 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
64 |
| Sawmills |
1 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
7 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
8 |
| Securities Brokerage |
104 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
30 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
2 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
11 |
| Shoe Stores |
121 |
| Siding Contractors |
22 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
25 |
| Silverware and Hollowware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
56 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
138 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
6 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
3 |
| Software Publishers |
38 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
26 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
9 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
5 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
5 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
4 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
68 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
25 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
4 |
| Steel Foundries (except Investment) |
1 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
1 |
| Surface Active Agent Manufacturing |
2 |
| Surface-Coated Paperboard Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
100 |
| Taxi Service |
3 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
5 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
16 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
10 |
| Television Broadcasting |
8 |
| Temporary Help Services |
146 |
| Temporary Shelters |
9 |
| Testing Laboratories |
24 |
| Textile Bag Mills |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
12 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
22 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Tire Dealers |
75 |
| Tire Retreading |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
53 |
| Tobacco Stores |
12 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
3 |
| Tour Operators |
5 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
3 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
51 |
| Truck Trailer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
46 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
25 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
61 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
29 |
| Veterinary Services |
72 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
48 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
26 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
24 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
10 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
2 |
| Web Search Portals |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
271 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
4 |
| Wineries |
3 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
89 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
143 |
| Women's Handbag and Purse Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
6 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
Browse the Yellow Pages for Cincinnati and you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. Should you be giving franchising serious consideration?
Our advice is to consider franchising as an option. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as Franchise Due Diligence. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.
It's very important that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Without a legal structure for the business, you can be held personally liable for the actions, debts and obligations of your company.
The entity you form can be a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporating is a very popular way to form a business. A key decision is whether to form and S-Corp or a C-Corp, and you also must decide in which state you will incorporate. Just because you are starting a business in Ohio, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Ohio. As it turns out, you can incorporate in any state you would like to. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.
There's a lot to know about forming a company. To learn the basics of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as C Corp Versus S Corp. You may also want to seek the advice of an lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Cincinnati, Ohio, our information on Incorporating in Ohio may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Ohio.
Finding the funds to fuel the growth of your Cincinnati business requires strong organization skills and perseverance. The reality is that there is very little funding available for new small businesses, and you have to explore every possible alternative.
To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as Business Incubators.
Good entrepreneurs know that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.
Given that you are starting a business in Cincinnati, Ohio, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Ohio universities, colleges and community colleges. We also recommend you look into networking organizations for Cincinnati entrepreneurs.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Cincinnati. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Cincinnati and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Cincinnati, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Cincinnati.
