Thinking about starting a business in Clermont, Florida? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Clermont.
Is Becoming a Business Owner Right for You?
Most startup ventures don't make it, in part because the entrepreneur did not have the tenacity and/or the skills to succeed. So, before jumping into the world of entrepreneurship, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
Because entrepreneurship is not for everyone, we recommend you do the following to help you assess whether you should move forward with starting a business:
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Clermont. Get their take on what it's really like to be an entrepreneur.
- We recommend reading Why Small Businesses Fail. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Get feedback from somebody whom you trust. That's the best way to get a truly objective assessment as to whether others think you have what it takes.
Clermont, Florida Demographic Information
Clermont has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Clermont demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Clermont.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
11816 |
| 5-9 Employees |
2208 |
| 10-19 Employees |
1416 |
| 20-49 Employees |
756 |
| 50-99 Employees |
372 |
| 100-249 Employees |
156 |
| 250-499 Employees |
48 |
| 500-999 Employees |
24 |
| 1000+ Employees |
0 |
| All Clermont Businesses |
16796 |
As a new Clermont entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Clermont 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 |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
2 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
4 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
6 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
2 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
18 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
3 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
2 |
| Business Associations |
2 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
2 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
1 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
4 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
3 |
| Child and Youth Services |
2 |
| Child Day Care Services |
12 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
3 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
1 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
10 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
3 |
| Consumer Lending |
1 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
5 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
6 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
2 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
5 |
| Dental Laboratories |
1 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
3 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
3 |
| Drafting Services |
2 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
4 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
9 |
| Electrical Contractors |
18 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
4 |
| Engineering Services |
10 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
2 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
7 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
4 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
16 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
10 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
5 |
| Flooring Contractors |
6 |
| Florists |
2 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
4 |
| Food Service Contractors |
1 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
2 |
| Framing Contractors |
5 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
36 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
10 |
| General Automotive Repair |
6 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
9 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
5 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
3 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
2 |
| Graphic Design Services |
2 |
| Hardware Stores |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
1 |
| Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
3 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
1 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
1 |
| Hunting and Trapping |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
17 |
| Interior Design Services |
3 |
| Investment Advice |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
19 |
| Jewelry Stores |
4 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
7 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
34 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
6 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
25 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
2 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
2 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
3 |
| Masonry Contractors |
9 |
| Meat Markets |
2 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
7 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
6 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
3 |
| Museums |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
2 |
| New Car Dealers |
4 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
6 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
7 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
1 |
| Office Administrative Services |
7 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
2 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
8 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
10 |
| Offices of Dentists |
19 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
17 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
4 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
1 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
7 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
17 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
1 |
| Payroll Services |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
4 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
7 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
2 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
1 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
11 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
2 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
3 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
15 |
| Residential Remodelers |
13 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
| Roofing Contractors |
5 |
| Savings Institutions |
10 |
| Securities Brokerage |
5 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
4 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
20 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
3 |
| Software Publishers |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
5 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
5 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
2 |
| Temporary Help Services |
3 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
6 |
| Tire Dealers |
3 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
8 |
| Tour Operators |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
2 |
| Used Car Dealers |
1 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
3 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
4 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
5 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
1 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Web Search Portals |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
9 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
| Wineries |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
2 |
What About Franchising Opportunities?
As you drive around Clermont, you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. But is franchising the right option for you?
Our recommendation is that you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchise Law. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
You can find franchise opportunities by browsing our Franchise Opportunities Directory.
Sample franchise opportunities include VendMasters and Jon'Ric International Medical, Dental & Day Spas. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Bookstore Franchises and Deli Restaurant Franchises.
Note on Clermont Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Clermont, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.
Should You Buy an Existing Clermont Business?
We've created a helpful website page for those who want to Buy a Business in Florida. Follow that link and you can assess several good businesses for sale in Clermont.
If you are serious about buying a business, you may want to read this article: How to Buy a Business.
Forming a Company in Clermont, Florida
It's essential that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Among other things, forming a legal entity for the business limits your liabilities.
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. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. If you are starting a business in Florida, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Florida. As it turns out, you can incorporate wherever you want. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.
There are many nuances to forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Dissolving a Corporation. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Clermont, Florida, our information on Incorporating in Florida may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Florida.
Building Up Your Sales
Mastering the art of selling is a must if you want your new Clermont 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.
Sales Forecasting is worth reading, as it may give you some good ideas on how to sell your products or services. We have many more good articles on selling that you may enjoy reading.
Advancing Your Entrepreneurial Skills
Successful entrepreneurs recognize that they don't know everything.
As an entrepreneur who lives in Clermont, Florida, you will want to take advantage of the learning programs at local Florida educational institutions. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any networking organizations for Clermont entrepreneurs.
Moving Forward
Most new Clermont 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 Clermont 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.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Clermont, Florida
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Clermont.
- Resources for Clermont, Florida Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Clermont entrepreneurs.
- Florida Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Florida.
- Florida Small Business Development Center - The Florida Small Business Development Center Network (FSBDCN) is a statewide economic development partnership between higher education and other stakeholder organizations dedicated to providing entrepreneurs and established businesses with the assistance needed to start, grow and succeed, contributing to the Florida economy.
- Clermont, Florida Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Clermont, Florida newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Clermont area.
Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in Florida
Starting a Business in Clearwater
Starting a Business in Clewiston
Browse All
Business Startup Guides for Florida
