Contemplating starting a business in Cleveland, Ohio? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Cleveland.
Being an entrepreneur is demanding, much harder than working as an employee. Are you sure you have the stamina and skills to succeed on your own?
Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.
There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? You might get some good ideas about what kind of business to start by reading Free Business Ideas.
Always keep in mind that your new startup will be located in Cleveland. Some businesses will do better in Cleveland than others. Only by spending some time analyzing Cleveland demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.
Cleveland has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Cleveland demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Cleveland.
As a new Cleveland entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Cleveland 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 |
3 |
| Advertising Agencies |
62 |
| Aircraft Manufacturing |
1 |
| Aluminum Die-Casting Foundries |
3 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
5 |
| Ambulance Services |
18 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
7 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
20 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
9 |
| Architectural Services |
65 |
| Armored Car Services |
4 |
| Art Dealers |
17 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
2 |
| Automatic Vending Machine Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
6 |
| Automobile Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
11 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
9 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
84 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
17 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
9 |
| Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing |
2 |
| Barber Shops |
22 |
| Beauty Salons |
213 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
59 |
| Beet Sugar Manufacturing |
1 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
1 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
3 |
| Boat Dealers |
8 |
| Book Publishers |
9 |
| Book Stores |
27 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
15 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
2 |
| Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing |
4 |
| Building Inspection Services |
7 |
| Burial Casket Manufacturing |
1 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
35 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
3 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
10 |
| Cafeterias |
22 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
12 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
8 |
| Car Washes |
32 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
19 |
| Casino Hotels |
1 |
| Caterers |
44 |
| Cement Manufacturing |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
12 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
2 |
| Cheese Manufacturing |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
34 |
| Child Day Care Services |
215 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
12 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
96 |
| Claims Adjusting |
7 |
| Clay Refractory Manufacturing |
1 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
24 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
2 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
33 |
| Collection Agencies |
21 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
9 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
70 |
| Commercial Photography |
30 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
11 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
2 |
| Community Food Services |
15 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
31 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
12 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
91 |
| Computer Training |
7 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
12 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
7 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
3 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
17 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
4 |
| Convenience Stores |
159 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
9 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
2 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
1 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
3 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
8 |
| Couriers |
24 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
23 |
| Credit Bureaus |
4 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
3 |
| Credit Unions |
68 |
| Crown and Closure Manufacturing |
2 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
8 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
93 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
4 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
2 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
19 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
16 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
10 |
| Digital Printing |
5 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
34 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
10 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
30 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
6 |
| Discount Department Stores |
17 |
| Display Advertising |
6 |
| Distilleries |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
10 |
| Doll and Stuffed Toy Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
3 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
310 |
| Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters |
2 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
29 |
| Educational Support Services |
27 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
11 |
| Electrical Contractors |
110 |
| Electronic Auctions |
3 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
11 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
112 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
7 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
31 |
| Engineering Services |
135 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
1 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
14 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
17 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
24 |
| Fabric Coating Mills |
1 |
| Facilities Support Services |
8 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
42 |
| Family Planning Centers |
5 |
| Farm Management Services |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
10 |
| Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
23 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
52 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
6 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
67 |
| Flight Training |
5 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
33 |
| Flooring Contractors |
29 |
| Florists |
48 |
| Flour Milling |
1 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
4 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
19 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Food Service Contractors |
80 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
7 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
5 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
2 |
| Framing Contractors |
12 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
64 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
18 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
513 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
71 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
16 |
| Furniture Stores |
68 |
| General Automotive Repair |
221 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
65 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
15 |
| General Rental Centers |
9 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
28 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
77 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
12 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
6 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
38 |
| Graphic Design Services |
64 |
| Gypsum Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
4 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
7 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
45 |
| Hardware Stores |
33 |
| Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
2 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
4 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
22 |
| Home Centers |
8 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
19 |
| Home Health Care Services |
64 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
19 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
20 |
| Household Vacuum Cleaner Manufacturing |
1 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
13 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
4 |
| Industrial Design Services |
13 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
8 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
13 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
2 |
| Inland Water Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Inorganic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
3 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
307 |
| Interior Design Services |
31 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
8 |
| Internet Service Providers |
8 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
2 |
| Investigation Services |
13 |
| Investment Advice |
52 |
| Iron and Steel Forging |
7 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
9 |
| Iron Foundries |
3 |
| Iron Ore Mining |
1 |
| Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
174 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
4 |
| Jewelry Stores |
81 |
| Junior Colleges |
6 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
10 |
| Land Subdivision |
14 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
18 |
| Landscaping Services |
195 |
| Language Schools |
4 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
8 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
660 |
| Limousine Service |
9 |
| Linen Supply |
5 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
29 |
| Locksmiths |
13 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
4 |
| Luggage Manufacturing |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
117 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
22 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
2 |
| Marinas |
12 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
45 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
6 |
| Masonry Contractors |
46 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
2 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
3 |
| Meat Markets |
45 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
5 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
4 |
| Media Representatives |
7 |
| Medical Laboratories |
12 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
41 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
26 |
| Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Stamping |
27 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
6 |
| Mineral Wool Manufacturing |
2 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
14 |
| Mobile Food Services |
11 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
53 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
21 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
6 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
26 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
24 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
10 |
| Museums |
17 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
10 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
12 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
4 |
| Nail Salons |
31 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
2 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
52 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
5 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
9 |
| News Syndicates |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
19 |
| Nonferrous Forging |
3 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
46 |
| Nuclear Electric Power Generation |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
54 |
| Office Administrative Services |
91 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
39 |
| Office Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
20 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
166 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
53 |
| Offices of Dentists |
380 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
721 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
49 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
28 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
54 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
28 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
49 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
3 |
| Outerwear Knitting Mills |
1 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
8 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Packing and Crating |
7 |
| Paging |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
16 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
21 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
77 |
| Paper Industry Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
144 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
9 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
33 |
| Payroll Services |
45 |
| Periodical Publishers |
17 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
16 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
15 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
8 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
117 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
40 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil |
2 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
2 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
9 |
| Political Organizations |
13 |
| Portfolio Management |
42 |
| Power-Driven Handtool Manufacturing |
4 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
17 |
| Prepress Services |
13 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
4 |
| Private Mail Centers |
8 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
11 |
| Professional Organizations |
15 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
18 |
| Quick Printing |
24 |
| Racetracks |
1 |
| Radio Networks |
5 |
| Radio Stations |
19 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing |
2 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
7 |
| Real Estate Credit |
61 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
5 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
2 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
2 |
| Remediation Services |
12 |
| Repossession Services |
6 |
| Residential Property Managers |
134 |
| Residential Remodelers |
144 |
| Retail Bakeries |
33 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
12 |
| Rolled Steel Shape Manufacturing |
3 |
| Roofing Contractors |
46 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
4 |
| Sales Financing |
27 |
| Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
57 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
19 |
| Schiffli Machine Embroidery |
1 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
2 |
| Securities Brokerage |
71 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
34 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
4 |
| Setup Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
18 |
| Ship Building and Repairing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
74 |
| Siding Contractors |
18 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
11 |
| Silverware and Hollowware Manufacturing |
2 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
32 |
| Skiing Facilities |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
147 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
6 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
21 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
12 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
2 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
15 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
40 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
12 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
6 |
| Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing |
2 |
| Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply |
1 |
| Steel Foundries (except Investment) |
2 |
| Steel Investment Foundries |
1 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
1 |
| Storage Battery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Surface Active Agent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
78 |
| Taxi Service |
5 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
9 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
13 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
6 |
| Television Broadcasting |
9 |
| Temporary Help Services |
105 |
| Temporary Shelters |
8 |
| Testing Laboratories |
22 |
| Textile Bag Mills |
1 |
| Textile Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
10 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
12 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
8 |
| Tire Dealers |
44 |
| Tire Retreading |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
50 |
| Tobacco Stores |
19 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
5 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
8 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
4 |
| Travel Agencies |
43 |
| Used Car Dealers |
79 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
33 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
43 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
25 |
| Veterinary Services |
50 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
42 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
33 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
17 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
4 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
2 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
126 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
73 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
114 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
7 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
2 |
Writing a business plan is essential in maximizing the prospects of your new company. In effect, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Not having a business plan will greatly reduce your chances of business success.
Getting your Cleveland 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.
The good news is this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled Business Incubators.
Successful entrepreneurs know that they need to continually improve.
As an entrepreneur who lives in Cleveland, Ohio, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Ohio universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any Cleveland networking organizations.
As an entrepreneur in Cleveland, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
We are here to help Cleveland businesses to be successful. 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 Cleveland.
