Ohio Business Startup Guides

Open a Business in Cleveland, Ohio

Need help starting a business in Cleveland, Ohio? We've got the information you need to open a business in Cleveland.

Will You Be a Good Entrepreneur?

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.

  • Talk to other entrepreneurs in Cleveland. They are usually very willing to share their insights on the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur.
  • We recommend reading Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
  • Seek the advice of somebody who knows you well. Others sometimes know you better than you know yourself.

Which Business to Choose?

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.

For in-depth how-to guides on how to start specific businesses, browse our Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our How to Start a Bakers' Equipment & Supplies Dealership guide or our Opening a Fire Trucks Wholesale & Manufacturers Business guide.

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, Ohio Demographic Information

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.

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
512601
5-9 Employees
203439
10-19 Employees
144126
20-49 Employees
100776
50-99 Employees
38658
100-249 Employees
23103
250-499 Employees
5610
500-999 Employees
2499
1000+ Employees
1836
All Cleveland Businesses
1032648

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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 Manufacturing
1
Machine Shops
117
Mail-Order Houses
22
Manifold Business Forms Printing
2
Marinas
12
Marine Cargo Handling
2
Marketing Consulting Services
45
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
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
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
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 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
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 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
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
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
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
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
Professional Employer Organizations
11
Professional Organizations
15
Public Relations Agencies
18
Quick Printing
24
Racetracks
1
Radio Networks
5
Radio Stations
19
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
Telecommunications Resellers
9
Telemarketing Bureaus
13
Telephone Answering Services
6
Television Broadcasting
9
Temporary Help Services
105
Temporary Shelters
8
Testing Laboratories
22
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
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
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
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

Don't Forget to Create a Business Plan

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.

To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Contests. You should also take advantage of free business counselors available to you through your local SCORE chapter in Ohio.

Startup Financing Basics

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.

For Cleveland entrepreneurs in need of startup financing, you'll want to take a look at our List of Ohio Angel Investors and our List of Ohio Venture Capital Firms.

Advancing Your Entrepreneurial Skills

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.

Some Interesting Cleveland Entrepreneurs

Here, we'll keep a running list of interviews we've had with Cleveland entrepreneurs.

What's Next?

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.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Cleveland, Ohio

Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Cleveland.

  • Resources for Cleveland, Ohio Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Cleveland entrepreneurs.
  • Ohio Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Ohio.
  • Ohio Small Business Development Center - Whether you're starting your business, expanding your business, or just looking to stay in business, the Small Business Development Centers of Ohio (SBDCs of Ohio) can help with professional guidance by connecting you with research, financing sources, and training opportunities.

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