Thinking about starting a business in Clifton, New Jersey? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Clifton.
Before quitting your day job, take inventory of your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
With so much at stake when you start a business, we strongly recommend you do the following before you proceed:
There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? To stir your creative juices on what kind of business to start, take a look at Finding Your Niche in Life.
Don't forget that your new startup will be located in Clifton. Some businesses will do better in Clifton than others. A critical consideration is whether Clifton demographics mesh well with your startup concept.
Clifton has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Clifton demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Clifton.
As a new Clifton entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Clifton 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 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
1 |
| Advertising Agencies |
3 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
9 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
1 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
5 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
5 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
2 |
| Barber Shops |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
37 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
37 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
2 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
1 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
1 |
| Car Washes |
3 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
3 |
| Caterers |
7 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
2 |
| Child Day Care Services |
22 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
5 |
| Claims Adjusting |
2 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
8 |
| Collection Agencies |
2 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
8 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
3 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
4 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
18 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
2 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
13 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
2 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
3 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
24 |
| Dental Laboratories |
1 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
8 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
1 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Distilleries |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
2 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
19 |
| Dry Pasta Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
7 |
| Educational Support Services |
1 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
29 |
| Electronic Shopping |
2 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
8 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
5 |
| Engineering Services |
13 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
4 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
2 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
2 |
| Fabric Coating Mills |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
5 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
11 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
11 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
7 |
| Flooring Contractors |
10 |
| Florists |
5 |
| Flour Milling |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
2 |
| Food Service Contractors |
4 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
4 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
11 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
47 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
9 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Furniture Stores |
10 |
| General Automotive Repair |
29 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
21 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
8 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
5 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
2 |
| Graphic Design Services |
9 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Hardware Stores |
3 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
2 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
2 |
| Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Home Health Care Services |
5 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
5 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
28 |
| Interior Design Services |
2 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investment Advice |
2 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
25 |
| Jewelry Stores |
9 |
| Land Subdivision |
2 |
| Landscaping Services |
16 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
55 |
| Limousine Service |
5 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
2 |
| Machine Shops |
7 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
6 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
2 |
| Masonry Contractors |
17 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
3 |
| Medical Laboratories |
2 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
1 |
| Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
| Mobile Food Services |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
3 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
5 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
12 |
| New Car Dealers |
5 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
1 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
3 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
6 |
| Nonwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
1 |
| Office Administrative Services |
6 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
2 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
26 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
25 |
| Offices of Dentists |
73 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
84 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
5 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
6 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
4 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
1 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Outerwear Knitting Mills |
2 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
1 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
7 |
| Paper Industry Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paperboard Mills |
1 |
| Payroll Services |
5 |
| Periodical Publishers |
2 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
2 |
| Petroleum Refineries |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
19 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
2 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
3 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Prepress Services |
4 |
| Primary Battery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
2 |
| Professional Organizations |
1 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
7 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
8 |
| Residential Property Managers |
9 |
| Residential Remodelers |
28 |
| Retail Bakeries |
6 |
| Roofing Contractors |
11 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
9 |
| Saw Blade and Handsaw Manufacturing |
1 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
3 |
| Securities Brokerage |
2 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
3 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
2 |
| Shoe Stores |
4 |
| Siding Contractors |
8 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
3 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
12 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
2 |
| Software Publishers |
2 |
| Software Reproducing |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
5 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
4 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
8 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
2 |
| Temporary Help Services |
7 |
| Temporary Shelters |
2 |
| Testing Laboratories |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
5 |
| Tire Dealers |
3 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
3 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
3 |
| Travel Agencies |
7 |
| Used Car Dealers |
2 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
3 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
1 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
3 |
| Veterinary Services |
5 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
2 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
2 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Weft Knit Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
19 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
5 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
8 |
Examine a list of Clifton businesses and you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. But is franchising the right option for you?
We highly recommend you consider franchising as an option. On our site, you can read many articles about franchising, such as How to Franchise a Business. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
Getting your Clifton 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.
Recognizing this challenge, this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled 504 Loans.
Being able to sell is essential to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Clifton or are selling to customers throughout New Jersey, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
Good selling involves demonstrating that your wares meet your customer's needs. The good news is we can help you to make selling a big competitve advantage for your new firm.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Clifton. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Clifton and elsewhere to achieve real success. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Clifton, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Clifton.
