Are you starting a business in Columbus, Georgia? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Columbus.
Most new ventures don't make it, in part because the business owner did not have the perseverance and abilities that are necessary to succeed. So, before you start your business, 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:
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 Good Business Ideas.
Don't forget that you are starting a business in Columbus. The business you want to start may already be well-represented in Columbus. Study Columbus demographics and do a competitive analysis as part of your startup planning process.
Columbus has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Columbus demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Columbus.
As a new Columbus entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Columbus 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 |
8 |
| Aircraft Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
2 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
6 |
| Architectural Services |
9 |
| Armored Car Services |
2 |
| Art Dealers |
3 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
7 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
5 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
24 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
11 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
4 |
| Barber Shops |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
57 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
31 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
9 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
2 |
| Business Associations |
7 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
3 |
| Cafeterias |
8 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Car Washes |
15 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
3 |
| Caterers |
3 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
4 |
| Child and Youth Services |
8 |
| Child Day Care Services |
50 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
7 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
27 |
| Claims Adjusting |
5 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
5 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
6 |
| Collection Agencies |
11 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
5 |
| Commercial Photography |
2 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
4 |
| Community Food Services |
3 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
10 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
12 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
30 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
6 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
2 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
2 |
| Couriers |
6 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
13 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
7 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
1 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
6 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
2 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
12 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
7 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
3 |
| Discount Department Stores |
6 |
| Display Advertising |
5 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
29 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
11 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
6 |
| Electrical Contractors |
28 |
| Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
3 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
12 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
3 |
| Engineering Services |
13 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
2 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
2 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
6 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
19 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
4 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
11 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
21 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
10 |
| Flooring Contractors |
8 |
| Florists |
14 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
10 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food Service Contractors |
16 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
3 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
9 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
2 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
118 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
9 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
23 |
| General Automotive Repair |
45 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
9 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
4 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
7 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
18 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
3 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
13 |
| Graphic Design Services |
4 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Hardware Stores |
3 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
7 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Home Health Care Services |
15 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
13 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
7 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
2 |
| Hunting and Trapping |
1 |
| Hydroelectric Power Generation |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
3 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
98 |
| Interior Design Services |
6 |
| Internet Service Providers |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
2 |
| Iron Foundries |
2 |
| Janitorial Services |
28 |
| Jewelry Stores |
28 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
4 |
| Land Subdivision |
6 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
3 |
| Landscaping Services |
37 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
10 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
170 |
| Linen Supply |
2 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Luggage Manufacturing |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
7 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
5 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
3 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
3 |
| Masonry Contractors |
12 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
2 |
| Meat Markets |
2 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
9 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
10 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
2 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
3 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
3 |
| Museums |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
4 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
18 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
9 |
| News Syndicates |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
4 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
3 |
| Nonwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
8 |
| Office Administrative Services |
12 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
11 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
6 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
34 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
30 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
18 |
| Offices of Dentists |
69 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
110 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
12 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
5 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
4 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
12 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
7 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
3 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
2 |
| Paging |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
5 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
23 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
5 |
| Payroll Services |
3 |
| Periodical Publishers |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
5 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
33 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
7 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
8 |
| Primary Battery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Private Mail Centers |
5 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
2 |
| Professional Organizations |
3 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
2 |
| Quick Printing |
6 |
| Radio Networks |
2 |
| Radio Stations |
8 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
3 |
| Real Estate Credit |
24 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
16 |
| Residential Remodelers |
18 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
3 |
| Roofing Contractors |
8 |
| Sales Financing |
4 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
17 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
8 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
3 |
| Shoe Stores |
28 |
| Siding Contractors |
3 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
6 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
13 |
| Small Arms Manufacturing |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
12 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
2 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
3 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
13 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
6 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
2 |
| Storage Battery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
1 |
| Surface Active Agent Manufacturing |
2 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
22 |
| Taxi Service |
6 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
2 |
| Television Broadcasting |
4 |
| Temporary Help Services |
23 |
| Temporary Shelters |
3 |
| Textile Bag Mills |
1 |
| Textile Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
4 |
| Timber Tract Operations |
1 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Tire Dealers |
15 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
1 |
| Tobacco Stores |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
3 |
| Truck Trailer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
19 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
10 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
21 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
17 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
11 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
2 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
3 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
12 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
8 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
37 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Yarn Spinning Mills |
4 |
For anybody who wants to buy a business, we recommend reading this useful article: Buying a Business.
Raising money to fund your new Columbus business 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.
To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as Attracting Investors.
To grow your Columbus business, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.
We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Advertising in the Yellow Pages discusses marketing strategy and tactical marketing in a way that should get you thinking about how to creatively promote your business. That's just a taste of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Most new Columbus businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Columbus and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Columbus entrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Columbus.
