Contemplating starting a business in Columbus, Ohio? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Columbus.
Most startup ventures do not succeed, in part because the entrepreneur did not have the perseverance and abilities that are necessary 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:
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 |
| Abrasive Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
5 |
| Advertising Agencies |
45 |
| Air Traffic Control |
2 |
| Aircraft Manufacturing |
1 |
| Aluminum Extruded Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
2 |
| Ambulance Services |
8 |
| Amusement Arcades |
6 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
2 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
9 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
6 |
| Architectural Services |
120 |
| Armored Car Services |
3 |
| Art Dealers |
21 |
| Automatic Vending Machine Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
6 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
17 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
155 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
84 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
15 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
19 |
| Barber Shops |
10 |
| Beauty Salons |
214 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
2 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
74 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
4 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
7 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Publishers |
14 |
| Book Stores |
40 |
| Books Printing |
3 |
| Bowling Centers |
13 |
| Breweries |
2 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
15 |
| Burial Casket Manufacturing |
1 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
2 |
| Business Associations |
113 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
6 |
| Cafeterias |
20 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
18 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
3 |
| Car Washes |
33 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
33 |
| Caterers |
38 |
| Cement Manufacturing |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
6 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
41 |
| Child Day Care Services |
216 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
19 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
104 |
| Claims Adjusting |
37 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
27 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
33 |
| Collection Agencies |
26 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
9 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
45 |
| Commercial Photography |
10 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
23 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
3 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
4 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
31 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
12 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
135 |
| Computer Training |
5 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
3 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
19 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
7 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
5 |
| Consumer Lending |
25 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
13 |
| Convenience Stores |
125 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
23 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
4 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
7 |
| Couriers |
31 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
9 |
| Credit Bureaus |
5 |
| Credit Unions |
38 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
2 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
4 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
132 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
23 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
22 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
10 |
| Digital Printing |
3 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
43 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
10 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
40 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
5 |
| Discount Department Stores |
23 |
| Display Advertising |
7 |
| Document Preparation Services |
12 |
| Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
4 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
2 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
265 |
| Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters |
1 |
| Dry Pasta Manufacturing |
2 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
44 |
| Educational Support Services |
27 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
22 |
| Electrical Contractors |
125 |
| Electron Tube Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
18 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
66 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
3 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
43 |
| Engineering Services |
153 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
19 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
12 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
23 |
| Facilities Support Services |
11 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
64 |
| Family Planning Centers |
8 |
| Farm Management Services |
1 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
7 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
24 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
55 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
92 |
| Flight Training |
2 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
36 |
| Flooring Contractors |
25 |
| Florists |
48 |
| Flour Milling |
1 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
33 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Food Service Contractors |
70 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
6 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
8 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
11 |
| Framing Contractors |
16 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
52 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
6 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
543 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
42 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
18 |
| Furniture Stores |
79 |
| General Automotive Repair |
161 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
54 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
6 |
| General Rental Centers |
18 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
57 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
79 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
15 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
9 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
30 |
| Graphic Design Services |
62 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
28 |
| Hardware Stores |
36 |
| Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Historical Sites |
3 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
38 |
| Home Centers |
18 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
19 |
| Home Health Care Services |
111 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
7 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
20 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
22 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
17 |
| Hunting and Trapping |
1 |
| Hydroelectric Power Generation |
1 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
3 |
| Industrial Design Services |
3 |
| Industrial Launderers |
13 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
4 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
389 |
| Interior Design Services |
29 |
| International Trade Financing |
4 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
6 |
| Internet Service Providers |
15 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
2 |
| Investigation Services |
15 |
| Investment Advice |
77 |
| Iron and Steel Forging |
2 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
2 |
| Iron Foundries |
1 |
| Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
181 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
3 |
| Jewelry Stores |
96 |
| Junior Colleges |
4 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
8 |
| Land Subdivision |
28 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
14 |
| Landscaping Services |
145 |
| Language Schools |
3 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
16 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
759 |
| Limousine Service |
5 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Livestock Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
16 |
| Locksmiths |
9 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
5 |
| Luggage Manufacturing |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
39 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
23 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
2 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
4 |
| Marinas |
1 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
50 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
51 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
2 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
13 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
5 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
4 |
| Media Representatives |
6 |
| Medical Laboratories |
16 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
43 |
| Metal Can Manufacturing |
2 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
2 |
| Metal Stamping |
5 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
5 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
17 |
| Mixed Mode Transit Systems |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
7 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
92 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
2 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
23 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
3 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
17 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
9 |
| Museums |
6 |
| Music Publishers |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
9 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
21 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
24 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
9 |
| New Car Dealers |
61 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
24 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
4 |
| News Syndicates |
6 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
21 |
| Nonclay Refractory Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
46 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
39 |
| Office Administrative Services |
58 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
44 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
37 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
189 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
86 |
| Offices of Dentists |
371 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
670 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
65 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
31 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
30 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
49 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
6 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
41 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
7 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
6 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Packing and Crating |
5 |
| Paging |
2 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
5 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
26 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
83 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
123 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
4 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
34 |
| Payroll Services |
16 |
| Periodical Publishers |
16 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
26 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
21 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
10 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
99 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
48 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
5 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
2 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
4 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
3 |
| Political Organizations |
15 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
48 |
| Poultry Processing |
1 |
| Power-Driven Handtool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Prepress Services |
8 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
2 |
| Private Mail Centers |
16 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
34 |
| Professional Organizations |
60 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
57 |
| Quick Printing |
25 |
| Racetracks |
2 |
| Radio Stations |
22 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
6 |
| Real Estate Credit |
118 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
6 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
5 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
9 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
4 |
| Remediation Services |
7 |
| Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
8 |
| Residential Property Managers |
130 |
| Residential Remodelers |
142 |
| Retail Bakeries |
19 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
13 |
| Rolled Steel Shape Manufacturing |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
58 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
16 |
| Rope, Cordage, and Twine Mills |
1 |
| Sales Financing |
19 |
| Savings Institutions |
20 |
| Saw Blade and Handsaw Manufacturing |
2 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
19 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
3 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
3 |
| Securities Brokerage |
97 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
22 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
3 |
| Setup Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
12 |
| Shoe Stores |
76 |
| Siding Contractors |
12 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
30 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
36 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
143 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
3 |
| Software Publishers |
33 |
| Software Reproducing |
3 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
14 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
2 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
3 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
3 |
| Specialty Canning |
1 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
56 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
30 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
4 |
| Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing |
2 |
| Steel Investment Foundries |
2 |
| Storage Battery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
1 |
| Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
65 |
| Taxi Service |
8 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
8 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
12 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
9 |
| Television Broadcasting |
9 |
| Temporary Help Services |
136 |
| Temporary Shelters |
15 |
| Testing Laboratories |
24 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
11 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
16 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
12 |
| Tire Dealers |
60 |
| Tire Retreading |
2 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
70 |
| Tobacco Stores |
33 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
2 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
6 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
2 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
3 |
| Travel Agencies |
35 |
| Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing |
1 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
69 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
23 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
53 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
36 |
| Veterinary Services |
77 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
47 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
26 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
26 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
10 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
3 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
119 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
11 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
77 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
122 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
8 |
| Wood Preservation |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
3 |
| Yarn Spinning Mills |
1 |
Browse the Yellow Pages for Columbus and it becomes clear that purchasing a franchise is a common way to get started as an entrepreneur. Would going with a franchise be a good idea for you?
Our recommendation is that you look into purchasing a franchise. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchising Mistakes. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
For anybody who wants to buy a business, we recommend reading this useful article: Buying a Business.
Writing a business plan is critical to the health of your new business. 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.
Good entrepreneurs recognize that they need to continually improve.
As an entrepreneur who lives in Columbus, Ohio, you should check out some of the many programs available at nearby Ohio universities, colleges and community colleges. You should also check if there are any networking organizations for Columbus entrepreneurs.
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 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 Columbus.
