Thinking about starting a business in Cupertino, California? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Cupertino.
Are You Ready for Life as an Owner?
Most new ventures do not succeed, in part because the entrepreneur did not have the entrepreneurial skills and traits needed 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:
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Cupertino. Listen closely to their experiences and see if you think you too can be successful.
- We recommend reading Should You Become an Entrepreneur?. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Have a candid conversation with friends and family. Ask them directly: Do I have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Listen carefully to their answer, as they presumably know your strengths and weaknesses.
Cupertino, California Demographic Information
Cupertino has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Cupertino demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Cupertino.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
2849 |
| 5-9 Employees |
834 |
| 10-19 Employees |
525 |
| 20-49 Employees |
351 |
| 50-99 Employees |
123 |
| 100-249 Employees |
114 |
| 250-499 Employees |
12 |
| 500-999 Employees |
6 |
| 1000+ Employees |
6 |
| All Cupertino Businesses |
4820 |
As a new Cupertino entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Cupertino 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 |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
1 |
| Art Dealers |
2 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
1 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
3 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
14 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
3 |
| Book Stores |
2 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
4 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
4 |
| Cafeterias |
2 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Car Washes |
1 |
| Caterers |
1 |
| Cement Manufacturing |
1 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
1 |
| Child Day Care Services |
23 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
2 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
3 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Photography |
2 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
3 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
2 |
| Computer Storage Device Manufacturing |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
44 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
2 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
2 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Couriers |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
2 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
118 |
| Dental Laboratories |
6 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
7 |
| Discount Department Stores |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
3 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
3 |
| Educational Support Services |
3 |
| Electrical Contractors |
9 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
4 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
3 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
30 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
1 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
12 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
4 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
10 |
| Flooring Contractors |
1 |
| Florists |
2 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
3 |
| Food Service Contractors |
6 |
| Framing Contractors |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
61 |
| Furniture Stores |
6 |
| General Automotive Repair |
13 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
9 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
4 |
| Graphic Design Services |
3 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
8 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
3 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
4 |
| Hydroelectric Power Generation |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
2 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
18 |
| Interior Design Services |
1 |
| International Trade Financing |
1 |
| Internet Service Providers |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
7 |
| Janitorial Services |
2 |
| Jewelry Stores |
12 |
| Land Subdivision |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
13 |
| Language Schools |
4 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
1 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
30 |
| Limousine Service |
3 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
10 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
12 |
| Masonry Contractors |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
8 |
| Mobile Food Services |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
5 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
| Museums |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
5 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
4 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
5 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
2 |
| Office Administrative Services |
2 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
8 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
13 |
| Offices of Dentists |
76 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
26 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
9 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
3 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
1 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
7 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
4 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
5 |
| Portfolio Management |
9 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
2 |
| Professional Organizations |
2 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
1 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
10 |
| Residential Remodelers |
16 |
| Retail Bakeries |
3 |
| Sales Financing |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
4 |
| Securities Brokerage |
12 |
| Shoe Stores |
8 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
19 |
| Software Publishers |
20 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
8 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
6 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
8 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
2 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
2 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
4 |
| Temporary Help Services |
11 |
| Testing Laboratories |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
8 |
| Used Car Dealers |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
3 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
3 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
15 |
| Wineries |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
1 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
4 |
Choosing a Business Name
Making the right decision when choosing a company name is very important. There are many decisions you'll make now that you can change later, but changing a company name years down the road is not very easy. So, choose a good company name at the outset.
Companies like Starbucks, Apple, Target, Microsoft and Intuit all have strong company names that are easy to remember and have become well-loved brands. Wouldn't it be nice if your new company name got on a similar track?
Numerous company naming issues are discussed in more detail in this article: Naming a Business.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are starting a business in Cupertino, it's imperative that you check now that no other California company is using the business name you want to use.
Where to Get Money to Start a Company
Getting your Cupertino business the capital it needs to succeed requires strong organization skills and perseverance. 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 Getting a Small Business Loan.
For Cupertino entrepreneurs in need of startup financing, check out our List of California Angel Investors and our List of California Venture Capital Firms.
Marketing Your New Company
To grow your Cupertino business, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your doing well.
You can learn all about marketing on our site. Advertising on the Web 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 sampling of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Bring in Revenues
Mastering the art of selling is a must if you want your new Cupertino business to do well.
So what does it take to bring in more prospects and close more business? Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
Hiring Telemarketing Firms to Generate Sales Leads is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.
Never Give Up
Most new Cupertino businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
We are here to help Cupertino businesses to be successful. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Cupertino entrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Cupertino, California
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Cupertino.
- Resources for Cupertino, California Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Cupertino entrepreneurs.
- California Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in California.
- Fresno, California Small Business Development Center - The UC Merced SBDC Regional Network assists Central California entrepreneurs and small business owners through counseling, training and business information.
- Los Angeles, California Small Business Development Center - The Los Angeles Regional Small Business Development Center Network (LA SBDC Network) is part of the national, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) effort to provide free one-on-one customized consulting services and low-cost training workshops to growing businesses and start-up businesses.
- Sacramento, California Small Business Development Center - As Northern California continues to grow demographically and economically, the Northeastern California Small Business Development Center (NECSBDC) at CSU, Chico is committed to helping communities prepare and plan for future growth.
- San Diego, California Small Business Development Center - The Small Business Development & International Trade Center (SBDITC) at Southwestern College is part of the California SBDC San Diego and Imperial Regional Network. The SBDITC provides no-cost business assistance to start-up & existing businesses.
- San Francisco, California Small Business Development Center - The Northern California Network of Small Business Development Centers helps individuals start, manage and grow their businesses.
- Santa Ana, California Small Business Development Center - The Tri-County Lead Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in the Santa Ana District provides oversight and support for SBDCs located in the Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The Santa Ana SBDC Network is a leader in providing consulting, training, and technical assistance to the small business community.
- Cupertino, California Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Cupertino, California newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Cupertino area.
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