Thinking about starting a business in Dalton, Georgia? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Dalton.
Are You Sure You Want to Do This?
Before quitting your day job, consider your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
While entrepreneurship has become a popular career choice, we recommend you do the following before you take the plunge:
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Dalton. Ask them candidly what it's like to run a business.
- We recommend reading Why Small Businesses Fail. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Get feedback from somebody whom you trust. The people who know you best are often in the best position to tell you bluntly whether you will be a good entrepreneur.
Dalton, Georgia Demographic Information
Dalton has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Dalton demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Dalton.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
19452 |
| 5-9 Employees |
8172 |
| 10-19 Employees |
5814 |
| 20-49 Employees |
4842 |
| 50-99 Employees |
1764 |
| 100-249 Employees |
864 |
| 250-499 Employees |
432 |
| 500-999 Employees |
234 |
| 1000+ Employees |
54 |
| All Dalton Businesses |
41628 |
As a new Dalton entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Dalton 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 |
6 |
| Advertising Agencies |
3 |
| Alkalies and Chlorine Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
3 |
| Architectural Services |
5 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
1 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
20 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
2 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
17 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
8 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Stores |
5 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
4 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
5 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
3 |
| Cafeterias |
4 |
| Car Washes |
6 |
| Carpet and Rug Mills |
91 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
2 |
| Caterers |
3 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
3 |
| Child Day Care Services |
7 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
4 |
| Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
2 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
2 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
7 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
5 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
4 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
5 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
18 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
10 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
2 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
8 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
2 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
1 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
2 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
3 |
| Display Advertising |
2 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
2 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
1 |
| Educational Support Services |
2 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
15 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
3 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
3 |
| Engineering Services |
3 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
5 |
| Fabric Coating Mills |
2 |
| Facilities Support Services |
2 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
9 |
| Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
2 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
7 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
39 |
| Flooring Contractors |
4 |
| Florists |
6 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
3 |
| Food Service Contractors |
6 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
9 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
74 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
4 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Furniture Stores |
6 |
| General Automotive Repair |
17 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
5 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
9 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
8 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
3 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
3 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
4 |
| Home Centers |
3 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
55 |
| Home Health Care Services |
2 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
3 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
6 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
48 |
| Interior Design Services |
3 |
| Investigation Services |
1 |
| Investment Advice |
4 |
| Janitorial Services |
9 |
| Jewelry Stores |
9 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
2 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
14 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
4 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
78 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Logging |
2 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
10 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
2 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
2 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
3 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
4 |
| Masonry Contractors |
5 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
3 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
5 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
5 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
3 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Narrow Fabric Mills |
2 |
| New Car Dealers |
12 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
3 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nonwoven Fabric Mills |
3 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
5 |
| Office Administrative Services |
7 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
3 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
18 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
10 |
| Offices of Dentists |
27 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
32 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
8 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
1 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
5 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
4 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
6 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
2 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
1 |
| Payroll Services |
3 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
1 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
3 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
14 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
5 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
2 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Poultry Processing |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
3 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
4 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
12 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
3 |
| Residential Remodelers |
9 |
| Retail Bakeries |
3 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
2 |
| Sales Financing |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
7 |
| Sawmills |
3 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
8 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
11 |
| Siding Contractors |
4 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
2 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
10 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
8 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
8 |
| Surface Active Agent Manufacturing |
3 |
| Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
4 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
10 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Testing Laboratories |
6 |
| Textile Machinery Manufacturing |
16 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
12 |
| Tobacco Stores |
6 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
3 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
8 |
| Travel Agencies |
3 |
| Used Car Dealers |
20 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
10 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
3 |
| Veterinary Services |
4 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
6 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
1 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
33 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
9 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
10 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Yarn Spinning Mills |
8 |
Naming the Company
A good company name can give a big boost to a new startup. It might seem like an easy thing to do, but there are many things to consider when naming a business.
Before you decide on a company name, run it by some prospective customers and see what they think. If they don't like it, it's probably a good idea to go back to the drawing board.
For other considerations regarding naming a company, we recommend this article: Branding Advice.
As a final piece of advice, remember that because you are planning on starting a business in Dalton, it's very important that you make sure your company name has not already been claimed by another Georgia business.
Forming a Company in Dalton, Georgia
It's essential that you choose the right legal structure for your new entity. Without a legal structure for the business, you can be held personally liable for the actions, debts and obligations of your company.
When forming a company, you will pick from many company types, such as a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporating is a very common way to legally create a business entity. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. If you are starting a business in Georgia, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Georgia. In fact, you are allowed to incorporate in any state you would like to. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.
There are many nuances to forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Where to Incorporate. You may also want to seek the advice of an lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Dalton, Georgia, our web page covering Incorporating in Georgia may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Georgia.
Marketing Your New Venture
Whether your goal is to attract Dalton customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you need a solid marketing plan.
There are myriad resources on this site to help you with your marketing plan. Planning an Event is a good read to get your marketing ideas flowing. That's just one of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Increase Your Entrepreneurial Knowledge
Successful entrepreneurs recognize that they don't know everything.
As an entrepreneur who lives in Dalton, Georgia, you should investigate some of the many programs available at nearby Georgia universities, colleges and community colleges. You should also check if there are any networking groups or organizations in which Dalton entrepreneurs get together to network and trade their business experiences.
Next Steps
You have a dream -- starting a business in Dalton. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Dalton and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Dalton 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 Dalton, Georgia
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Dalton.
- Resources for Dalton, Georgia Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Dalton entrepreneurs.
- Georgia Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Georgia.
- Georgia Small Business Development Center - The Georgia SBDC program helps Georgia entrepreneurs with developing business plans, providing financial analysis, identifying sources of capital, and assessing marketing strategies.
- Dalton, Georgia Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Dalton, Georgia newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Dalton area.
- Dalton, Georgia Radio Advertising Prices - To help you in your marketing efforts, we've gathered radio advertising rates for Dalton, Georgia area radio stations.
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