Thinking about starting a business in Danbury, Connecticut? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Danbury.
Before you get too far along in the process, assess your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
While entrepreneurship has become a popular career choice, we recommend you do the following before you take the plunge:
There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? To help you decide on a business type, we encourage you to read Good Business Ideas.
Remember that your new startup will be located in Danbury. Some businesses will do better in Danbury than others. Don't forget to review Danbury demographics to see if there's a market for what you want to sell.
Danbury has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Danbury demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Danbury.
As a new Danbury entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Danbury 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 |
5 |
| Aircraft Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
3 |
| Architectural Services |
3 |
| Art Dealers |
2 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
2 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
5 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
10 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
3 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
3 |
| Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing |
3 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
24 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
13 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
6 |
| Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
2 |
| Business Associations |
2 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
1 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
6 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
1 |
| Caterers |
3 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
2 |
| Child Day Care Services |
21 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
9 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
6 |
| Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
3 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
7 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
4 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
7 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
12 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
2 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
9 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
2 |
| Couriers |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
5 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
18 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
1 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
4 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Document Preparation Services |
3 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
12 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
5 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
42 |
| Electronic Connector Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
5 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
7 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
5 |
| Engineering Services |
15 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
2 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
2 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
3 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
14 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
3 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
10 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
21 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
4 |
| Flooring Contractors |
4 |
| Florists |
4 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
3 |
| Food Service Contractors |
12 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
3 |
| Framing Contractors |
5 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
4 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
86 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
4 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
14 |
| General Automotive Repair |
35 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
3 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
15 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Graphic Design Services |
4 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Hardware Stores |
6 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
6 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
7 |
| Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Home Health Care Services |
8 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
3 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
4 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
1 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
41 |
| Interior Design Services |
2 |
| Internet Service Providers |
3 |
| Investment Advice |
11 |
| Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
21 |
| Jewelry Stores |
26 |
| Land Subdivision |
1 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
37 |
| Language Schools |
2 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
2 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
50 |
| Limousine Service |
3 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
2 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
4 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
4 |
| Marinas |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
8 |
| Masonry Contractors |
12 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
4 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
2 |
| Media Representatives |
2 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
1 |
| Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
12 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
3 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
4 |
| Museums |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Nail Salons |
9 |
| New Car Dealers |
15 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
2 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
3 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
4 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
7 |
| Office Administrative Services |
3 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Office Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
3 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
28 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
10 |
| Offices of Dentists |
45 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
68 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
4 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
3 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
6 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
8 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
2 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
2 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
14 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
3 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
3 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
3 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
10 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
3 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
3 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
7 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
1 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
2 |
| Quick Printing |
4 |
| Radio Stations |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
12 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
2 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
7 |
| Residential Remodelers |
19 |
| Retail Bakeries |
3 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
| Roofing Contractors |
6 |
| Sales Financing |
3 |
| Savings Institutions |
14 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
8 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
3 |
| Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
4 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
17 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
3 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
16 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
22 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
7 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
12 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
11 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
6 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
3 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
15 |
| Testing Laboratories |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
5 |
| Tire Dealers |
7 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
1 |
| Tobacco Stores |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
8 |
| Used Car Dealers |
7 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
5 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
6 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
6 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
2 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
8 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
5 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
27 |
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.
To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Naming a Company.
As a final piece of advice, remember that because you are opening a business in Danbury, it's very important that you make sure no other Connecticut company is using the business name you want to use.
Having a business plan is essential in laying a solid foundation for your business success. In effect, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Not having a business plan makes you more prone to becoming a business failure statistic.
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Danbury or are selling to customers throughout Connecticut, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
Not knowing how to sell can result in lost customers and minimal market share. Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Danbury. 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 Danbury and elsewhere to achieve real success. 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 Danbury.
