Thinking about starting a business in Danville, Virginia? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Danville.
Will You Be a Good Entrepreneur?
Before announcing to the world that you are going to start your own business, take inventory of 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 Danville. They are usually very willing to share their insights on the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur.
- We recommend reading Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Seek the advice of somebody who knows you well. Others sometimes know you better than you know yourself.
What Business to Start
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.
To view an extensive list of business types, complete with startup instructions, spend some time in the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our How to Start an Investment Bankers Business guide or our Starting a Kitchen Fixtures & Accessories Dealers Business guide.
Don't forget that Danville is the place where you are starting a business. Some businesses will do better in Danville than others. A critical consideration is whether Danville demographics mesh well with your startup concept.
Danville, Virginia Demographic Information
Danville has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Danville demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Danville.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
30528 |
| 5-9 Employees |
13824 |
| 10-19 Employees |
9540 |
| 20-49 Employees |
5508 |
| 50-99 Employees |
2160 |
| 100-249 Employees |
720 |
| 250-499 Employees |
180 |
| 500-999 Employees |
72 |
| 1000+ Employees |
108 |
| All Danville Businesses |
62640 |
As a new Danville entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Danville 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 |
| Ambulance Services |
2 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
1 |
| Automatic Vending Machine Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
|
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
4 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
16 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
3 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
11 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
5 |
|
Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Book Stores |
4 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
2 |
| Business Associations |
4 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
3 |
| Cafeterias |
2 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
|
Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
6 |
| Cement Manufacturing |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
2 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
3 |
| Child Day Care Services |
11 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
1 |
|
Civic and Social Organizations |
8 |
| Claims Adjusting |
4 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
4 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
13 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
4 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
|
Computer and Software Stores |
3 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
3 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
4 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
2 |
| Convenience Stores |
15 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
1 |
|
Credit Unions |
6 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
1 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
4 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
|
Display Advertising |
1 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
8 |
| Educational Support Services |
1 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
11 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
1 |
|
Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
6 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
2 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
3 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
3 |
|
Finish Carpentry Contractors |
3 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
2 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
9 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
4 |
| Flooring Contractors |
5 |
| Florists |
7 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
4 |
|
Food Service Contractors |
3 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
2 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
60 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
7 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
13 |
| General Automotive Repair |
23 |
|
General Freight Trucking, Local |
4 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
6 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
6 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
4 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
1 |
|
Graphic Design Services |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
2 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
4 |
| Home Centers |
3 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
7 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
2 |
|
Homes for the Elderly |
5 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
3 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
36 |
| Interior Design Services |
1 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
|
Janitorial Services |
17 |
| Jewelry Stores |
12 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
2 |
| Landscaping Services |
14 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
54 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
|
Logging |
2 |
| Machine Shops |
3 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
7 |
| Medical Laboratories |
2 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
1 |
|
Motor Vehicle Towing |
2 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
1 |
| Museums |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| New Car Dealers |
14 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
1 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
|
Nursing Care Facilities |
5 |
| Office Administrative Services |
4 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
2 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
14 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
7 |
| Offices of Dentists |
27 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
22 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
6 |
|
Offices of Podiatrists |
3 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
4 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
6 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
8 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
1 |
|
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
1 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
11 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
8 |
| Portfolio Management |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
|
Quick Printing |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
3 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
8 |
| Residential Property Managers |
2 |
| Residential Remodelers |
18 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
|
Roofing Contractors |
6 |
| Securities Brokerage |
8 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
1 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
12 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
2 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
5 |
|
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
8 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
1 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
11 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
|
Temporary Help Services |
4 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
9 |
| Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading) |
1 |
| Tire Retreading |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
2 |
| Tobacco Stemming and Redrying |
2 |
|
Tobacco Stores |
2 |
| Tour Operators |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
4 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
19 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
2 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
7 |
|
Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
4 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
4 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
3 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
6 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
3 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
10 |
|
Women's Handbag and Purse Manufacturing |
1 |
Is a Franchise Opportunity Right For You?
Visit the business district of Danville and you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. But is franchising the right option for you?
We advise the entrepreneurs we work with to consider franchising as an option. To help you learn more about franchising, we've gathered a ton of articles on franchising, including Staffing a Franchise. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
A comprehensive list of franchisors is available via our List of Franchise Opportunities.
Sample franchise opportunities include Bail Bond Franchisors, Inc. and DRYCLEAN USA. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Travel and Leisure Franchises and Child Safety Franchises.
Note on Danville Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Danville.
Is Buying an Existing Danville Business a Good Strategy?
We've created a handy website page for those who want to Buy a Business in Virginia. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Danville.
Before buying a business, be sure to read this article: Hold Harmless Agreements When Buying Businesses.
Where to Get Money to Start a Company
Getting your Danville business the capital it needs to succeed requires strong organization skills and perseverance. The reality is that there is very little funding available for new small businesses, and you have to explore every possible alternative.
Take advantage of our many articles on securing funding, such as 504 Loans.
For Danville entrepreneurs on the hunt for startup funding, you'll want to take a look at our List of Virginia Angel Investors and our List of Virginia Venture Capital Firms.
Ramping Up Sales
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Danville or are selling to customers throughout Virginia, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
Good selling involves demonstrating that your wares meet your customer's needs. Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
Writing Great Proposals is worth reading, as it may give you some good ideas on how to sell your products or services. We have many more good articles on selling that you may enjoy reading.
What's Next?
You have a dream -- starting a business in Danville. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Danville and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Danville 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 Danville, Virginia
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Danville.
- Resources for Danville, Virginia Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Danville entrepreneurs.
- Virginia Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Virginia.
- Virginia Small Business Development Center - Virginia Small Business Development Centers offer professional business counseling, training and information resources to help grow and strengthen Virginia businesses.
- Danville, Virginia Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Danville, Virginia newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Danville area.
- Danville, Virginia Radio Advertising Prices - To help you in your marketing efforts, we've gathered radio advertising rates for Danville, Virginia area radio stations.
- Danville, Virginia Payroll Services - This list includes Danville, Virginia payroll services, national payroll services for Danville, and helpful information on choosing a Danville payroll service.
- Danville, Virginia Businesses for Sale - This list includes resources for buying a business in Danville, Virginia, such as business brokers in Danville and other helpful information on how to buy a Danville business.
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