Ohio Business Startup Guides

Start a Business in Dayton, Ohio

Are you starting a business in Dayton, Ohio? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Dayton.

Dayton, Ohio Demographic Information

Dayton has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.

To give you a better feel for Dayton demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Dayton.

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
262582
5-9 Employees
126174
10-19 Employees
99042
20-49 Employees
68493
50-99 Employees
26622
100-249 Employees
12852
250-499 Employees
3570
500-999 Employees
765
1000+ Employees
867
All Dayton Businesses
600967

As a new Dayton entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Dayton 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
34
Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing
2
Aircraft Manufacturing
1
Aluminum Die-Casting Foundries
1
Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting)
2
Ambulance Services
4
Amusement Arcades
2
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
6
Apprenticeship Training
4
Architectural Services
37
Armored Car Services
2
Art Dealers
8
Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing
1
Automobile Driving Schools
6
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
9
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
64
Automotive Transmission Repair
12
Baked Goods Stores
7
Barber Shops
10
Beauty Salons
137
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
2
Blood and Organ Banks
4
Boat Dealers
3
Book Publishers
6
Book Stores
21
Books Printing
1
Bowling Centers
9
Breweries
1
Business and Secretarial Schools
1
Business Associations
19
Business to Business Electronic Markets
3
Cafeterias
11
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
7
Canvas and Related Product Mills
3
Car Washes
28
Caterers
8
Cemeteries and Crematories
14
Charter Bus Industry
2
Child and Youth Services
19
Child Day Care Services
101
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
12
Civic and Social Organizations
63
Clothing Accessories Stores
11
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
18
Collection Agencies
10
Commercial Bakeries
2
Commercial Flexographic Printing
2
Commercial Gravure Printing
1
Commercial Lithographic Printing
26
Commercial Screen Printing
8
Community Food Services
3
Computer and Software Stores
20
Computer Facilities Management Services
5
Computer Systems Design Services
149
Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing
3
Concrete Pipe Manufacturing
2
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
1
Consumer Lending
22
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
7
Convenience Stores
73
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
4
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
2
Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing
2
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
6
Couriers
10
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
2
Credit Bureaus
4
Credit Unions
44
Curtain and Drapery Mills
4
Custom Computer Programming Services
92
Dental Laboratories
18
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
12
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
8
Digital Printing
3
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
17
Direct Mail Advertising
7
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
11
Discount Department Stores
19
Display Advertising
3
Document Preparation Services
7
Drafting Services
3
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
145
Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters
1
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
18
Electric Power Distribution
1
Electrical Contractors
81
Electronic Computer Manufacturing
2
Electronic Shopping
8
Elementary and Secondary Schools
41
Emergency and Other Relief Services
2
Employment Placement Agencies
14
Environmental Consulting Services
15
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
10
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
9
Fabric Coating Mills
1
Facilities Support Services
13
Family Clothing Stores
37
Family Planning Centers
2
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
4
Fine Arts Schools
21
Finish Carpentry Contractors
32
Fish and Seafood Markets
3
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
73
Flight Training
4
Floor Covering Stores
34
Florists
32
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
1
Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing
2
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
18
Food Product Machinery Manufacturing
1
Food Service Contractors
28
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
2
Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation
7
Framing Contractors
16
Freight Transportation Arrangement
14
Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing
1
Fruit and Vegetable Canning
1
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
1
Full-Service Restaurants
285
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
6
Furniture Stores
46
General Automotive Repair
103
General Freight Trucking, Local
24
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
9
General Rental Centers
9
General Warehousing and Storage
22
Glass and Glazing Contractors
7
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
7
Grantmaking Foundations
17
Graphic Design Services
26
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
9
Hardware Manufacturing
3
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
11
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
2
Historical Sites
3
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
21
Home Centers
7
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
4
Home Health Care Services
46
Home Health Equipment Rental
3
Household Appliance Stores
17
Human Rights Organizations
6
Ice Manufacturing
1
Industrial Building Construction
8
Industrial Design Services
5
Industrial Gas Manufacturing
1
Industrial Launderers
6
Industrial Pattern Manufacturing
5
Industrial Valve Manufacturing
1
Inorganic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing
1
Institutional Furniture Manufacturing
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
230
Interior Design Services
12
International Trade Financing
1
Internet Service Providers
8
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
1
Investigation Services
6
Investment Advice
31
Iron and Steel Forging
2
Iron and Steel Mills
4
Iron Foundries
1
Janitorial Services
95
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
2
Jewelry Stores
62
Junior Colleges
5
Kidney Dialysis Centers
6
Land Subdivision
8
Landscape Architectural Services
3
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
8
Limited-Service Restaurants
408
Limousine Service
1
Linen Supply
2
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
9
Locksmiths
4
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
1
Mail-Order Houses
10
Manifold Business Forms Printing
1
Marketing Consulting Services
26
Marking Device Manufacturing
1
Masonry Contractors
24
Materials Recovery Facilities
2
Meat Markets
8
Media Buying Agencies
3
Media Representatives
6
Medical Laboratories
29
Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing
1
Men's Clothing Stores
20
Metal Can Manufacturing
1
Metal Heat Treating
6
Miscellaneous Intermediation
5
Mobile Food Services
4
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
29
Motion Picture and Video Production
7
Motor and Generator Manufacturing
2
Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing
1
Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping
7
Motorcycle Dealers
11
Museums
8
Music Publishers
1
Musical Groups and Artists
3
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
11
Nail Salons
37
Natural Gas Distribution
2
New Car Dealers
38
New Housing Operative Builders
9
News Dealers and Newsstands
1
News Syndicates
1
Newspaper Publishers
9
Nonresidential Property Managers
19
Nursing Care Facilities
39
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
23
Office Machinery Manufacturing
1
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
16
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
102
Offices of Chiropractors
46
Offices of Dentists
211
Offices of Lawyers
267
Offices of Other Holding Companies
11
Offices of Podiatrists
19
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
19
One-Hour Photofinishing
1
Open-End Investment Funds
2
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
3
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
1
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
6
Packaging and Labeling Services
7
Packing and Crating
1
Paging
1
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
1
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
16
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
37
Passenger Car Leasing
1
Passenger Car Rental
7
Payroll Services
9
Periodical Publishers
6
Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing
1
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
19
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
16
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
72
Photography Studios, Portrait
31
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
1
Plastics Bottle Manufacturing
1
Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
1
Plate Work Manufacturing
7
Political Organizations
3
Port and Harbor Operations
1
Portfolio Management
24
Powder Metallurgy Part Manufacturing
1
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
20
Prepress Services
7
Private Mail Centers
5
Professional Employer Organizations
13
Public Relations Agencies
3
Quick Printing
22
Radio Networks
2
Radio Stations
15
Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing
1
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
2
Real Estate Credit
33
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
6
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage
4
Remediation Services
3
Repossession Services
4
Residential Property Managers
42
Residential Remodelers
83
Retail Bakeries
8
Rolled Steel Shape Manufacturing
2
Roofing Contractors
38
Rooming and Boarding Houses
1
Sales Financing
7
Savings Institutions
15
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
2
School and Employee Bus Transportation
1
Security Guards and Patrol Services
19
Setup Paperboard Box Manufacturing
1
Sewage Treatment Facilities
2
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
14
Shoe Stores
48
Siding Contractors
16
Sign Manufacturing
10
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
59
Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing
4
Soft Drink Manufacturing
1
Software Publishers
20
Solid Waste Collection
6
Solid Waste Landfill
1
Sound Recording Studios
2
Specialty Canning
1
Sporting Goods Stores
29
Sports and Recreation Instruction
9
Sports Teams and Clubs
3
Steel Investment Foundries
2
Support Activities for Forestry
1
Tax Preparation Services
46
Telecommunications Resellers
3
Telemarketing Bureaus
4
Telephone Answering Services
2
Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing
1
Television Broadcasting
6
Temporary Help Services
75
Temporary Shelters
5
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
4
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
9
Timber Tract Operations
1
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
3
Tire Dealers
33
Tire Retreading
2
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
30
Toilet Preparation Manufacturing
2
Tour Operators
2
Tradebinding and Related Work
2
Translation and Interpretation Services
4
Travel Agencies
22
Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing
1
Truss Manufacturing
2
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
14
Used Merchandise Stores
31
Vending Machine Operators
19
Veterinary Services
32
Video Tape and Disc Rental
41
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
10
Voluntary Health Organizations
10
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
4
Web Search Portals
1
Wet Corn Milling
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
88
Window Treatment Stores
3
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
49
Women's Clothing Stores
65

Is Franchising a Better Option?

As you drive around Dayton, it's apparent that franchising has become a very popular way to start a business. But is franchising the right option for you?

We highly recommend you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Questions to Ask Franchisors. 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 Small Business Financial Management Group and Jamaica Blue. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Car Wash Franchises and Healthy Alternative Foods Franchises.

Note on Dayton Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Dayton, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.

Is Buying an Existing Dayton Business a Good Strategy?

If you have some capital to play with, you may want to Buy a Business in Ohio. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Dayton.

Before buying a business, be sure to read this article: Hold Harmless Agreements When Buying Businesses.

Naming the Company

A big decision when starting a company is choosing a company name. Believe it or not, choosing a good company name can be a big contributor to your business success.

Company names need to be easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and easy to remember.

Numerous company naming issues are discussed in more detail in this article: Naming a Business.

As a final piece of advice, remember that because you are planning on starting a business in Dayton, it's critical that you ensure that no other Ohio company is using the business name you want to use.

Don't Forget to Create a Business Plan

A business plan is vital to the health of your new business. In effect, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Failure to write a business plan is a recipe for disaster.

To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Contests. You should also take advantage of face-to-face free consulting available from your local SCORE chapter in Ohio.

Marketing Your New Venture

To grow your Dayton business, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your succeeding.

We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Typical Direct Mail Response Rates is an article that will stimulate a few thoughts on your marketing plan. That's just one of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.

Now It's Up To You

As an entrepreneur in Dayton, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.

From this point on, you control your own destiny.

Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Dayton and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Dayton, neighborhood development and overall economic health.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Dayton, Ohio

Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Dayton.

  • Resources for Dayton, Ohio Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Dayton entrepreneurs.
  • Ohio Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Ohio.
  • Ohio Small Business Development Center - Whether you're starting your business, expanding your business, or just looking to stay in business, the Small Business Development Centers of Ohio (SBDCs of Ohio) can help with professional guidance by connecting you with research, financing sources, and training opportunities.

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