Thinking about starting a business in Daytona Beach, Florida? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Daytona Beach.
Most startup businesses fail, in part because the founder did not have the entrepreneurial skills and traits needed to succeed. So, before you start your business, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
With so much at stake when you start a business, we strongly recommend you do the following before you proceed:
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. To help you decide on a business type, we encourage you to read Finding Your Niche in Life.
Remember that Daytona Beach is the place where you are starting a business. Some businesses will do better in Daytona Beach than others. Study Daytona Beach demographics and do a competitive analysis as part of your startup planning process.
Daytona Beach has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Daytona Beach demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Daytona Beach.
As a new Daytona Beach entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Daytona Beach 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 |
7 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
2 |
| Amusement Arcades |
5 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
8 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
8 |
| Armored Car Services |
1 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
3 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
6 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
23 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
4 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
49 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
2 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
14 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Boat Building |
2 |
| Boat Dealers |
10 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
11 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
2 |
| Burial Casket Manufacturing |
1 |
| Business Associations |
8 |
| Cafeterias |
6 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
11 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
5 |
| Caterers |
4 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
7 |
| Child and Youth Services |
5 |
| Child Day Care Services |
34 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
11 |
| Claims Adjusting |
7 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
8 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
6 |
| Collection Agencies |
4 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
2 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
9 |
| Commercial Photography |
3 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
4 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
9 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
6 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
4 |
| Consumer Lending |
9 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
5 |
| Convenience Stores |
32 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
4 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
3 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
4 |
| Credit Unions |
4 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
11 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
2 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
7 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
6 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
3 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
34 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
22 |
| Educational Support Services |
1 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
29 |
| Electronic Shopping |
6 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
7 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
4 |
| Engineering Services |
19 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
18 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
33 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
6 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
18 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
11 |
| Flight Training |
6 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
8 |
| Flooring Contractors |
12 |
| Florists |
7 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
6 |
| Food Service Contractors |
11 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
5 |
| Framing Contractors |
4 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
5 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
126 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
5 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Furniture Stores |
25 |
| General Automotive Repair |
46 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
4 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
5 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
46 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
8 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
2 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
2 |
| Graphic Design Services |
3 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Hardware Stores |
4 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
6 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
11 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
10 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
11 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
57 |
| Interior Design Services |
3 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
2 |
| Internet Service Providers |
3 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
7 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
25 |
| Jewelry Stores |
24 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
4 |
| Land Subdivision |
7 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
2 |
| Landscaping Services |
37 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
10 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
110 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
3 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
4 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
1 |
| Marinas |
5 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
16 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
13 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
2 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
15 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
4 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
4 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
18 |
| Museums |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Nail Salons |
2 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
27 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
8 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
3 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
5 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
13 |
| Office Administrative Services |
22 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
6 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
36 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
11 |
| Offices of Dentists |
51 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
162 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
8 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
1 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
14 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
3 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
12 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
3 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
2 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paging |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
7 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
26 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
6 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
10 |
| Periodical Publishers |
1 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
3 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
27 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
8 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
5 |
| Professional Organizations |
6 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
3 |
| Quick Printing |
5 |
| Racetracks |
4 |
| Radio Networks |
3 |
| Radio Stations |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
20 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
4 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
7 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
19 |
| Residential Remodelers |
24 |
| Retail Bakeries |
2 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
4 |
| Roofing Contractors |
16 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
2 |
| Sales Financing |
3 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
3 |
| Securities and Commodity Exchanges |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
11 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
4 |
| Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
4 |
| Shoe Stores |
21 |
| Siding Contractors |
3 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
5 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
7 |
| Small Arms Manufacturing |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
13 |
| Software Publishers |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
22 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
4 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
21 |
| Taxi Service |
2 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
2 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
6 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
17 |
| Temporary Shelters |
3 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
9 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
17 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
5 |
| Tobacco Stores |
3 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
16 |
| Used Car Dealers |
25 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
4 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
11 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
5 |
| Veterinary Services |
11 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
7 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
8 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
2 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
14 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
14 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
20 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
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.
Pick a company name that isn't too generic. If you do a search engine search for your proposed name and a billion results come up, you may want to reconsider the name. It's much easier to come up in the search engines when your name is fairly unique.
To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Naming a Business.
On a final note, given that you are starting a business in Daytona Beach, it's imperative that you check now that no other Florida company is using the business name you want to use.
Creating a business plan is critical in laying a solid foundation for your business success. Simply put, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. Starting a business without a business plan
Getting your Daytona Beach business the capital it needs to succeed will be harder than you might expect. If you don't have a rich uncle to fund you, you'll need to be creative in how you approach your fundraising efforts.
Mastering the art of selling is essential if you want your new Daytona Beach business to do well.
Clever sales techniques can transform any business from good to great. Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
Most new Daytona Beach businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Daytona Beach 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 Daytona Beach.
