Are you starting a business in Dearborn, Michigan? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Dearborn.
Choosing the Right Company to Start
Choosing a business that is right for you is very important. If you are struggling with what type of business to start, read Finding Your Niche in Life.
For step-by-step instructions on starting a variety of business types, visit the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our Opening a Diamonds Brokers & Buyers Business guide or our How to Start a Riding Clothing & Equipment Business guide.
Don't forget that you are starting a business in Dearborn. Some businesses will do better in Dearborn than others. Only by spending some time analyzing Dearborn demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.
Dearborn, Michigan Demographic Information
Dearborn has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Dearborn demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Dearborn.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
9674 |
| 5-9 Employees |
2946 |
| 10-19 Employees |
2126 |
| 20-49 Employees |
1518 |
| 50-99 Employees |
510 |
| 100-249 Employees |
384 |
| 250-499 Employees |
96 |
| 500-999 Employees |
84 |
| 1000+ Employees |
54 |
| All Dearborn Businesses |
17392 |
As a new Dearborn entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Dearborn 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 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
5 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automobile Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
2 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
7 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
3 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
11 |
| Barber Shops |
7 |
| Beauty Salons |
51 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
18 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
5 |
| Bowling Centers |
3 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Business Associations |
5 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
6 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Car Washes |
8 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
3 |
| Caterers |
11 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Cheese Manufacturing |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
3 |
| Child Day Care Services |
14 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
13 |
| Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
5 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
7 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
4 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
7 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
6 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
10 |
| Computer Training |
4 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
1 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
2 |
| Convenience Stores |
16 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Couriers |
3 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
12 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
8 |
| Dental Laboratories |
1 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
5 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
1 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
2 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
23 |
| Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters |
2 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
5 |
| Educational Support Services |
1 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
3 |
| Electrical Contractors |
16 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
5 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
2 |
| Engineering Services |
27 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
5 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
1 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
13 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
4 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
13 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
3 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
11 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
6 |
| Flooring Contractors |
13 |
| Florists |
11 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
5 |
| Food Service Contractors |
32 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
4 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
6 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
6 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
96 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
6 |
| Furniture Stores |
6 |
| General Automotive Repair |
21 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
24 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
3 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
3 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
9 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
2 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
1 |
| Graphic Design Services |
5 |
| Greeting Card Publishers |
1 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
5 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
5 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
5 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
5 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
3 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
31 |
| Interior Design Services |
3 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investment Advice |
4 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
22 |
| Jewelry Stores |
21 |
| Junior Colleges |
2 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
24 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
92 |
| Limousine Service |
2 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
3 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
4 |
| Marinas |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
9 |
| Masonry Contractors |
2 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
15 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
2 |
| Medical Laboratories |
3 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
14 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
1 |
| Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
3 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
2 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
5 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
4 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
3 |
| Museums |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
5 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
10 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
2 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
3 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
2 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
1 |
| Office Administrative Services |
10 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
6 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
21 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
20 |
| Offices of Dentists |
95 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
53 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
5 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
7 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
5 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
12 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
9 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
2 |
| Payroll Services |
6 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
2 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
38 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
10 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
2 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Private Mail Centers |
2 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
2 |
| Professional Organizations |
2 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
3 |
| Quick Printing |
2 |
| Radio Stations |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
12 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
5 |
| Residential Remodelers |
20 |
| Retail Bakeries |
12 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
| Rolled Steel Shape Manufacturing |
2 |
| Roofing Contractors |
1 |
| Sales Financing |
3 |
| Savings Institutions |
11 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
12 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
4 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
20 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
3 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
4 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
25 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
1 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
1 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
8 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
17 |
| Taxi Service |
3 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
6 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
22 |
| Testing Laboratories |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
10 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
4 |
| Tobacco Stores |
10 |
| Tour Operators |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
15 |
| Used Car Dealers |
10 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
3 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
2 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
6 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
6 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
4 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
12 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
12 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
26 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
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.
Company names should be fun to say, and they should help people to understand what you do and how you differentiate yourself in the market.
For other considerations regarding naming a company, we recommend this article: Naming a Company.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are starting a business in Dearborn, it's very important that you make sure your company name has not already been claimed by another Michigan business.
Forming a Company in Dearborn, Michigan
It's essential that you choose the right legal structure for your new entity. Doing so will shield you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
When forming a company, you will choose from many company types, such as a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporating is a very popular way to form a business. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. If you are starting a business in Michigan, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Michigan. As it turns out, you can 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 C Corp Versus S Corp. You may also want to seek the advice of an lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Dearborn, Michigan, our web page covering Incorporating in Michigan may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Michigan.
The Role of the Business Plan
A business plan is vital in laying a solid foundation for your business success. Indeed, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Not having a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
To learn more about business plans, read The Art of the Executive Summary. You can also get face-to-face free consulting available from your local SCORE chapter in Michigan.
Marketing Your New Company
To grow your Dearborn business, you need a solid marketing plan.
You can learn quite a bit about marketing on our site. Telemarketing Service Costs is a good read to get your marketing juices flowing. That's just one of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Bring in Revenues
Being able to sell is fundamental to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Dearborn or are selling to customers throughout Michigan, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
Why should customers buy from you instead of buying from competitors? Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
Landing Big Customers is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.
Now It's Up To You
You have a dream -- starting a business in Dearborn. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
We are here to help Dearborn businesses to be successful. 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.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Dearborn, Michigan
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Dearborn.
Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in Michigan
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