Contemplating starting a business in Decatur, Georgia? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Decatur.
Which Business to Choose?
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. You might get some good ideas about what kind of business to start by reading Free Business Ideas.
For in-depth how-to guides on how to start specific businesses, browse our Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our How to Start an Orthopedics Physicians & Surgeons Business guide or our Opening a Tree Consultants Business guide.
Remember that starting a business in Decatur has some implications. If Decatur already has plenty of the kind of business you want to start, you might want to change your plans. Only by spending some time analyzing Decatur demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.
Decatur, Georgia Demographic Information
Decatur has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Decatur demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Decatur.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
60260 |
| 5-9 Employees |
18540 |
| 10-19 Employees |
12300 |
| 20-49 Employees |
8070 |
| 50-99 Employees |
2520 |
| 100-249 Employees |
1530 |
| 250-499 Employees |
300 |
| 500-999 Employees |
150 |
| 1000+ Employees |
120 |
| All Decatur Businesses |
103790 |
As a new Decatur entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Decatur 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 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
1 |
| Advertising Agencies |
5 |
| Ambulance Services |
2 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
19 |
| Art Dealers |
5 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
5 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
5 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
24 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
7 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Barber Shops |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
27 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
26 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
9 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business Associations |
7 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
9 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Car Washes |
8 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
1 |
| Caterers |
8 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
9 |
| Child Day Care Services |
85 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
6 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
9 |
| Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
5 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
9 |
| Collection Agencies |
3 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
5 |
| Commercial Photography |
4 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
3 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
5 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
30 |
| Computer Training |
3 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
8 |
| Convenience Stores |
20 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
6 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
2 |
| Couriers |
2 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
6 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
24 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
3 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
6 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
2 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
5 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
3 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
12 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
3 |
| Educational Support Services |
5 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
3 |
| Electrical Contractors |
13 |
| Electronic Shopping |
2 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
14 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
3 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
6 |
| Engineering Services |
28 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
2 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
4 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
12 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
7 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
7 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
2 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
18 |
| Flooring Contractors |
3 |
| Florists |
8 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
3 |
| Food Service Contractors |
8 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
3 |
| Framing Contractors |
4 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
5 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
99 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
3 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
10 |
| General Automotive Repair |
41 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
5 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
6 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
11 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
3 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
5 |
| Graphic Design Services |
28 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
6 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
2 |
| Home Centers |
3 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
14 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
7 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
3 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
3 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
53 |
| Interior Design Services |
10 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
1 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
3 |
| Investment Advice |
8 |
| Iron Foundries |
1 |
| Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
26 |
| Jewelry Stores |
29 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
7 |
| Land Subdivision |
3 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
6 |
| Landscaping Services |
27 |
| Lead Pencil and Art Good Manufacturing |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
2 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
157 |
| Limousine Service |
2 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
4 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
18 |
| Masonry Contractors |
7 |
| Meat Markets |
4 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
5 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
10 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
13 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
12 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
2 |
| Museums |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Nail Salons |
6 |
| New Car Dealers |
17 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
4 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
2 |
| News Syndicates |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
3 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
7 |
| Nonwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
10 |
| Office Administrative Services |
6 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
25 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
22 |
| Offices of Dentists |
71 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
156 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
12 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
5 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
10 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
4 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
2 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paging |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
6 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
3 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
22 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
4 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
1 |
| Poultry Processing |
1 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
3 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
6 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
6 |
| Quick Printing |
5 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
12 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
20 |
| Residential Remodelers |
18 |
| Retail Bakeries |
4 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
| Roofing Contractors |
5 |
| Sales Financing |
3 |
| Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
5 |
| Saw Blade and Handsaw Manufacturing |
1 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
5 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
7 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
21 |
| Siding Contractors |
1 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
12 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
6 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
4 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
2 |
| Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
17 |
| Taxi Service |
2 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
17 |
| Temporary Shelters |
4 |
| Testing Laboratories |
2 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
1 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
8 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
6 |
| Tour Operators |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
3 |
| Travel Agencies |
8 |
| Used Car Dealers |
18 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
4 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
9 |
| Veterinary Services |
14 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
10 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
6 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
25 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
6 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
35 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
Company Formation in Decatur, Georgia
A critical step is ensuring that you are forming a legal entity that operates independently from you. Doing so will shield you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
When forming a company, you will pick from many company types, such as a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporation is a very common way to legally create a business entity. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. Just because you are starting a business in Georgia, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Georgia. In fact, you can incorporate wherever you want. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.
There's a lot to know about forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Incorporation Advice. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Decatur, Georgia, our web page covering Incorporating in Georgia may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Georgia.
Make Sure You Have a Business Plan
Having a business plan is essential to the health of your new business. Simply put, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. Not having a business plan makes you more prone to becoming a business failure statistic.
To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Software. You can also get free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Georgia.
Raising Funding for Your Venture
Obtaining startup financing for your Decatur business is very difficult due to the ongoing business credit crunch. In fact, financing your new business may be the hardest challenge you ever face.
Fortunately, this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled Bank Credit Lines.
For Decatur entrepreneurs who need startup capital, browse our List of Georgia Angel Investors and our List of Georgia Venture Capital Firms.
How to Sell
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Decatur or are selling to customers throughout Georgia, 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.
Mastering the Complex Sale 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.
Now It's Up To You
You have a dream -- starting a business in Decatur. 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 Decatur businesses to be successful. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Decatur 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 Decatur, Georgia
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Decatur.
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