Contemplating starting a business in Delaware, Ohio? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Delaware.
Which Business to Choose?
Choosing a business that is right for you is very important. You might get some good ideas about what kind of business to start by reading Free 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 Aviation Sports Business guide or our Opening a Headboards Business guide.
Always keep in mind that you are opening your new business in Delaware. If Delaware 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 Delaware demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.
Delaware, Ohio Demographic Information
Delaware has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Delaware demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Delaware.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
4164 |
| 5-9 Employees |
1395 |
| 10-19 Employees |
1017 |
| 20-49 Employees |
711 |
| 50-99 Employees |
261 |
| 100-249 Employees |
162 |
| 250-499 Employees |
18 |
| 500-999 Employees |
27 |
| 1000+ Employees |
9 |
| All Delaware Businesses |
7764 |
As a new Delaware entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Delaware 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 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
3 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
5 |
| Beauty Salons |
8 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
2 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Stores |
2 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business Associations |
5 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Car Washes |
2 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
2 |
| Caterers |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Child Day Care Services |
7 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
17 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
2 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
3 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
4 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Copper Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding |
1 |
| Couriers |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
2 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
6 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
8 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
1 |
| Educational Support Services |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
11 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
1 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
8 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
2 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
2 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
3 |
| Flooring Contractors |
1 |
| Florists |
3 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
2 |
| Food Service Contractors |
9 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
17 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
3 |
| Furniture Stores |
3 |
| General Automotive Repair |
13 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
2 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
3 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
3 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
2 |
| Graphic Design Services |
3 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
4 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
1 |
| Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
5 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
2 |
| Hydroelectric Power Generation |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
14 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
1 |
| Investment Advice |
4 |
| Iron Foundries |
2 |
| Janitorial Services |
10 |
| Jewelry Stores |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
3 |
| Landscaping Services |
18 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
38 |
| Machine Shops |
3 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
2 |
| Marinas |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
2 |
| Masonry Contractors |
8 |
| Meat Markets |
2 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
2 |
| Mineral Wool Manufacturing |
2 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
4 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
6 |
| Office Administrative Services |
1 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
4 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
6 |
| Offices of Dentists |
15 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
18 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
3 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
2 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
3 |
| Payroll Services |
1 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
5 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
2 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
4 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
3 |
| Residential Remodelers |
9 |
| Roofing Contractors |
4 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
3 |
| Securities Brokerage |
5 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
1 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
1 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
8 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
3 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
4 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
2 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
4 |
| Tire Dealers |
1 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
2 |
| Used Car Dealers |
3 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
1 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
3 |
| Veterinary Services |
8 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
1 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
1 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
11 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
4 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
2 |
What About Franchising Opportunities?
Browse the Yellow Pages for Delaware and you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. But is franchising the right option for you?
Most business experts recommend that you evaluate the possibility of your buying a franchise opportunity. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchising Pros and Cons. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.
Sample franchise opportunities include Tim Hortons and Breeze Freeze Frozen Beverage Franchise. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Tanning Franchises and Healthcare Services Franchises.
Note on Delaware Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Delaware.
Have You Considered Buying an Existing Delaware Business?
An excellent way to get started in business is to Buy a Business in Ohio. Follow that link and you can assess several good businesses for sale in Delaware.
If you are headed down the path of buying a business, you may want to read this article: Hold Harmless Agreements When Buying Businesses.
Forming a Company in Delaware, Ohio
It's essential that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Among other things, forming a legal entity for the business limits your liabilities.
When forming a company, you will select one of many company types, such as a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporation 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 Ohio, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Ohio. In fact, you are allowed to incorporate in the state of your choosing. 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 should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Delaware, Ohio, our web page covering Incorporating in Ohio may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Ohio.
Don't Forget to Create a Business Plan
Writing a business plan is critical in laying a solid foundation for your business success. In effect, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Not having a business plan will greatly reduce your chances of business success.
If writing a business plan is on your to-do list, be sure to read Business Plan Software. You can also get free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Ohio.
Never Give Up
You have a dream -- starting a business in Delaware. 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.
We are here to help Delaware 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 Delaware, Ohio
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Delaware.
- Resources for Delaware, Ohio Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Delaware 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.
- Delaware, Ohio Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Delaware, Ohio newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Delaware area.
- Delaware, Ohio Radio Advertising Prices - To help you in your marketing efforts, we've gathered radio advertising rates for Delaware, Ohio area radio stations.
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