Contemplating starting a business in East Lansing, Michigan? We walk you through the process of opening a business in East Lansing.
Is Becoming an Entrepreneur Right for You?
Before quitting your day job, assess your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
While entrepreneurship has become a popular career choice, we recommend you do the following before you take the plunge:
- Reach out to other entrepreneurs in East Lansing. Get their take on what it's really like to be an entrepreneur.
- Peruse Why Small Businesses Fail. This is one of our more popular articles for folks who want to go into business for themselves.
- Get feedback from somebody whom you trust. That's the best way to get a truly objective assessment as to whether others think you have what it takes.
Choosing the Right Company to Start
There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? We recommend that you read Evaluating Your Idea.
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 How to Start a Martial Arts Instruction Business guide or our Starting a Telecommunications Management Services Business guide.
Don't forget that you are starting a business in East Lansing. Some businesses will do better in East Lansing than others. Make sure you fully understand East Lansing demographics before you lock in on your business idea.
East Lansing, Michigan Demographic Information
East Lansing has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for East Lansing demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in East Lansing.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
1606 |
| 5-9 Employees |
629 |
| 10-19 Employees |
515 |
| 20-49 Employees |
378 |
| 50-99 Employees |
129 |
| 100-249 Employees |
69 |
| 250-499 Employees |
21 |
| 500-999 Employees |
3 |
| 1000+ Employees |
0 |
| All East Lansing Businesses |
3350 |
As a new East Lansing entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in East Lansing 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 |
6 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
4 |
| Art Dealers |
3 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
2 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
10 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
4 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Book Stores |
7 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Business Associations |
9 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
1 |
| Car Washes |
3 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
1 |
| Caterers |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
3 |
| Child Day Care Services |
11 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
7 |
| Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
4 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
1 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
1 |
| Computer Training |
5 |
| Consumer Lending |
1 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
3 |
| Convenience Stores |
6 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
12 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
5 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Display Advertising |
3 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
8 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
2 |
| Educational Support Services |
2 |
| Electronic Shopping |
3 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
2 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
3 |
| Engineering Services |
8 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
1 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
2 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
3 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
6 |
| Flooring Contractors |
1 |
| Florists |
3 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
3 |
| Food Service Contractors |
2 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
43 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
1 |
| General Automotive Repair |
2 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
3 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
3 |
| Graphic Design Services |
2 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
1 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
3 |
| Home Health Care Services |
4 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
42 |
| Interior Design Services |
3 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
4 |
| Investment Advice |
7 |
| Janitorial Services |
6 |
| Jewelry Stores |
3 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
1 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
7 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
3 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
54 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
3 |
| Masonry Contractors |
2 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
8 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
1 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
3 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
3 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
2 |
| Office Administrative Services |
9 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
15 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
4 |
| Offices of Dentists |
22 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
49 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
6 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
1 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
9 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
1 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
2 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
3 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
3 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
4 |
| Professional Organizations |
6 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
3 |
| Quick Printing |
1 |
| Racetracks |
1 |
| Radio Networks |
2 |
| Radio Stations |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
7 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
2 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
14 |
| Residential Remodelers |
6 |
| Roofing Contractors |
1 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
12 |
| Sales Financing |
3 |
| Savings Institutions |
2 |
| Securities Brokerage |
19 |
| Shoe Stores |
2 |
| Siding Contractors |
1 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
2 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
13 |
| Software Publishers |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
1 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
2 |
| Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
2 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
3 |
| Temporary Help Services |
7 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
1 |
| Tobacco Stores |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
1 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
4 |
| Veterinary Services |
3 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
3 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
3 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
6 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
1 |
Is Franchising a Better Option?
As you drive around East Lansing, you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. So, it probably makes sense for you to consider franchising too.
Our recommendation is that you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as How to Find Financing for Franchises. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
You can review hundreds of franchise opportunities by browing our Franchise Directory.
Representative franchise opportunities include White Glove Placement and Hooters of America, Inc.. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Restaurant Services Franchises and Telecommunications Franchises.
Note on East Lansing Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in East Lansing.
Don't Forget to Create a Business Plan
A business plan is critical in laying a solid foundation for your business success. Indeed, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. 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 free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Michigan.
Marketing Your New Business
To rise above the crowd in East Lansing and build your business, you need a solid marketing plan.
We have some great resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Competitive Analysis 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.
The Art of Selling
Being able to sell is essential to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in East Lansing or are selling to customers throughout Michigan, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
So what does it take to bring in more prospects and close more business? Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
Hiring Telemarketing Firms to Generate Sales Leads is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.
Moving Forward
You have a dream -- starting a business in East Lansing. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in East Lansing and elsewhere to achieve real success. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new East Lansing 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 East Lansing, Michigan
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