Are you starting a business in Eau Claire, Wisconsin? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Eau Claire.
Will You Be a Good Entrepreneur?
Most new businesses fail, in part because the entrepreneur did not have the perseverance and abilities that are necessary to succeed. So, before you open a business, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
While entrepreneurship has become a popular career choice, we recommend you do the following before you take the plunge:
- Grab a meal or cofee with other entrepreneurs in Eau Claire. They are usually very willing to share their insights on the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur.
- Take a look at Starting a Company. It's a short article but it's a good reality check for those are about to jump into the world of entrepreneurship.
- Talk it over with a close friend or partner. Others sometimes know you better than you know yourself.
Eau Claire, Wisconsin Demographic Information
Eau Claire has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Eau Claire demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Eau Claire.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
8658 |
| 5-9 Employees |
4644 |
| 10-19 Employees |
3609 |
| 20-49 Employees |
2448 |
| 50-99 Employees |
774 |
| 100-249 Employees |
441 |
| 250-499 Employees |
153 |
| 500-999 Employees |
27 |
| 1000+ Employees |
45 |
| All Eau Claire Businesses |
20799 |
As a new Eau Claire entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Eau Claire 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 |
2 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
2 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
4 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
2 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
4 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
13 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
4 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
5 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
40 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
2 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
5 |
| Books Printing |
2 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing |
1 |
| Business Associations |
3 |
| Cafeterias |
1 |
| Car Washes |
7 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
3 |
| Caterers |
3 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
7 |
| Child Day Care Services |
15 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
13 |
| Claims Adjusting |
4 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
2 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
6 |
| Collection Agencies |
5 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
3 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
3 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
4 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Storage Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
6 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
7 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
2 |
| Convenience Stores |
3 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
6 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
13 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
8 |
| Dental Laboratories |
6 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
1 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
2 |
| Digital Printing |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
5 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
3 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
3 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
2 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
38 |
| Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
4 |
| Educational Support Services |
3 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
6 |
| Electrical Contractors |
21 |
| Electronic Shopping |
2 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
7 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
14 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
1 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
3 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
2 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
14 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
5 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
9 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
11 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
6 |
| Flooring Contractors |
1 |
| Florists |
5 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
3 |
| Food Service Contractors |
4 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
2 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
56 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
4 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
12 |
| General Automotive Repair |
24 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
6 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
3 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
3 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
17 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
4 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
2 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Hardware Stores |
2 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
4 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
6 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
8 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
4 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
10 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
2 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
59 |
| Interior Design Services |
2 |
| Internet Service Providers |
2 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
4 |
| Janitorial Services |
21 |
| Jewelry Stores |
17 |
| Land Subdivision |
1 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
17 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
80 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
3 |
| Locksmiths |
2 |
| Machine Shops |
3 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
2 |
| Masonry Contractors |
9 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
8 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
3 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
1 |
| Museums |
3 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| New Car Dealers |
10 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
4 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
3 |
| Office Administrative Services |
3 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
7 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
13 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
16 |
| Offices of Dentists |
34 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
40 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
4 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
5 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
2 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
14 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
4 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
6 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
3 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
5 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
8 |
| Paper (except Newsprint) Mills |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
3 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
14 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
6 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
4 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
3 |
| Radio Stations |
7 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
5 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
9 |
| Residential Remodelers |
10 |
| Retail Bakeries |
2 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
7 |
| Sales Financing |
1 |
| Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
6 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
1 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
19 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
1 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
12 |
| Siding Contractors |
5 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
4 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
8 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
13 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
2 |
| Software Publishers |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
3 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
9 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
2 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
13 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
3 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
10 |
| Temporary Shelters |
3 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
3 |
| Tire Dealers |
6 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
4 |
| Tobacco Stores |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
3 |
| Used Car Dealers |
7 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
2 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
7 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
5 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
6 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
6 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
3 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
8 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
9 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
11 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
Have You Considered Buying an Existing Eau Claire Business?
We've created a useful website page for those who want to Buy a Business in Wisconsin. Follow that link and you can review several good businesses for sale in Eau Claire.
For anybody who wants to buy a business, we recommend reading this useful article: Hold Harmless Agreements When Buying Businesses.
Forming a Company in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
It's essential that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. The main advantage of forming your new business as a legal entity is that it separates your business liabilities from your personal liabilities.
The entity you form can be a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporating is a very common way to legally create a business entity. A key decision is whether to form and S-Corp or a C-Corp, and you also must decide in which state you will incorporate. If you are starting a business in Wisconsin, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Wisconsin. 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. To learn the fundamentals of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Avoiding Personal Liability in Business. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, our information on Incorporating in Wisconsin may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Wisconsin.
Do You Need a Business Plan?
Having a business plan is vital 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 makes you more prone to becoming a business failure statistic.
If you want more information on writing business plans, we recommend reading Business Plan Contests. A great resource for business planning assistance is the free business counselors available to you through your local SCORE chapter in Wisconsin.
Where to Get Money to Start a Company
Getting your Eau Claire business the capital it needs to succeed is not an easy task. If you don't have a rich uncle to fund you, you'll need to be creative in how you approach your fundraising efforts.
Take advantage of our many articles on raising capital, such as Only Idiots Send Venture Capitalists Business Plans.
For Eau Claire entrepreneurs who need startup capital, check out our List of Wisconsin Angel Investors and our List of Wisconsin Venture Capital Firms.
Promoting Your New Startup
To grow your Eau Claire business, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your succeeding.
There are myriad resources on this site to help you with your marketing plan. Internet Advertising discusses marketing strategy and tactical marketing in a way that should get you thinking about how to creatively promote your business. There are many more articles on marketing on our site. Visit our Small Business Marketing resource section to see them all.
What's Next?
Most new Eau Claire businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Eau Claire and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Eau Claire, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Eau Claire.
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