Thinking about starting a business in Erie, Pennsylvania? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Erie.
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 Evaluating Your Idea.
Don't forget that your new startup will be located in Erie. Some businesses will do better in Erie than others. Study Erie demographics and do a competitive analysis as part of your startup planning process.
Erie has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Erie demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Erie.
As a new Erie entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Erie 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 |
15 |
| Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing |
1 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
3 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
3 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
6 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
11 |
| Armored Car Services |
1 |
| Art Dealers |
2 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
5 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
6 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
30 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
7 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
6 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
94 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
25 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
2 |
| Boat Dealers |
5 |
| Book Stores |
11 |
| Bowling Centers |
6 |
| Breweries |
2 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
2 |
| Business Associations |
12 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
5 |
| Cafeterias |
5 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
2 |
| Car Washes |
8 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
1 |
| Caterers |
9 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
3 |
| Child and Youth Services |
8 |
| Child Day Care Services |
28 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
8 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
52 |
| Claims Adjusting |
3 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
6 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
4 |
| Collection Agencies |
2 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
11 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
2 |
| Community Food Services |
3 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
6 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
11 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
3 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
9 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
6 |
| Convenience Stores |
21 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
4 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
6 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
4 |
| Credit Bureaus |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
27 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
14 |
| Dance Companies |
2 |
| Dental Laboratories |
5 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
4 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
4 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
7 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
4 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
5 |
| Discount Department Stores |
11 |
| Display Advertising |
3 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
94 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
13 |
| Educational Support Services |
4 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
50 |
| Electronic Capacitor Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
4 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
33 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
3 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
4 |
| Engineering Services |
17 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
2 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
4 |
| Facilities Support Services |
2 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
20 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
6 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
13 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
21 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
15 |
| Flooring Contractors |
6 |
| Florists |
12 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
7 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food Service Contractors |
15 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
2 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
3 |
| Framing Contractors |
4 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
2 |
| Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
135 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
19 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
15 |
| General Automotive Repair |
54 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
11 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
3 |
| General Rental Centers |
5 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
5 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
22 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
3 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
8 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
2 |
| Graphic Design Services |
5 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Hardware Stores |
7 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
12 |
| Home Centers |
7 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
18 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
4 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
2 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
7 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
4 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
6 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
29 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
7 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
78 |
| Interior Design Services |
4 |
| Internet Service Providers |
4 |
| Investigation Services |
3 |
| Investment Advice |
10 |
| Iron and Steel Forging |
3 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
2 |
| Iron Foundries |
3 |
| Janitorial Services |
30 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Jewelry Stores |
23 |
| Junior Colleges |
3 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
2 |
| Land Subdivision |
1 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
3 |
| Landscaping Services |
46 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
6 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
126 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
2 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Machine Shops |
29 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
7 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
3 |
| Marinas |
5 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
5 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
21 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
2 |
| Meat Markets |
7 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
4 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
7 |
| Metal Stamping |
2 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
5 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
4 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
4 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
6 |
| Museums |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
3 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
7 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
8 |
| New Car Dealers |
15 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
6 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
7 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
10 |
| Office Administrative Services |
12 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
7 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
7 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
30 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
36 |
| Offices of Dentists |
102 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
91 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
12 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
7 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
6 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
17 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
3 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paging |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
4 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
23 |
| Paper (except Newsprint) Mills |
2 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
2 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
3 |
| Payroll Services |
5 |
| Periodical Publishers |
6 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
7 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
2 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
26 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
12 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
2 |
| Political Organizations |
4 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
15 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
10 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
5 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
4 |
| Quick Printing |
5 |
| Radio Stations |
2 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing |
2 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
9 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
3 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
4 |
| Residential Remodelers |
43 |
| Retail Bakeries |
2 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
| Roofing Contractors |
8 |
| Savings Institutions |
24 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
3 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
3 |
| Securities Brokerage |
17 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
6 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
4 |
| Shoe Stores |
21 |
| Siding Contractors |
9 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
4 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
8 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
32 |
| Software Publishers |
3 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
4 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
22 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
5 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
2 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
1 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
20 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
3 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
3 |
| Television Broadcasting |
4 |
| Temporary Help Services |
24 |
| Temporary Shelters |
4 |
| Testing Laboratories |
3 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
3 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
4 |
| Tire Dealers |
16 |
| Tobacco Stores |
10 |
| Travel Agencies |
4 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
27 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
3 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
9 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
6 |
| Veterinary Services |
10 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
17 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
10 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
3 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
22 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
22 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
22 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
3 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
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.
Pick a company name that isn't too generic. If you do a search engine search for your proposed name and a billion results come up, you may want to reconsider the name. It's much easier to come up in the search engines when your name is fairly unique.
To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Naming a Business.
As a final piece of advice, remember that because you are starting a business in Erie, it's imperative that you check now that no other Pennsylvania company is using the business name you want to use.
To grow your Erie business, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your succeeding.
Mastering the art of selling is priority one if you want your new Erie business to do well.
Clever sales techniques can transform any business from good to great. The good news is we can help you to make selling a big competitve advantage for your new firm.
Most new Erie 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.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Erie and elsewhere to achieve real success. 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.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Erie.
