Contemplating starting a business in Exton, Pennsylvania? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Exton.
What Business Are You Starting?
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 Good 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 Starting a Coral Business guide or our How to Start a Wedding Equipment & Supplies Wholesale & Manufacturers Business guide.
Always keep in mind that Exton is the place where you are starting a business. Some businesses will do better in Exton than others. Only by spending some time analyzing Exton demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.
Exton, Pennsylvania Demographic Information
Exton has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Exton demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Exton.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
1596 |
| 5-9 Employees |
765 |
| 10-19 Employees |
687 |
| 20-49 Employees |
486 |
| 50-99 Employees |
228 |
| 100-249 Employees |
123 |
| 250-499 Employees |
21 |
| 500-999 Employees |
3 |
| 1000+ Employees |
0 |
| All Exton Businesses |
3909 |
As a new Exton entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Exton 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 |
4 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
4 |
| Art Dealers |
2 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
2 |
| Barber Shops |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
21 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
4 |
| Book Stores |
3 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business Associations |
3 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Car Washes |
1 |
| Caterers |
3 |
| Cement Manufacturing |
1 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child Day Care Services |
11 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
6 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
1 |
| Claims Adjusting |
3 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
3 |
| Collection Agencies |
2 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
5 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
4 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
3 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
25 |
| Computer Training |
2 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
3 |
| Consumer Lending |
3 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Couriers |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
16 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
1 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
4 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
2 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
6 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
3 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
3 |
| Engineering Services |
25 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
4 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
11 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
15 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
2 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
1 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
6 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
2 |
| Flooring Contractors |
3 |
| Florists |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
3 |
| Food Service Contractors |
2 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
30 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
9 |
| General Automotive Repair |
6 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
9 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
1 |
| Graphic Design Services |
3 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Hardware Stores |
2 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
6 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
3 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
2 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
3 |
| Hunting and Trapping |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
24 |
| Interior Design Services |
2 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
3 |
| Internet Service Providers |
3 |
| Investment Advice |
7 |
| Janitorial Services |
13 |
| Jewelry Stores |
11 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
2 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
9 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
23 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
2 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
3 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
11 |
| Medical Laboratories |
5 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
4 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Narrow Fabric Mills |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
4 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
4 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
2 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
1 |
| Office Administrative Services |
6 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
4 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
13 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
11 |
| Offices of Dentists |
31 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
17 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
7 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
4 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
5 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
2 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
8 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
4 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
4 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
1 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
2 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
9 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
4 |
| Portfolio Management |
3 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
3 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
4 |
| Residential Property Managers |
2 |
| Residential Remodelers |
8 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
1 |
| Sales Financing |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
6 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
3 |
| Securities Brokerage |
5 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
12 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
10 |
| Software Publishers |
6 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
6 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
3 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
11 |
| Testing Laboratories |
3 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
7 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
5 |
| Tobacco Stores |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
5 |
| Used Car Dealers |
1 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
3 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
2 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
1 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
17 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
15 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
16 |
Naming the Company
Making the right decision when choosing a company name is very important. There are many decisions you'll make now that you can change later, but changing a company name years down the road is not very easy. So, choose a good company name at the outset.
Before you decide on a company name, run it by some prospective customers and see what they think. If they don't like it, it's probably a good idea to go back to the drawing board.
To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Naming a Company.
On a final note, given that you are planning on starting a business in Exton, it's very important that you make sure no other Pennsylvania company is using the business name you want to use.
Don't Skip the Business Plan
A business plan is vital in maximizing the prospects of your new company. In effect, 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 is a recipe for disaster.
To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Contests. You can also get free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Pennsylvania.
The Art of Selling
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Exton or are selling to customers throughout Pennsylvania, 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.
How to Build and Motivate a Sales Team offers some helpful tips on how to sell. It's one of several good articles on our site regarding Entrepreneurial Selling.
Advancing Your Entrepreneurial Skills
Successful entrepreneurs recognize that they don't know everything.
Given that you are starting a business in Exton, Pennsylvania, you will want to take advantage of the learning programs at local Pennsylvania educational institutions. It's also wise to see if there are any networking groups or organizations in which Exton entrepreneurs get together to network and trade their business experiences.
What's Next?
You have a dream -- starting a business in Exton. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
We are here to help Exton businesses to be successful. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Exton, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Exton, Pennsylvania
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Exton.
Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in Pennsylvania
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