Are you starting a business in Fairfax, Virginia? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Fairfax.
Before announcing to the world that you are going to start your own business, assess your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.
Fairfax has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Fairfax demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Fairfax.
As a new Fairfax entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Fairfax 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 |
7 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
3 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
14 |
| Art Dealers |
4 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
5 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
13 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
3 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
2 |
| Barber Shops |
6 |
| Beauty Salons |
55 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
12 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
4 |
| Book Stores |
7 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
7 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
25 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
5 |
| Cafeterias |
5 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Car Washes |
3 |
| Carpet and Rug Mills |
1 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
6 |
| Caterers |
11 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
5 |
| Child Day Care Services |
31 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
9 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
8 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
7 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
4 |
| Collection Agencies |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
14 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
3 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
11 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
21 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
184 |
| Computer Training |
4 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
4 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
4 |
| Convenience Stores |
21 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
7 |
| Couriers |
5 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
6 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
6 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
4 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
191 |
| Dental Laboratories |
11 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
10 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
4 |
| Digital Printing |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
14 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
7 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
30 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
5 |
| Discount Department Stores |
5 |
| Document Preparation Services |
4 |
| Drafting Services |
4 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
3 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
7 |
| Educational Support Services |
6 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
4 |
| Electrical Contractors |
37 |
| Electronic Shopping |
4 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
6 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
2 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
4 |
| Engineering Services |
93 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
17 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
6 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
9 |
| Facilities Support Services |
8 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
19 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
7 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
23 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
29 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
21 |
| Flooring Contractors |
13 |
| Florists |
9 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
10 |
| Food Service Contractors |
35 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
2 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
6 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
119 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
2 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
30 |
| General Automotive Repair |
48 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
5 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
3 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
16 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
4 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
13 |
| Graphic Design Services |
18 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
7 |
| Home Centers |
5 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Home Health Care Services |
16 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
7 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
4 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
3 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Industrial Sand Mining |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
118 |
| Interior Design Services |
16 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
3 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
10 |
| Investment Advice |
16 |
| Janitorial Services |
57 |
| Jewelry Stores |
23 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
4 |
| Land Subdivision |
8 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
3 |
| Landscaping Services |
56 |
| Language Schools |
3 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
128 |
| Limousine Service |
3 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
2 |
| Locksmiths |
5 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
3 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
31 |
| Masonry Contractors |
15 |
| Meat Markets |
2 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
6 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
31 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
10 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
5 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
11 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
19 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
7 |
| News Syndicates |
3 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
12 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
4 |
| Office Administrative Services |
30 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
6 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
50 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
22 |
| Offices of Dentists |
106 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
295 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
19 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
8 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
16 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
3 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
12 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
5 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
39 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
8 |
| Payroll Services |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
6 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
8 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
3 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
13 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
10 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
15 |
| Prepress Services |
4 |
| Private Mail Centers |
7 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
2 |
| Professional Organizations |
21 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
4 |
| Quick Printing |
8 |
| Radio Stations |
4 |
| Real Estate Credit |
49 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
5 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
2 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
19 |
| Residential Remodelers |
75 |
| Retail Bakeries |
4 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
6 |
| Roofing Contractors |
7 |
| Sales Financing |
2 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
7 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
10 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
10 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
2 |
| Shoe Stores |
23 |
| Siding Contractors |
19 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
3 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
5 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
23 |
| Software Publishers |
13 |
| Software Reproducing |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
4 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
16 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
13 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Steel Foundries (except Investment) |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
11 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
14 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
7 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Tire Dealers |
6 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
46 |
| Tobacco Stores |
2 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
2 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
19 |
| Used Car Dealers |
5 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
3 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
4 |
| Veterinary Services |
16 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
10 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
5 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
5 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
9 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
19 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
26 |
Examine a list of Fairfax businesses and you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. But is franchising the right option for you?
We advise the entrepreneurs we work with to consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchise Due Diligence. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
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.
We strongly advocate that you make sure the ".com" domain name is available for your company name. Every business needs a strong Web presence these days, and having a non ".com" domain means somebody else may outrank you in the search results for your own company name.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are starting a business in Fairfax, it's very important that you make sure no other Virginia company is using the business name you want to use.
Creating a business plan is critical in laying a solid foundation for your business success. Simply put, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Not having a business plan
Whether your goal is to attract Fairfax customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you need a solid marketing plan.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Fairfax. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Fairfax and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Fairfax, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Fairfax.
