Thinking about starting a business in Fall River, Massachusetts? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Fall River.
Will You Be a Good Entrepreneur?
An entrepreneurial life is difficult, and can be orders of magnitude more strenuous than working as an employee. Are you positive you are ready to take on this challenge?
Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Fall River. They are usually very willing to share their insights on the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur.
- We recommend reading Why Small Businesses Fail. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Get feedback from somebody whom you trust. Others sometimes know you better than you know yourself.
Fall River, Massachusetts Demographic Information
Fall River has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Fall River demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Fall River.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
9189 |
| 5-9 Employees |
3762 |
| 10-19 Employees |
2475 |
| 20-49 Employees |
1692 |
| 50-99 Employees |
657 |
| 100-249 Employees |
351 |
| 250-499 Employees |
117 |
| 500-999 Employees |
9 |
| 1000+ Employees |
27 |
| All Fall River Businesses |
18279 |
As a new Fall River entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Fall River 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 |
|
Abrasive Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
1 |
| Advertising Agencies |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
2 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
3 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
4 |
|
Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
7 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
12 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
2 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
24 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
17 |
|
Boat Building |
2 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Stores |
2 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
2 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
2 |
|
Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
8 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
3 |
| Caterers |
5 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
4 |
| Child and Youth Services |
4 |
| Child Day Care Services |
17 |
|
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
15 |
| Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
2 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
8 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
3 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
10 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
2 |
|
Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
2 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
2 |
| Computer Training |
2 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
1 |
|
Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
4 |
| Convenience Stores |
19 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
16 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
7 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
2 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
1 |
|
Deep Sea Passenger Transportation |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
3 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
17 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
10 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
20 |
|
Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
9 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
4 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
1 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
|
Fabric Coating Mills |
1 |
| Facilities Support Services |
2 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
8 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
1 |
| Finfish Fishing |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
9 |
|
Fish and Seafood Markets |
2 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
5 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
10 |
| Flooring Contractors |
7 |
| Florists |
6 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
1 |
| Food Service Contractors |
3 |
|
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
3 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
1 |
| Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
69 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
12 |
|
Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
11 |
| General Automotive Repair |
24 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
3 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
4 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
7 |
|
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
11 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Graphic Design Services |
3 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
6 |
| Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
|
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Home Health Care Services |
7 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
2 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
3 |
| Industrial Launderers |
2 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
41 |
|
Interior Design Services |
1 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investment Advice |
2 |
| Janitorial Services |
9 |
| Jewelry Stores |
7 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
2 |
| Landscaping Services |
24 |
|
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
52 |
| Limousine Service |
3 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Luggage Manufacturing |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
7 |
|
Marinas |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
2 |
| Meat Markets |
5 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
2 |
| Medical Laboratories |
2 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Metal Stamping |
2 |
|
Mobile Food Services |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
3 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
| Museums |
3 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
2 |
| Narrow Fabric Mills |
2 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
|
New Car Dealers |
8 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
3 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
3 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
4 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
12 |
| Office Administrative Services |
3 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
1 |
|
Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
20 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
15 |
| Offices of Dentists |
29 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
80 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
7 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
3 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
2 |
|
One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
2 |
| Outerwear Knitting Mills |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
4 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
13 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
3 |
|
Passenger Car Leasing |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
1 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
3 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
20 |
|
Photography Studios, Portrait |
1 |
| Port and Harbor Operations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
3 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
2 |
| Quick Printing |
4 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
6 |
|
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
1 |
| Residential Remodelers |
15 |
| Retail Bakeries |
11 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
| Roofing Contractors |
7 |
| Rope, Cordage, and Twine Mills |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
18 |
|
School and Employee Bus Transportation |
3 |
| Securities Brokerage |
6 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
3 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
4 |
| Siding Contractors |
5 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
4 |
|
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
21 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
1 |
| Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators |
1 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
2 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
2 |
|
Tax Preparation Services |
9 |
| Taxi Service |
2 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
10 |
| Temporary Shelters |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
4 |
| Tobacco Stores |
2 |
|
Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
6 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
13 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
3 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
5 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
4 |
| Veterinary Services |
4 |
|
Video Tape and Disc Rental |
10 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
4 |
| Weft Knit Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
1 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
4 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
10 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Yarn Spinning Mills |
1 |
What About Franchising Opportunities?
Examine a list of Fall River businesses and you'll see that franchises make up a large percentage of local businesses. But is franchising the right option for you?
We highly recommend you consider franchising as an option. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as How to Get More Franchisees. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.
Sample franchise opportunities include Child Care Choices and LDI Reproprinting Centers. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Vending Franchises and eBay Franchises.
Note on Fall River Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Fall River.
Do You Need a Business Plan?
Creating a business plan is critical in maximizing the prospects of your new company. Simply put, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Not having a business plan
To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Contests. You should also take advantage of face-to-face free consulting available from your local SCORE chapter in Massachusetts.
Marketing Your New Startup
To grow your Fall River business, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.
We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Business Cards is an article that will stimulate a few thoughts on your marketing plan. That's just a taste of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Ramping Up Sales
Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Fall River business, you need to focus on sales.
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.
Closing Sales Techniques is worth reading, as it may give you some good ideas on how to sell your products or services. We have many more good articles on selling that you may enjoy reading.
What's Next?
As an entrepreneur in Fall River, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Fall River 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.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Fall River, Massachusetts
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Fall River.
- Resources for Fall River, Massachusetts Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Fall River entrepreneurs.
- Massachusetts Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Massachusetts.
- Massachusetts Small Business Development Center - The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) Network provides one-to-one free comprehensive and confidential services focusing on, business growth and strategies, financing and loan assistance as well as strategic, marketing and operational analysis.
- Fall River, Massachusetts Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Fall River, Massachusetts newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Fall River area.
- Fall River, Massachusetts Payroll Services - This list includes Fall River, Massachusetts payroll services, national payroll services for Fall River, and helpful information on choosing a Fall River payroll service.
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