Thinking about starting a business in Farmington, Michigan? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Farmington.
Do You Have Entrepreneurial Drive and Passion?
Before you get too far along in the process, take inventory of your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
While entrepreneurship has become a popular career choice, we recommend you do the following before you take the plunge:
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Farmington. Get their candid feedback on what it takes to start a successful business.
- We recommend reading Should You Become an Entrepreneur?. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Have a candid conversation with friends and family. A support network of family and friends can be a great sounding board for good advice before you decide for sure to go into business.
Farmington, Michigan Demographic Information
Farmington has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Farmington demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Farmington.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
98640 |
| 5-9 Employees |
32250 |
| 10-19 Employees |
24855 |
| 20-49 Employees |
15840 |
| 50-99 Employees |
5805 |
| 100-249 Employees |
3735 |
| 250-499 Employees |
1035 |
| 500-999 Employees |
405 |
| 1000+ Employees |
45 |
| All Farmington Businesses |
182610 |
As a new Farmington entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Farmington 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 |
11 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
18 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
3 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
2 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
3 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
6 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
5 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Barber Shops |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
41 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
17 |
| Book Publishers |
3 |
| Book Stores |
3 |
| Bowling Centers |
5 |
| Building Inspection Services |
4 |
| Business Associations |
8 |
| Cafeterias |
2 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Car Washes |
12 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
6 |
| Caterers |
10 |
| Child and Youth Services |
2 |
| Child Day Care Services |
37 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
6 |
| Claims Adjusting |
5 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
4 |
| Collection Agencies |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
3 |
| Commercial Photography |
3 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
3 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
3 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
5 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
54 |
| Computer Training |
2 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
2 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
4 |
| Convenience Stores |
12 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
2 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Couriers |
1 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
5 |
| Credit Bureaus |
3 |
| Credit Unions |
6 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
61 |
| Dental Laboratories |
11 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
7 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
4 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
5 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
5 |
| Document Preparation Services |
2 |
| Drafting Services |
2 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
6 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
4 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
35 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
5 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
12 |
| Engineering Services |
67 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
5 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
4 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
2 |
| Facilities Support Services |
3 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
7 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
8 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
16 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
21 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
6 |
| Flooring Contractors |
7 |
| Florists |
7 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
4 |
| Food Service Contractors |
18 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
2 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
3 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
78 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
3 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
8 |
| General Automotive Repair |
14 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
5 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
4 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
11 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
1 |
| Graphic Design Services |
11 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
3 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
7 |
| Hardware Stores |
5 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
3 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Home Health Care Services |
17 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
10 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
1 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
3 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
2 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
109 |
| Interior Design Services |
7 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
2 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
4 |
| Investment Advice |
17 |
| Iron and Steel Forging |
1 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
27 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
2 |
| Jewelry Stores |
12 |
| Land Subdivision |
7 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
2 |
| Landscaping Services |
37 |
| Language Schools |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
10 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
81 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
2 |
| Locksmiths |
2 |
| Machine Shops |
6 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
4 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
2 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
28 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
7 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
4 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
1 |
| Metal Stamping |
2 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
6 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
22 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
7 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
2 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
2 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
9 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
14 |
| News Syndicates |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
6 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
17 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
10 |
| Office Administrative Services |
22 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
5 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
105 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
19 |
| Offices of Dentists |
89 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
199 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
12 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
8 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
13 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
11 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
5 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
2 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
19 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
4 |
| Payroll Services |
9 |
| Periodical Publishers |
6 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
7 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
5 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
16 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
6 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
3 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
10 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
4 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
20 |
| Professional Organizations |
3 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
10 |
| Quick Printing |
4 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
15 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
32 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
31 |
| Residential Remodelers |
27 |
| Retail Bakeries |
2 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
3 |
| Roofing Contractors |
9 |
| Sales Financing |
9 |
| Savings Institutions |
17 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
21 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
3 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
2 |
| Shoe Stores |
7 |
| Siding Contractors |
5 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
3 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
10 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
23 |
| Software Publishers |
13 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
2 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
7 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
3 |
| Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
7 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
3 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
2 |
| Temporary Help Services |
32 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
4 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
4 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
7 |
| Tobacco Stores |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
7 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
2 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
2 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
3 |
| Veterinary Services |
6 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
6 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
2 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
3 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
63 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
14 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
7 |
Is a Franchise Opportunity Right For You?
Browse the Yellow Pages for Farmington 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 look into purchasing a franchise. We have many articles on franchises, such as Before Buying a Franchise. 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 TruePresence and Disaster Kleenup. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Carpet Care Franchises and Deli Restaurant Franchises.
Note on Farmington Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Farmington, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.
Naming the Business
A big decision when starting a company is choosing a company name. Believe it or not, choosing a good company name can be a big contributor to your business success.
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: Branding Advice.
As a final piece of advice, remember that because you are planning on starting a business in Farmington, it's very important that you make sure no Michigan company has already registered the company name you have selected.
Where to Get Money to Start a Company
Obtaining startup financing for your Farmington business requires strong organization skills and perseverance. To obtain business financing, you will need to hear a lot of rejections before you finally find a funding solution that works for you.
Fortunately, this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled Angel Investors.
For Farmington entrepreneurs who want to raise money for a new venture, check out our List of Michigan Angel Investors and our List of Michigan Venture Capital Firms.
Promoting Your New Company
To grow your Farmington business, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your business achieving its goals.
There are myriad resources on this site to help you with your marketing plan. Advertising Campaigns is a good read to get your marketing juices flowing. That's just one of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Improving Your Entrepreneurial Skillset
Successful entrepreneurs recognize that they need to continually improve.
With your business being located in Farmington, Michigan, you should investigate some of the many programs available at nearby Michigan universities, colleges and community colleges. Another way to keep up on your entrepreneurial education is to investigate networking groups or organizations in which Farmington entrepreneurs get together to network and trade their business experiences.
Now It's Up To You
You have a dream -- starting a business in Farmington. 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 Farmington and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Farmington, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Farmington, Michigan
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Farmington.
- Resources for Farmington, Michigan Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Farmington entrepreneurs.
- Michigan Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Michigan.
- Michigan Small Business Development Center - This organization supports 12 regional offices and over 30 satellite offices, each providing counseling and training to Michigan small business owners and entrepreneurs throughout the 83 counties in Michigan. Services to entrepreneurs are offered through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
- Farmington, Michigan Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Farmington, Michigan newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Farmington area.
More Business Startup Guides for Michigan
Starting a Business in Escanaba
Starting a Business in Farmington Hills
Browse All
Business Startup Guides for Michigan
