Thinking about starting a business in Fayetteville, North Carolina? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Fayetteville.
What Type of Business Should You Start?
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. To stir your creative juices on what kind of business to start, take a look at Evaluating Your Idea.
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 Opening a Wholesaler & Manufacturer Vending Machine Parts & Supplies Business guide or our How to Start a Wallpapers & Wallcoverings Equipment & Supplies Store guide.
Don't forget that starting a business in Fayetteville has some implications. Think about what needs are currently being underserved in Fayetteville. Study Fayetteville demographics and do a competitive analysis as part of your startup planning process.
Fayetteville, North Carolina Demographic Information
Fayetteville has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Fayetteville demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Fayetteville.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
67110 |
| 5-9 Employees |
31800 |
| 10-19 Employees |
21450 |
| 20-49 Employees |
14940 |
| 50-99 Employees |
4530 |
| 100-249 Employees |
2400 |
| 250-499 Employees |
330 |
| 500-999 Employees |
330 |
| 1000+ Employees |
90 |
| All Fayetteville Businesses |
142980 |
As a new Fayetteville entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Fayetteville 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 |
3 |
| Amusement Arcades |
3 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
6 |
| Architectural Services |
11 |
| Armored Car Services |
1 |
| Art Dealers |
4 |
| Automobile Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
5 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
9 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
43 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
12 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
6 |
| Barber Shops |
7 |
| Beauty Salons |
28 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
9 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
1 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
2 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
7 |
| Bowling Centers |
3 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business Associations |
5 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
3 |
| Cafeterias |
8 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Car Washes |
15 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
9 |
| Caterers |
3 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
4 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
5 |
| Child Day Care Services |
94 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
18 |
| Claims Adjusting |
5 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
4 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
7 |
| Collection Agencies |
3 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
5 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
4 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
9 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
4 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
9 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
2 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
3 |
| Consumer Lending |
11 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
7 |
| Convenience Stores |
18 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
2 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
3 |
| Couriers |
3 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
11 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
8 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
1 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
6 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
7 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
9 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
2 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
7 |
| Discount Department Stores |
4 |
| Document Preparation Services |
2 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
39 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
9 |
| Educational Support Services |
3 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
47 |
| Electronic Shopping |
2 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
8 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
2 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
4 |
| Engineering Services |
17 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
3 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
11 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
26 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Farm Management Services |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
11 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
7 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
19 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
14 |
| Flooring Contractors |
11 |
| Florists |
12 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
8 |
| Food Service Contractors |
7 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
2 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
6 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
4 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
155 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
7 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
30 |
| General Automotive Repair |
59 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
10 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
3 |
| General Rental Centers |
6 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
10 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
15 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
2 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
3 |
| Graphic Design Services |
3 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Hardware Stores |
8 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
4 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
11 |
| Home Centers |
4 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
40 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
3 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
14 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
5 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
3 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
105 |
| Interior Design Services |
10 |
| Internet Service Providers |
3 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
9 |
| Janitorial Services |
36 |
| Jewelry Stores |
23 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
2 |
| Land Subdivision |
10 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
5 |
| Landscaping Services |
45 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
5 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
166 |
| Linen Supply |
2 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
4 |
| Machine Shops |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
3 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
13 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
8 |
| Masonry Contractors |
15 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
2 |
| Meat Markets |
3 |
| Media Representatives |
3 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
14 |
| Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
19 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
8 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
5 |
| Museums |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Nail Salons |
2 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
3 |
| Natural Gas Liquid Extraction |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
19 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
15 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
3 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
8 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
15 |
| Office Administrative Services |
10 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
8 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
29 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
19 |
| Offices of Dentists |
62 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
109 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
14 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
4 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
19 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
14 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
4 |
| Outerwear Knitting Mills |
1 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paging |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
6 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
21 |
| Paperboard Mills |
1 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
3 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
15 |
| Payroll Services |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
8 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
8 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
24 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
11 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
1 |
| Poultry Processing |
1 |
| Power-Driven Handtool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
5 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
3 |
| Professional Organizations |
3 |
| Quick Printing |
2 |
| Racetracks |
3 |
| Radio Networks |
2 |
| Radio Stations |
9 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
3 |
| Real Estate Credit |
24 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
3 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
2 |
| Remediation Services |
3 |
| Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
17 |
| Residential Remodelers |
31 |
| Retail Bakeries |
3 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
6 |
| Roofing Contractors |
6 |
| Sales Financing |
2 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
3 |
| Securities Brokerage |
18 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
9 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
3 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
3 |
| Shoe Stores |
26 |
| Siding Contractors |
3 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
5 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
5 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
15 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
4 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Soybean Processing |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
10 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
3 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
2 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
26 |
| Taxi Service |
2 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
3 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
17 |
| Testing Laboratories |
4 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
3 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
5 |
| Timber Tract Operations |
1 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
28 |
| Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading) |
1 |
| Tobacco Stores |
8 |
| Tour Operators |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
6 |
| Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing |
1 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
3 |
| Underwear and Nightwear Knitting Mills |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
33 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
22 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
12 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
4 |
| Veterinary Services |
21 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
25 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
3 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
3 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
3 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
9 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
3 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
16 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
32 |
| Yarn Spinning Mills |
1 |
Should You Franchise?
As you drive around Fayetteville, it becomes clear that purchasing a franchise is a common way to get started as an entrepreneur. Should you be giving franchising serious consideration?
Most business experts recommend that you consider franchising as an option. To help you learn more about franchising, we've gathered a ton of articles on franchising, including Multi-Unit Franchising. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
You can find franchise opportunities by browsing our Franchise Opportunities Directory.
Sample franchise opportunities include Hamburger Mary's Bar & Grille and Kidstage. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Carpet Retail Franchises and Home Inspection Franchises.
Note on Fayetteville Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Fayetteville.
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.
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.
For other considerations regarding naming a company, we recommend this article: Branding Advice.
On a final note, given that you are starting a business in Fayetteville, it's imperative that you check now that your company name has not already been claimed by another North Carolina business.
Forming a Company in Fayetteville, North Carolina
It's essential that you form your business as a legal structure. Doing so will insulate you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
When forming a company, you will choose from many company types, such as a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
Incorporating is a very popular way to form a business. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. If you are starting a business in North Carolina, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in North Carolina. As it turns out, you can incorporate wherever you want. For example, it's very popular to incorporate in Delaware, and incorporating in Nevada has become very trendy as well. Don't forget, though, that you will have to register as a foreign entity in all states that you do business in.
There are many nuances to forming a company. To learn the fundamentals of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Why Incorporate in Delaware. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Fayetteville, North Carolina, our web page covering Incorporating in North Carolina may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in North Carolina.
Marketing Your New Company
To rise above the crowd in Fayetteville and grow your business, you need a excellent marketing plan.
You can learn plenty about marketing on our site. Examples of Marketing Strategies discusses marketing strategy and tactical marketing in a way that should get you thinking about how to creatively promote your business. That's just a sampling of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Never Give Up
Most new Fayetteville 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.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Fayetteville and throughout the United States . 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 Fayetteville, North Carolina
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Fayetteville.
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