Thinking about starting a business in Findlay, Ohio? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Findlay.
Choosing the Right Company to 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 Business Ideas That Don't Make Sense.
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 an Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Shop guide or our Opening a Pediatrics Dentists Business guide.
Don't forget that your new startup will be located in Findlay. Think about what needs are currently being underserved in Findlay. A critical consideration is whether Findlay demographics mesh well with your startup concept.
Findlay, Ohio Demographic Information
Findlay has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Findlay demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Findlay.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
4230 |
| 5-9 Employees |
1980 |
| 10-19 Employees |
1602 |
| 20-49 Employees |
900 |
| 50-99 Employees |
366 |
| 100-249 Employees |
252 |
| 250-499 Employees |
60 |
| 500-999 Employees |
30 |
| 1000+ Employees |
24 |
| All Findlay Businesses |
9444 |
As a new Findlay entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Findlay 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 |
| Aluminum Extruded Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
3 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
2 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
1 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
11 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
2 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
24 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
3 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Book Stores |
4 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
2 |
| Business Associations |
4 |
| Car Washes |
4 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
2 |
| Caterers |
1 |
| Cement Manufacturing |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
3 |
| Child Day Care Services |
10 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
14 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
3 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
4 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
3 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
3 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
2 |
| Convenience Stores |
9 |
| Couriers |
2 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
5 |
| Crop Harvesting, Primarily by Machine |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
3 |
| Dental Laboratories |
1 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
2 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
4 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
1 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
2 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
15 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
1 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
10 |
| Electronic Shopping |
2 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
1 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
10 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
1 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
2 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
6 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
4 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
5 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
11 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
5 |
| Flooring Contractors |
1 |
| Florists |
8 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
2 |
| Food Service Contractors |
6 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
3 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
52 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
3 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
6 |
| General Automotive Repair |
14 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
8 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
13 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
5 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
4 |
| Graphic Design Services |
4 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
5 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
3 |
| Home Centers |
3 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
5 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
6 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
3 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
2 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
40 |
| Interior Design Services |
2 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
1 |
| Internet Service Providers |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
4 |
| Iron Foundries |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
14 |
| Jewelry Stores |
12 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
4 |
| Landscaping Services |
17 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
3 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
49 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
2 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
3 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
3 |
| Masonry Contractors |
1 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
2 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Metal Can Manufacturing |
1 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
5 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
2 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
2 |
| Museums |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Nail Salons |
1 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
2 |
| New Car Dealers |
8 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
3 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
6 |
| Office Administrative Services |
3 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
3 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
16 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
18 |
| Offices of Dentists |
24 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
29 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
6 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
3 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
3 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
5 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
7 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
2 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
3 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
8 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
4 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil |
1 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
1 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
2 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
2 |
| Professional Organizations |
2 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
9 |
| Real Estate Credit |
2 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
2 |
| Residential Remodelers |
13 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
3 |
| Sales Financing |
3 |
| Savings Institutions |
2 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
8 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
2 |
| Shoe Stores |
7 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
3 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
6 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
8 |
| Software Publishers |
3 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
6 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
5 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
2 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
10 |
| Temporary Shelters |
2 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
6 |
| Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading) |
2 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
3 |
| Tobacco Stores |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
5 |
| Used Car Dealers |
9 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
2 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
4 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
5 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
5 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
2 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
4 |
| Wineries |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
5 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
7 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Preservation |
1 |
Should You Franchise?
Browse the Yellow Pages for Findlay and you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. But is franchising the right option for you?
We highly recommend you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchising My Business. 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.
Representative franchise opportunities include FasTracKids International Ltd. and Hunting Lease Network. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Healthy Alternative Foods Franchises and Payroll Service Franchises.
Note on Findlay Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Findlay.
Have You Considered Buying an Existing Findlay Business?
An excellent way to get started in business is to Buy a Business in Ohio. Follow that link and you might discover several good businesses for sale in Findlay.
Before buying a business, be sure to read this article: Buying a Business.
Company Formation in Findlay, Ohio
It's essential that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will insulate you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
The entity you form can be 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. Just because you are starting a business in Ohio, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Ohio. In fact, you can incorporate in any state you would like to. 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's a lot to know about forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as LLC Advantages. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Findlay, Ohio, our information on Incorporating in Ohio may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Ohio.
Marketing Your New Business
Whether your goal is to attract Findlay customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.
There are myriad resources on this site to help you with your marketing plan. Marketing Basics 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 Findlay businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
We are here to help Findlay businesses to be successful. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Findlay entrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Findlay, Ohio
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Findlay.
- Resources for Findlay, Ohio Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Findlay entrepreneurs.
- Ohio Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Ohio.
- Ohio Small Business Development Center - Whether you're starting your business, expanding your business, or just looking to stay in business, the Small Business Development Centers of Ohio (SBDCs of Ohio) can help with professional guidance by connecting you with research, financing sources, and training opportunities.
- Findlay, Ohio Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Findlay, Ohio newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Findlay area.
- Findlay, Ohio Radio Advertising Prices - To help you in your marketing efforts, we've gathered radio advertising rates for Findlay, Ohio area radio stations.
More Business Startup Guides for Ohio
Starting a Business in Fairlawn
Starting a Business in Fostoria
Browse All
Business Startup Guides for Ohio
