Thinking about starting a business in Florissant, Missouri? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Florissant.
Do You Have Entrepreneurial Drive and Passion?
Most startup ventures fail, in part because the founder did not have the tenacity and/or the skills to succeed. So, before you start your business, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
Because entrepreneurship is not for everyone, we recommend you do the following to help you assess whether you should move forward with starting a business:
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Florissant. 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.
What Business Are You Starting?
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. We recommend that you read 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 How to Start a Coal & Coke Wholesale Business guide or our Opening a Marine Equipment & Supplies Retail Business guide.
Don't forget that starting a business in Florissant has some implications. Some businesses will do better in Florissant than others. A critical consideration is whether Florissant demographics mesh well with your startup concept.
Florissant, Missouri Demographic Information
Florissant has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Florissant demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Florissant.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
2736 |
| 5-9 Employees |
1119 |
| 10-19 Employees |
693 |
| 20-49 Employees |
435 |
| 50-99 Employees |
147 |
| 100-249 Employees |
96 |
| 250-499 Employees |
0 |
| 500-999 Employees |
0 |
| 1000+ Employees |
0 |
| All Florissant Businesses |
5226 |
As a new Florissant entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Florissant 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 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
|
Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
2 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
2 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
10 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
2 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
2 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
|
Beauty Salons |
29 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
3 |
| Book Stores |
3 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
2 |
| Business Associations |
2 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
7 |
|
Car Washes |
4 |
| Caterers |
3 |
| Child Day Care Services |
31 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
5 |
| Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
4 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
2 |
|
Collection Agencies |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
6 |
| Computer Training |
3 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
|
Consumer Lending |
8 |
| Convenience Stores |
7 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
2 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
3 |
| Credit Unions |
7 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
5 |
| Dental Laboratories |
4 |
|
Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
3 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
1 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
4 |
| Discount Department Stores |
4 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
13 |
|
Electrical Contractors |
11 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
9 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
6 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
2 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
5 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
|
Family Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
6 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
5 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
6 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
4 |
|
Flooring Contractors |
6 |
| Florists |
8 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
10 |
| Food Service Contractors |
3 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
2 |
| Framing Contractors |
3 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
2 |
|
Full-Service Restaurants |
46 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
3 |
| Furniture Stores |
6 |
| General Automotive Repair |
25 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
5 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
9 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
|
Graphic Design Services |
2 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
4 |
| Home Centers |
3 |
| Home Health Care Services |
5 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
2 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
4 |
|
Industrial Sand Mining |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
51 |
| Interior Design Services |
4 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
1 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
3 |
| Investment Advice |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
36 |
|
Jewelry Stores |
10 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
2 |
| Land Subdivision |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
41 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
2 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
78 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
2 |
|
Machine Shops |
2 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
2 |
| Masonry Contractors |
3 |
| Meat Markets |
3 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
4 |
|
Motor Vehicle Towing |
4 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
6 |
| New Car Dealers |
5 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
2 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
10 |
| Office Administrative Services |
3 |
|
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
3 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
6 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
9 |
| Offices of Dentists |
47 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
8 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
7 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
|
Offices of Podiatrists |
3 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
8 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
9 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
8 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
1 |
|
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
6 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
11 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
8 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
3 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
1 |
|
Quick Printing |
3 |
| Radio Stations |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
12 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
6 |
| Residential Remodelers |
25 |
| Retail Bakeries |
3 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
1 |
|
Roofing Contractors |
7 |
| Savings Institutions |
2 |
| Securities Brokerage |
19 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
2 |
| Ship Building and Repairing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
15 |
| Siding Contractors |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
5 |
|
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
12 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
12 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
3 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
14 |
| Temporary Help Services |
3 |
| Testing Laboratories |
3 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
|
Tire Dealers |
14 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
2 |
| Tobacco Stores |
1 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
3 |
| Used Car Dealers |
7 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
1 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
6 |
|
Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
7 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
7 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
3 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
15 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
3 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
13 |
Company Formation in Florissant, Missouri
It's very important that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will separate you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
When forming a company, you will pick from many company types, such as a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
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 Missouri, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Missouri. In fact, you are allowed to incorporate in any state you would like to. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.
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 Nevada Incorporation. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Florissant, Missouri, our web page covering Incorporating in Missouri may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Missouri.
Raising Funding for Your Venture
Raising money to fund your new Florissant business is very difficult due to the ongoing business credit crunch. Bootstrapping, which means growing the business without outside funding, is the best alternative, but that's not a viable option for many startup plans.
To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as Getting a Small Business Loan.
For Florissant entrepreneurs in need of startup financing, check out our List of Missouri Angel Investors and our List of Missouri Venture Capital Firms.
Letting the World Know You Exist
To rise above the crowd in Florissant and build your business, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.
We have some useful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Advertising on Google 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 taste of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
The Art of Selling
Mastering the art of selling is a must if you want your new Florissant business to do well.
Why should customers buy from you instead of buying from competitors? Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
Anticipating Prospect Responses offers some helpful tips on how to sell. It's one of several good articles on our site regarding Entrepreneurial Selling.
Now It's Up To You
Most new Florissant 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.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Florissant 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 Florissant, Missouri
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Florissant.
- Resources for Florissant, Missouri Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Florissant entrepreneurs.
- Missouri Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Missouri.
- Missouri Small Business Development Center - Missouri Small Business Development Center business specialists are uniquely qualified to help small businesses get started, develop and thrive.
- Florissant, Missouri Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Florissant, Missouri newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Florissant area.
- Florissant, Missouri Radio Advertising Prices - To help you in your marketing efforts, we've gathered radio advertising rates for Florissant, Missouri area radio stations.
- Florissant, Missouri Payroll Services - This list includes Florissant, Missouri payroll services, national payroll services for Florissant, and helpful information on choosing a Florissant payroll service.
- Florissant, Missouri Businesses for Sale - This list includes resources for buying a business in Florissant, Missouri, such as business brokers in Florissant and other helpful information on how to buy a Florissant business.
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