Thinking about starting a business in Flushing, New York? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Flushing.
Do You Have Entrepreneurial Drive and Passion?
An entrepreneurial life is demanding, much harder than working as an employee. Are you certain you want to go into business for yourself?
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 Flushing. 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?
Choosing a business that is right for you is very important. To stir your creative juices on what kind of business to start, take a look at Free Business Ideas.
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 Starting a Dance Club guide or our Starting a Tatoo Parlor guide.
Don't forget that you are starting a business in Flushing. Some businesses will do better in Flushing than others. Make sure you fully understand Flushing demographics before you lock in on your business idea.
Flushing, New York Demographic Information
Flushing has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Flushing demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Flushing.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
26164 |
| 5-9 Employees |
3964 |
| 10-19 Employees |
2178 |
| 20-49 Employees |
1302 |
| 50-99 Employees |
480 |
| 100-249 Employees |
168 |
| 250-499 Employees |
96 |
| 500-999 Employees |
48 |
| 1000+ Employees |
18 |
| All Flushing Businesses |
34418 |
As a new Flushing entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Flushing 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 |
9 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
2 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
23 |
| Art Dealers |
3 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
11 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
2 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
7 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
5 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
23 |
| Barber Shops |
26 |
| Beauty Salons |
151 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
20 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
16 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
4 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
5 |
| Cafeterias |
3 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
7 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
2 |
| Caterers |
6 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
2 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
3 |
| Child Day Care Services |
38 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
11 |
| Claims Adjusting |
3 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
10 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
28 |
| Collection Agencies |
3 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
3 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
8 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
2 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
3 |
| Community Food Services |
3 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
10 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
27 |
| Computer Training |
5 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
2 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Consumer Lending |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
15 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
9 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
4 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
40 |
| Dental Laboratories |
12 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
13 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
8 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Document Preparation Services |
4 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
49 |
| Dry Pasta Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
20 |
| Educational Support Services |
10 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
34 |
| Electronic Shopping |
7 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
18 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
6 |
| Engineering Services |
10 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
3 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
18 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
5 |
| Facilities Support Services |
3 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
17 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
14 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
22 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
7 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
15 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
16 |
| Flight Training |
2 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
12 |
| Flooring Contractors |
8 |
| Florists |
15 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
22 |
| Food Service Contractors |
13 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
7 |
| Framing Contractors |
4 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
16 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
11 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
223 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
10 |
| Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
10 |
| Furniture Stores |
28 |
| General Automotive Repair |
65 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
25 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
27 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
6 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
3 |
| Graphic Design Services |
12 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
13 |
| Hardware Stores |
20 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
3 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
8 |
| Home Centers |
7 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
11 |
| Home Health Care Services |
5 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
3 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
7 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
3 |
| Inland Water Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
80 |
| Interior Design Services |
8 |
| Internet Service Providers |
6 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
6 |
| Janitorial Services |
21 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
2 |
| Jewelry Stores |
30 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
4 |
| Landscaping Services |
29 |
| Language Schools |
4 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
4 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
163 |
| Limousine Service |
13 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
8 |
| Locksmiths |
5 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
6 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
10 |
| Masonry Contractors |
9 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
14 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
3 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
4 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
9 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
5 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
7 |
| Museums |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Nail Salons |
49 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
5 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
4 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
11 |
| News Syndicates |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
11 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
13 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
10 |
| Office Administrative Services |
27 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
10 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
30 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
22 |
| Offices of Dentists |
149 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
83 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
10 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
20 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
2 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
4 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
17 |
| Outerwear Knitting Mills |
2 |
| Packing and Crating |
3 |
| Paging |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
42 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
12 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
5 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
4 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
8 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
64 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
12 |
| Political Organizations |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
2 |
| Primary Aluminum Production |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
2 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
2 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
2 |
| Quick Printing |
7 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
3 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
4 |
| Real Estate Credit |
7 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
3 |
| Residential Property Managers |
41 |
| Residential Remodelers |
88 |
| Retail Bakeries |
15 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
1 |
| Rice Milling |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
4 |
| Sales Financing |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
24 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
24 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
4 |
| Securities Brokerage |
5 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
8 |
| Shoe Stores |
14 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
5 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
8 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
40 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
4 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
7 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
4 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
11 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
13 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
15 |
| Taxi Service |
14 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
5 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
3 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
10 |
| Tire Dealers |
4 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
3 |
| Tobacco Stores |
3 |
| Tour Operators |
11 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
50 |
| Used Car Dealers |
5 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
3 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
2 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
3 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
12 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
2 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
49 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
4 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
7 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
34 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
2 |
Is a Franchise Opportunity Right For You?
Browse the Yellow Pages for Flushing and it's apparent that franchising has become a very popular way to start a business. But is franchising the right option for you?
Our advice is to consider franchising as an option. On our site, you can read many articles about franchising, such as Franchising and Veterans. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.
A comprehensive list of franchisors is available via our List of Franchise Opportunities.
Sample franchise opportunities include Subway Franchises and Starbucks Franchises. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Accounting Franchises and Moving Franchises.
Note on Flushing Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Flushing.
Is Buying an Existing Flushing Business a Good Strategy?
If you have some capital to play with, you may want to Buy a Business in New York. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Flushing.
For anybody who wants to buy a business, we recommend reading this useful article: Buying a Business.
Naming the Company
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.
Companies like Starbucks, Apple, Target, Microsoft and Intuit all have strong company names that are easy to remember and have become well-loved brands. Wouldn't it be nice if your new company name got on a similar track?
Numerous company naming issues are discussed in more detail in this article: Branding Advice.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are starting a business in Flushing, it's critical that you ensure that no New York company has already registered the company name you have selected.
Forming a Company in Flushing, New York
It's very important that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will shield 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.
Incorporation 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 New York, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in New York. In fact, you can incorporate in the state of your choosing. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.
There are many nuances to forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Incorporating Online. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Flushing, New York, our web page covering Incorporating in New York may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in New York.
Do You Need a Business Plan?
Writing a business plan is vital to the health of your new business. Indeed, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. Starting a business without a business plan will greatly reduce your chances of business success.
To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Software. You should also take advantage of free business counselors available to you through your local SCORE chapter in New York.
Where to Get Money to Start a Company
Obtaining startup financing for your Flushing business is not an easy task. 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 504 Loans.
For Flushing entrepreneurs with great ambition but a shortage of investment capital, browse our List of New York Angel Investors and our List of New York Venture Capital Firms.
Marketing Your New Venture
To rise above the crowd in Flushing and build your business, you need a great marketing plan.
There are myriad resources on this site to help you with your marketing plan. Getting Publicity is an article that will stimulate a few thoughts on your marketing plan. That's just a sampling of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Selling Tips
Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Flushing business, you need to focus on sales.
Why should customers buy from you instead of buying from competitors? The good news is we can help you to make selling a big competitve advantage for your new firm.
How to Build and Motivate a Sales Team is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.
Advancing Your Entrepreneurial Skills
The best entrepreneurs recognize that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.
With your business being located in Flushing, New York, you should check out some of the many programs available at nearby New York universities, colleges and community colleges. Another way to keep up on your entrepreneurial education is to investigate networking groups or organizations in which Flushing entrepreneurs get together to network and trade their business experiences.
Now It's Up To You
As an entrepreneur in Flushing, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
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 Flushing 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 Flushing, New York
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Flushing.
Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in New York
Starting a Business in Floral Park
Starting a Business in Forest Hills
Browse All
Business Startup Guides for New York
