Contemplating starting a business in Fort Walton Beach, Florida? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Fort Walton Beach.
What Type of Business Should You Start?
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. To help you decide on a business type, we encourage you to read How to Evaluate a Business 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 an Aircraft Research & Development Business guide or our Starting a Map Designers, Publishers, & Distributors Business guide.
Remember that you are opening your new business in Fort Walton Beach. Some businesses will do better in Fort Walton Beach than others. Don't forget to review Fort Walton Beach demographics to see if there's a market for what you want to sell.
Fort Walton Beach, Florida Demographic Information
Fort Walton Beach has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Fort Walton Beach demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Fort Walton Beach.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
2962 |
| 5-9 Employees |
1191 |
| 10-19 Employees |
714 |
| 20-49 Employees |
510 |
| 50-99 Employees |
162 |
| 100-249 Employees |
105 |
| 250-499 Employees |
6 |
| 500-999 Employees |
12 |
| 1000+ Employees |
3 |
| All Fort Walton Beach Businesses |
5665 |
As a new Fort Walton Beach entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Fort Walton Beach 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 |
4 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
5 |
| Architectural Services |
8 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
2 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
21 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
4 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
2 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
19 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
8 |
| Boat Building |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
10 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
4 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
4 |
| Business Associations |
2 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
3 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
5 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
7 |
| Child and Youth Services |
1 |
| Child Day Care Services |
16 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
11 |
| Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
6 |
| Collection Agencies |
4 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
4 |
| Consumer Lending |
6 |
| Convenience Stores |
2 |
| Couriers |
5 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
3 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
3 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
7 |
| Dance Companies |
2 |
| Dental Laboratories |
5 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
5 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
1 |
| Display Advertising |
2 |
| Document Preparation Services |
3 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
11 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
11 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
4 |
| Electrical Contractors |
24 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Connector Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
6 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
3 |
| Engineering Services |
19 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
1 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
2 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
11 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
7 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
2 |
| Finfish Fishing |
2 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
9 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
5 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
7 |
| Flooring Contractors |
9 |
| Florists |
4 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
3 |
| Food Service Contractors |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
64 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
4 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
16 |
| General Automotive Repair |
22 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
1 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
6 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
9 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
2 |
| Graphic Design Services |
2 |
| Greeting Card Publishers |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
5 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
2 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
2 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
4 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
36 |
| Interior Design Services |
6 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
2 |
| Janitorial Services |
21 |
| Jewelry Stores |
9 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
3 |
| Land Subdivision |
2 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
2 |
| Landscaping Services |
24 |
| Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
3 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
35 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Machine Shops |
3 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
1 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
1 |
| Marinas |
4 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
4 |
| Masonry Contractors |
9 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
4 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
3 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
4 |
| Museums |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Nail Salons |
4 |
| New Car Dealers |
12 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
6 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
4 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
4 |
| Office Administrative Services |
3 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
4 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
15 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
9 |
| Offices of Dentists |
30 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
37 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
4 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
3 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
8 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
17 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
4 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
5 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
8 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
3 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
2 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
2 |
| Quick Printing |
3 |
| Radio Stations |
2 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
4 |
| Real Estate Credit |
10 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
4 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
13 |
| Residential Remodelers |
22 |
| Retail Bakeries |
3 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
| Roofing Contractors |
6 |
| Sales Financing |
3 |
| Securities Brokerage |
4 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
1 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
2 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
4 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
6 |
| Software Publishers |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
3 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
8 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
6 |
| Taxi Service |
2 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
5 |
| Temporary Shelters |
2 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
7 |
| Tire Dealers |
11 |
| Tire Retreading |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
5 |
| Tobacco Stores |
3 |
| Travel Agencies |
4 |
| Used Car Dealers |
14 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
5 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
8 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
4 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
6 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
2 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
3 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
7 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Yarn Spinning Mills |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
Should You Franchise?
As you drive around Fort Walton Beach, 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 evaluate the possibility of your buying a franchise opportunity. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as Franchising Mistakes. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.
You can review hundreds of franchise opportunities by browing our Franchise Directory.
Sample franchise opportunities include Slender Lady and MagnetSigns Advertising. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Video and DVD Rental Franchises and Auto Parts and Tools Franchises.
Note on Fort Walton Beach Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Fort Walton Beach.
What About Buying an Existing Fort Walton Beach Business?
We've created a helpful website page for those who want to Buy a Business in Florida. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Fort Walton Beach.
For anybody who wants to buy a business, we recommend reading this useful article: Buying a Business.
Picking a Business Name
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.
Even if the name doesn't do it by itself, many naming experts believe there should be a story behind the name that ties into your company mission.
For other considerations regarding naming a company, we recommend this article: Naming a Company.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are starting a business in Fort Walton Beach, it's very important that you make sure no other Florida company is using the business name you want to use.
Forming a Company in Fort Walton Beach, Florida
It's essential that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. The principal advantage of forming your new business as a legal entity is that it separates your business liabilities from your personal liabilities.
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. A key decision is whether to form and S-Corp or a C-Corp, and you also must decide in which state you will incorporate. If you are starting a business in Florida, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Florida. As it turns out, you are allowed to 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 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 ESOP Formation. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, our information on Incorporating in Florida may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Florida.
Improving Your Entrepreneurial Skillset
Good entrepreneurs recognize that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.
With your business being located in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, you will want to take advantage of the learning programs at local Florida educational institutions. It's also beneficial to see if there are any Fort Walton Beach networking organizations.
Moving Forward
You have a dream -- starting a business in Fort Walton Beach. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Fort Walton Beach and elsewhere to achieve real success. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Fort Walton Beach, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Fort Walton Beach.
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