Are you starting a business in Fort Wayne, Indiana? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Fort Wayne.
Before you get too far along in the process, consider your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
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:
Fort Wayne has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Fort Wayne demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Fort Wayne.
As a new Fort Wayne entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Fort Wayne 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 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
1 |
| Advertising Agencies |
28 |
| Alkalies and Chlorine Manufacturing |
1 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
3 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
6 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
4 |
| Architectural Services |
23 |
| Armored Car Services |
2 |
| Art Dealers |
4 |
| Automatic Vending Machine Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
5 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
9 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
41 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
8 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
4 |
| Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing |
1 |
| Barber Shops |
6 |
| Beauty Salons |
117 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
29 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
6 |
| Boat Building |
2 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Stores |
19 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
8 |
| Breweries |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
6 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
10 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
2 |
| Cafeterias |
12 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
2 |
| Car Washes |
23 |
| Carpet and Rug Mills |
1 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
21 |
| Caterers |
12 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
8 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
15 |
| Child Day Care Services |
61 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
9 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
41 |
| Claims Adjusting |
7 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
9 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
13 |
| Collection Agencies |
11 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
3 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
3 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
23 |
| Commercial Photography |
8 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
6 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
4 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
15 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
7 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
38 |
| Computer Training |
3 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
6 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
4 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
12 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
7 |
| Convenience Stores |
6 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
5 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
1 |
| Copper Wire (except Mechanical) Drawing |
5 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
2 |
| Couriers |
15 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
4 |
| Credit Bureaus |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
49 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
38 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
2 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
9 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
4 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
5 |
| Digital Printing |
3 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
21 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
4 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
8 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
10 |
| Display Advertising |
3 |
| Document Preparation Services |
8 |
| Drafting Services |
7 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
73 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
24 |
| Educational Support Services |
3 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
8 |
| Electrical Contractors |
68 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
4 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
26 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
3 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
11 |
| Engineering Services |
76 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
6 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
10 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
8 |
| Facilities Support Services |
2 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
28 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
22 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
17 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
37 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
19 |
| Flooring Contractors |
18 |
| Florists |
22 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
13 |
| Food Service Contractors |
18 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
2 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
3 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
3 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
16 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
208 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
17 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
10 |
| Furniture Stores |
40 |
| General Automotive Repair |
80 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
13 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
6 |
| General Rental Centers |
10 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
15 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
35 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
3 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
14 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
12 |
| Graphic Design Services |
18 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
15 |
| Hardware Stores |
14 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Heavy Duty Truck Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
21 |
| Home Centers |
8 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Home Health Care Services |
20 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
5 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
5 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
11 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
4 |
| Hydroelectric Power Generation |
4 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
4 |
| Industrial Launderers |
6 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
8 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
3 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
209 |
| Interior Design Services |
13 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
2 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
4 |
| Investment Advice |
32 |
| Iron and Steel Forging |
1 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
76 |
| Jewelry Stores |
30 |
| Junior Colleges |
3 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
4 |
| Land Subdivision |
9 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
5 |
| Landscaping Services |
90 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
12 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
206 |
| Limousine Service |
3 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
8 |
| Locksmiths |
7 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Luggage Manufacturing |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
44 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
13 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
1 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
6 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
22 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
11 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
3 |
| Meat Markets |
5 |
| Media Representatives |
4 |
| Medical Laboratories |
6 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
9 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
4 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
4 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
33 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
8 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
3 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
3 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
8 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
9 |
| Museums |
5 |
| Music Publishers |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
5 |
| New Car Dealers |
29 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
13 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
6 |
| Nonclay Refractory Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
16 |
| Nonwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
23 |
| Office Administrative Services |
19 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
21 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
12 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
61 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
33 |
| Offices of Dentists |
121 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
148 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
42 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
11 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
29 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
3 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
2 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
16 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
8 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paging |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
3 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
15 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
60 |
| Paper Industry Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paperboard Mills |
1 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
3 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
15 |
| Payroll Services |
5 |
| Periodical Publishers |
6 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
12 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
14 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
8 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
30 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
19 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
4 |
| Portfolio Management |
11 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
4 |
| Prepress Services |
3 |
| Private Mail Centers |
5 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
3 |
| Professional Organizations |
6 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
2 |
| Quick Printing |
7 |
| Racetracks |
1 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
10 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
6 |
| Real Estate Credit |
33 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
2 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
3 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
4 |
| Remediation Services |
2 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
32 |
| Residential Remodelers |
58 |
| Retail Bakeries |
11 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
8 |
| Roofing Contractors |
27 |
| Sales Financing |
8 |
| Savings Institutions |
6 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
4 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
52 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
18 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
2 |
| Setup Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
2 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
31 |
| Siding Contractors |
13 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
13 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
16 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
41 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
2 |
| Software Publishers |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
6 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
31 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
16 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
2 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
3 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
32 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
2 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
3 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
5 |
| Temporary Help Services |
40 |
| Temporary Shelters |
7 |
| Testing Laboratories |
7 |
| Textile Bag Mills |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
3 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
2 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
21 |
| Tire Retreading |
2 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
12 |
| Tobacco Stores |
14 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
13 |
| Used Car Dealers |
51 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
11 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
28 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
9 |
| Veterinary Services |
27 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
18 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
6 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
4 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
7 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
2 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
56 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
3 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
44 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
46 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
2 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
As you drive around Fort Wayne, you'll conclude that many business owners have opted to buy a franchise, rather than starting a business on their own. Evidently, there must be some significant advantages to purchasing a franchise.
Our advice is to evaluate the possibility of your buying a franchise opportunity. We have many articles on franchises, such as Common Franchisee Mistakes. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
It's very important that you are forming a legal entity that operates independently from you. The biggest 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 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 Indiana, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Indiana. In fact, you are allowed to incorporate wherever you want. 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. To learn the fundamentals of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Pre-Incorporation Agreements. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Fort Wayne, Indiana, our information on Incorporating in Indiana may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Indiana.
A business plan is essential to the health of your new business. In effect, 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 is a recipe for disaster.
Good entrepreneurs recognize that they need to continually improve.
Given that you are starting a business in Fort Wayne, Indiana, you will want to take advantage of the learning programs at local Indiana educational institutions. It's also beneficial to see if there are any networking organizations for Fort Wayne entrepreneurs.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Fort Wayne. 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.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Fort Wayne and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Fort Wayne entrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Fort Wayne.
