Are you starting a business in Fountain Valley, California? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Fountain Valley.
Is Becoming a Business Owner Right for You?
Most new ventures fail, in part because the business owner did not have the tenacity and/or the skills to succeed. So, before you open a business, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
With so much at stake when you start a business, we strongly recommend you do the following before you proceed:
- Grab a meal or cofee with other entrepreneurs in Fountain Valley. Get their take on what it's really like to be an entrepreneur.
- Take a look at Business Failure. It's a short article but it's a good reality check for those are about to jump into the world of entrepreneurship.
- Involve a spouse, family member or trusted friend in the decision. That's the best way to get a truly objective assessment as to whether others think you have what it takes.
Fountain Valley, California Demographic Information
Fountain Valley has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Fountain Valley demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Fountain Valley.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
3605 |
| 5-9 Employees |
1065 |
| 10-19 Employees |
741 |
| 20-49 Employees |
501 |
| 50-99 Employees |
141 |
| 100-249 Employees |
75 |
| 250-499 Employees |
24 |
| 500-999 Employees |
12 |
| 1000+ Employees |
3 |
| All Fountain Valley Businesses |
6167 |
As a new Fountain Valley entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Fountain Valley 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 |
4 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
5 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
|
Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automobile Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
2 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
7 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
1 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
2 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
28 |
|
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
3 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
1 |
| Book Stores |
2 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
4 |
| Cafeterias |
2 |
|
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Car Washes |
5 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
1 |
| Caterers |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
1 |
| Child Day Care Services |
13 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
3 |
|
Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
3 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
12 |
| Computer Storage Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
22 |
|
Computer Training |
2 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
1 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Copper Wire (except Mechanical) Drawing |
1 |
| Couriers |
3 |
| Credit Unions |
5 |
|
Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
20 |
| Dental Laboratories |
4 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
5 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
4 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
2 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
|
Drafting Services |
2 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
4 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
5 |
| Educational Support Services |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
17 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
5 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
2 |
|
Employment Placement Agencies |
2 |
| Engineering Services |
23 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
1 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
4 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
2 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
4 |
|
Finish Carpentry Contractors |
8 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
8 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
7 |
| Flooring Contractors |
5 |
| Florists |
9 |
| Food Service Contractors |
3 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
2 |
|
Framing Contractors |
1 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
4 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
69 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
17 |
| General Automotive Repair |
12 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
2 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
3 |
|
General Rental Centers |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
6 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
2 |
| Graphic Design Services |
5 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Hardware Stores |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
3 |
|
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Home Health Care Services |
6 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
8 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
4 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
50 |
|
Interior Design Services |
3 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
1 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
3 |
| Investment Advice |
14 |
| Janitorial Services |
9 |
| Jewelry Stores |
6 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
|
Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
3 |
| Landscaping Services |
18 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
5 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
49 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
1 |
|
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
5 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
4 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
1 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
13 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
2 |
|
Meat Markets |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
4 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
16 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
3 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
17 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
4 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
5 |
|
Nursing Care Facilities |
4 |
| Office Administrative Services |
19 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
6 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
13 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
21 |
| Offices of Dentists |
65 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
37 |
|
Offices of Optometrists |
12 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
3 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
2 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
|
Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
3 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
1 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
7 |
|
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
4 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
14 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
3 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
3 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Primary Battery Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Private Mail Centers |
3 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
2 |
| Professional Organizations |
1 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
5 |
| Radio Stations |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
19 |
|
Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
11 |
| Residential Remodelers |
9 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
2 |
|
Sales Financing |
1 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
5 |
| Securities Brokerage |
6 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
3 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
3 |
| Siding Contractors |
1 |
|
Sign Manufacturing |
2 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
6 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
14 |
| Software Publishers |
3 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
1 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
8 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
6 |
|
Tax Preparation Services |
15 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
4 |
| Testing Laboratories |
3 |
| Textile Bag Mills |
1 |
| Textile Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
2 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
|
Tire Dealers |
4 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
1 |
| Tobacco Stores |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
3 |
| Used Car Dealers |
1 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
1 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
1 |
|
Veterinary Services |
14 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
5 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
2 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
2 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
31 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
1 |
|
Women's Clothing Stores |
6 |
Should You Franchise?
Browse the Yellow Pages for Fountain Valley and you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. Is it perhaps smarter to franchise a business instead of doing it from scratch.
We advise the entrepreneurs we work with to evaluate the possibility of your buying a franchise opportunity. On our site, you can read many articles about franchising, such as Multi-Unit Franchising. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.
Representative franchise opportunities include Superior Wash and DUCTZ Duct Cleaning. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Wedding Franchises and Hardware Store Franchises.
Note on Fountain Valley Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Fountain Valley.
Have You Considered Buying an Existing Fountain Valley Business?
An excellent way to get started in business is to Buy a Business in California. Follow that link and you might discover several good businesses for sale in Fountain Valley.
If you are intent on buying a business, you may want to read this article: Buying a Business.
Forming a Company in Fountain Valley, California
A critical step is ensuring 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 California, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in California. In fact, you are allowed to incorporate in the state of your choosing. 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. To learn the fundamentals of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Offshore Company Formation. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Fountain Valley, California, our information on Incorporating in California may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in California.
Getting Money to Start a Business
Getting your Fountain Valley business the capital it needs to succeed is a difficult chore. Bootstrapping, which means growing the business without outside funding, is the best alternative, but that's not a viable option for many startup plans.
Take advantage of our many articles on raising money, such as Getting a Small Business Loan.
For Fountain Valley entrepreneurs on the hunt for startup funding, we have assembled a List of California Angel Investors and our List of California Venture Capital Firms.
Increase Your Entrepreneurial Knowledge
Good entrepreneurs recognize that they don't know everything.
Given that you are starting a business in Fountain Valley, California, you will want to take advantage of the learning programs at local California educational institutions. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any networking groups or organizations in which Fountain Valley entrepreneurs get together to network and trade their business experiences.
Moving Forward
Most new Fountain Valley 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.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Fountain Valley and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Fountain Valley 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 Fountain Valley, California
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Fountain Valley.
- Resources for Fountain Valley, California Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Fountain Valley entrepreneurs.
- California Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in California.
- Fresno, California Small Business Development Center - The UC Merced SBDC Regional Network assists Central California entrepreneurs and small business owners through counseling, training and business information.
- Los Angeles, California Small Business Development Center - The Los Angeles Regional Small Business Development Center Network (LA SBDC Network) is part of the national, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) effort to provide free one-on-one customized consulting services and low-cost training workshops to growing businesses and start-up businesses.
- Sacramento, California Small Business Development Center - As Northern California continues to grow demographically and economically, the Northeastern California Small Business Development Center (NECSBDC) at CSU, Chico is committed to helping communities prepare and plan for future growth.
- San Diego, California Small Business Development Center - The Small Business Development & International Trade Center (SBDITC) at Southwestern College is part of the California SBDC San Diego and Imperial Regional Network. The SBDITC provides no-cost business assistance to start-up & existing businesses.
- San Francisco, California Small Business Development Center - The Northern California Network of Small Business Development Centers helps individuals start, manage and grow their businesses.
- Santa Ana, California Small Business Development Center - The Tri-County Lead Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in the Santa Ana District provides oversight and support for SBDCs located in the Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The Santa Ana SBDC Network is a leader in providing consulting, training, and technical assistance to the small business community.
- Fountain Valley, California Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Fountain Valley, California newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Fountain Valley area.
- Fountain Valley, California Payroll Services - This list includes Fountain Valley, California payroll services, national payroll services for Fountain Valley, and helpful information on choosing a Fountain Valley payroll service.
- Fountain Valley, California Businesses for Sale - This list includes resources for buying a business in Fountain Valley, California, such as business brokers in Fountain Valley and other helpful information on how to buy a Fountain Valley business.
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