Thinking about starting a business in Fredericksburg, Virginia? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Fredericksburg.
Which Business to Choose?
Choosing a business that is right for you is very important. 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 How to Start an Ice Crushers Business guide or our Opening an Irrigation Equipment Service & Repair Business guide.
Remember that you are starting a business in Fredericksburg. Some businesses will do better in Fredericksburg than others. Make sure you fully understand Fredericksburg demographics before you lock in on your business idea.
Fredericksburg, Virginia Demographic Information
Fredericksburg has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Fredericksburg demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Fredericksburg.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
41202 |
| 5-9 Employees |
17766 |
| 10-19 Employees |
12306 |
| 20-49 Employees |
9345 |
| 50-99 Employees |
2730 |
| 100-249 Employees |
1428 |
| 250-499 Employees |
189 |
| 500-999 Employees |
63 |
| 1000+ Employees |
63 |
| All Fredericksburg Businesses |
85092 |
As a new Fredericksburg entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Fredericksburg 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 |
| Ambulance Services |
2 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
3 |
| Architectural Services |
9 |
| Art Dealers |
4 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
7 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
25 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
8 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
2 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
57 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
3 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
10 |
| Book Stores |
7 |
| Books Printing |
2 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
5 |
| Business Associations |
6 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
5 |
| Cafeterias |
4 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Car Washes |
11 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
6 |
| Caterers |
8 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
2 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
4 |
| Child and Youth Services |
3 |
| Child Day Care Services |
36 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
7 |
| Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
10 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
12 |
| Collection Agencies |
3 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
6 |
| Commercial Photography |
2 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
4 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
39 |
| Computer Training |
2 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
7 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
2 |
| Convenience Stores |
13 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
4 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
6 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
2 |
| Credit Bureaus |
3 |
| Credit Unions |
3 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
20 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
2 |
| Dental Laboratories |
1 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
5 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
4 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
8 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
4 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
9 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
4 |
| Distilleries |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
4 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
3 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
14 |
| Educational Support Services |
2 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
6 |
| Electrical Contractors |
47 |
| Electronic Shopping |
5 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
9 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
3 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
37 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
10 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
5 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
10 |
| Facilities Support Services |
2 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
13 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
7 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
37 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
19 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
11 |
| Flooring Contractors |
12 |
| Florists |
10 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
7 |
| Food Service Contractors |
11 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
2 |
| Framing Contractors |
19 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
4 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
135 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
5 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
23 |
| General Automotive Repair |
73 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
14 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
3 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
4 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
30 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
7 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
6 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
3 |
| Graphic Design Services |
6 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Hardware Stores |
3 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
2 |
| Historical Sites |
3 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
10 |
| Home Centers |
5 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
7 |
| Home Health Care Services |
10 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
7 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
6 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
3 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
50 |
| Interior Design Services |
4 |
| Internet Service Providers |
3 |
| Investigation Services |
3 |
| Investment Advice |
3 |
| Janitorial Services |
35 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Jewelry Stores |
24 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
16 |
| Landscaping Services |
44 |
| Language Schools |
1 |
| Libraries and Archives |
2 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
123 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
2 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
2 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
1 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
30 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
2 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
3 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
8 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
3 |
| Mineral Wool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
12 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
14 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
3 |
| Museums |
3 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
3 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Nail Salons |
16 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
16 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
8 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
9 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
8 |
| Office Administrative Services |
7 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
5 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
16 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
15 |
| Offices of Dentists |
58 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
68 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
8 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
5 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
9 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
13 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
4 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
34 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
4 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
3 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
10 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
3 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
14 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
9 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
2 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
3 |
| Portfolio Management |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
4 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
3 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
2 |
| Quick Printing |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
2 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
5 |
| Real Estate Credit |
20 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
2 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
2 |
| Repossession Services |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
13 |
| Residential Remodelers |
61 |
| Retail Bakeries |
3 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
4 |
| Roofing Contractors |
10 |
| Sales Financing |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
3 |
| Sawmills |
3 |
| Securities Brokerage |
15 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
5 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
3 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
22 |
| Siding Contractors |
14 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
6 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
34 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
21 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
2 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
8 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
19 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
7 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
19 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
2 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
16 |
| Temporary Shelters |
3 |
| Testing Laboratories |
2 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
3 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
10 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
10 |
| Tobacco Stores |
5 |
| Tour Operators |
1 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
3 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
2 |
| Used Car Dealers |
30 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
9 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
18 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
3 |
| Veterinary Services |
15 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
14 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
2 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
4 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
4 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
21 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
5 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
14 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
23 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Yarn Spinning Mills |
1 |
Should You Franchise?
Visit the business district of Fredericksburg and it's apparent that franchising has become a very popular way to start a business. But is franchising the right option for you?
Most business experts recommend that you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchising My Business. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
You can review hundreds of franchise opportunities by browing our Franchise Directory.
Sample franchise opportunities include Child Care Choices and Maid to Perfection Corporation. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Business Services Franchises and Pet Franchises.
Note on Fredericksburg Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Fredericksburg, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.
Forming a Company in Fredericksburg, Virginia
It's essential that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will protect you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
The entity you form can be a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporating is a very common way to legally create a business entity. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. If you are starting a business in Virginia, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Virginia. As it turns out, you can 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. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Why Incorporate in Delaware. You may also want to seek the advice of an lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Fredericksburg, Virginia, our information on Incorporating in Virginia may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Virginia.
Don't Forget to Create a Business Plan
Having a business plan is critical in laying a solid foundation for your business success. Simply put, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Failure to write a business plan makes you more prone to becoming a business failure statistic.
To learn more about business plans, read Find Sample Business Plans Online. You should also take advantage of free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Virginia.
Getting Money to Start a Business
Finding the funds to fuel the growth of your Fredericksburg business is very difficult due to the ongoing business credit crunch. To obtain business financing, you will need to hear a lot of rejections before you finally find a funding solution that works for you.
To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as 504 Loans.
For Fredericksburg entrepreneurs who want to raise money for a new venture, check out our List of Virginia Angel Investors and our List of Virginia Venture Capital Firms.
The Art of Selling
Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Fredericksburg business, you need to focus on sales.
Clever sales techniques can transform any business from good to great. Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
Closing Sales Techniques is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.
What's Next?
As an entrepreneur in Fredericksburg, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
We are here to help Fredericksburg businesses to be successful. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Fredericksburg 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 Fredericksburg, Virginia
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Fredericksburg.
Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in Virginia
Starting a Business in Franklin City
Starting a Business in Front Royal
Browse All
Business Startup Guides for Virginia
