Thinking about starting a business in Gainesville, Georgia? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Gainesville.
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. If you are struggling with what type of business to start, read Business Ideas That Don't Make Sense.
Remember that Gainesville is the place where you are starting a business. Some businesses will do better in Gainesville than others. Only by spending some time analyzing Gainesville demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.
Gainesville has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Gainesville demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Gainesville.
As a new Gainesville entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Gainesville 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 |
6 |
| Aluminum Die-Casting Foundries |
1 |
| Aluminum Extruded Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
7 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
1 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
22 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
3 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
3 |
| Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing |
1 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
26 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
16 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Boat Building |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
6 |
| Book Stores |
5 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
2 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
5 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
6 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Car Washes |
8 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
2 |
| Caterers |
3 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Cheese Manufacturing |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
5 |
| Child Day Care Services |
16 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
9 |
| Claims Adjusting |
2 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
2 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
7 |
| Collection Agencies |
4 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
5 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
3 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
5 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
14 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
19 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
7 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
2 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Couriers |
3 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
3 |
| Credit Unions |
3 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
14 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
12 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
2 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
1 |
| Dimension Stone Mining and Quarrying |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
5 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
2 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
2 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
6 |
| Educational Support Services |
1 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
3 |
| Electrical Contractors |
42 |
| Electronic Shopping |
3 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
7 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
3 |
| Engineering Services |
16 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
2 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
3 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
9 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
7 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
4 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
15 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
8 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
4 |
| Flooring Contractors |
4 |
| Florists |
10 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
4 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
4 |
| Food Service Contractors |
11 |
| Framing Contractors |
5 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
16 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
77 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
4 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Furniture Stores |
11 |
| General Automotive Repair |
25 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
5 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
5 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
8 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
3 |
| Graphic Design Services |
3 |
| Gypsum Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Hardware Stores |
7 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
1 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
6 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
3 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
1 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
2 |
| Hunting and Trapping |
1 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
2 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
2 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
59 |
| Interior Design Services |
5 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
3 |
| Investment Advice |
5 |
| Iron Foundries |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
18 |
| Jewelry Stores |
8 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
10 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
2 |
| Landscaping Services |
41 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
3 |
| Libraries and Archives |
4 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
62 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Logging |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
7 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
1 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
1 |
| Marinas |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
11 |
| Masonry Contractors |
8 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
2 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
3 |
| Mineral Wool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
13 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
6 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
2 |
| Museums |
3 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
3 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
12 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
5 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
3 |
| Nonwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
6 |
| Office Administrative Services |
11 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
6 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
26 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
12 |
| Offices of Dentists |
50 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
58 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
6 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
6 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
5 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
8 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
5 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
4 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
9 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
5 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
1 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
7 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
17 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
4 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
2 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
2 |
| Poultry Processing |
10 |
| Power-Driven Handtool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
2 |
| Professional Organizations |
3 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
4 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
4 |
| Real Estate Credit |
11 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
3 |
| Residential Property Managers |
12 |
| Residential Remodelers |
11 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
8 |
| Sales Financing |
2 |
| Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
8 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
2 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
5 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
4 |
| Shoe Stores |
9 |
| Siding Contractors |
1 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
5 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
26 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
13 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
2 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
4 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
2 |
| Soybean Processing |
1 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
9 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
3 |
| Storage Battery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
8 |
| Taxi Service |
2 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
25 |
| Temporary Shelters |
2 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
4 |
| Timber Tract Operations |
1 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
11 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
1 |
| Tobacco Stores |
2 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
2 |
| Truck Trailer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
21 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
3 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
6 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
8 |
| Veterinary Services |
8 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
3 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
3 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
2 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
43 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
2 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
12 |
| Wood Preservation |
2 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Yarn Spinning Mills |
2 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
Making the right decision when choosing a company name is very important. There are many decisions you'll make now that you can change later, but changing a company name years down the road is not very easy. So, choose a good company name at the outset.
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.
On a final note, given that you are planning on starting a business in Gainesville, it's very important that you make sure your company name has not already been claimed by another Georgia business.
It's essential that you choose the right legal structure for your new entity. Among other things, forming a legal entity for the business limits your liabilities.
When forming a company, you will pick from many company types, such as a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
Incorporation 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. Just because you are starting a business in Georgia, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Georgia. In fact, you are allowed to incorporate wherever you want. 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's a lot to know about 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. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Gainesville, Georgia, our web page covering Incorporating in Georgia may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Georgia.
To rise above the crowd in Gainesville and build your business, you need a solid marketing plan.
Good entrepreneurs know that they don't know everything.
As an entrepreneur who lives in Gainesville, Georgia, you should check out some of the learning programs at local Georgia educational institutions. You should also check if there are any networking organizations for Gainesville entrepreneurs.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Gainesville. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
We are here to help Gainesville businesses to be successful. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Gainesville 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 Gainesville.
