Thinking about starting a business in Grand Rapids, Michigan? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Grand Rapids.
Before quitting your day job, assess your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.
Grand Rapids has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Grand Rapids demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Grand Rapids.
As a new Grand Rapids entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Grand Rapids 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 |
| Abrasive Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
2 |
| Advertising Agencies |
25 |
| Aluminum Die-Casting Foundries |
2 |
| Aluminum Extruded Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
4 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
5 |
| Architectural Services |
50 |
| Armored Car Services |
3 |
| Art Dealers |
10 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
2 |
| Automatic Vending Machine Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
4 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
6 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
11 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
45 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
15 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
23 |
| Barber Shops |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
117 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
4 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
41 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
1 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
3 |
| Boat Dealers |
6 |
| Book Publishers |
8 |
| Book Stores |
20 |
| Books Printing |
3 |
| Bottled Water Manufacturing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
9 |
| Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing |
1 |
| Breweries |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
4 |
| Building Inspection Services |
13 |
| Business Associations |
16 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
6 |
| Cafeterias |
5 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
30 |
| Carpet and Rug Mills |
2 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
11 |
| Caterers |
13 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
7 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
4 |
| Cheese Manufacturing |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
9 |
| Child Day Care Services |
76 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
56 |
| Claims Adjusting |
17 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
5 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
14 |
| Collection Agencies |
5 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
3 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
5 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
22 |
| Commercial Photography |
11 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
14 |
| Community Food Services |
4 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
13 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
4 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
35 |
| Computer Training |
5 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
5 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
4 |
| Consumer Lending |
12 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
12 |
| Convenience Stores |
34 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
4 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
2 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
3 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
4 |
| Couriers |
12 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
9 |
| Credit Unions |
42 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
3 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
56 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
4 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
6 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
5 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
21 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
8 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
19 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
4 |
| Discount Department Stores |
7 |
| Display Advertising |
6 |
| Document Preparation Services |
9 |
| Drafting Services |
2 |
| Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
73 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
26 |
| Educational Support Services |
6 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
71 |
| Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
9 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
29 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
3 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
27 |
| Engineering Services |
91 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
1 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
7 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
7 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
9 |
| Fabric Coating Mills |
1 |
| Facilities Support Services |
6 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
24 |
| Family Planning Centers |
5 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
18 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
33 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
3 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
42 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
17 |
| Flooring Contractors |
21 |
| Florists |
20 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
2 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
14 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food Service Contractors |
38 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
2 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
3 |
| Framing Contractors |
15 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
23 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
252 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
16 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
18 |
| Furniture Stores |
50 |
| General Automotive Repair |
95 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
23 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
4 |
| General Rental Centers |
7 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
13 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
41 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Glass Container Manufacturing |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
10 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
18 |
| Graphic Design Services |
43 |
| Greeting Card Publishers |
1 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
5 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
8 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
24 |
| Hardware Stores |
12 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
2 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
5 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
14 |
| Home Centers |
6 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
13 |
| Home Health Care Services |
25 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
7 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
14 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
13 |
| Household Vacuum Cleaner Manufacturing |
1 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
4 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
3 |
| Industrial Design Services |
6 |
| Industrial Launderers |
10 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
16 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
3 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
247 |
| Interior Design Services |
13 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
2 |
| Internet Service Providers |
5 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
2 |
| Investigation Services |
5 |
| Investment Advice |
48 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Iron Foundries |
2 |
| Janitorial Services |
86 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
3 |
| Jewelry Stores |
35 |
| Junior Colleges |
2 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
2 |
| Land Subdivision |
11 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
5 |
| Landscaping Services |
79 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
12 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
247 |
| Limousine Service |
2 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
6 |
| Locksmiths |
5 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
40 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
10 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
5 |
| Marinas |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
35 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
25 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
3 |
| Meat Markets |
7 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
2 |
| Media Representatives |
3 |
| Medical Laboratories |
6 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
17 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
4 |
| Metal Stamping |
4 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
5 |
| Mobile Food Services |
4 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
47 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
20 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
13 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
8 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
7 |
| Museums |
3 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
9 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
5 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
4 |
| New Car Dealers |
26 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
17 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
3 |
| News Syndicates |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
5 |
| Nonferrous Forging |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
16 |
| Nonwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
12 |
| Office Administrative Services |
40 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
21 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
17 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
80 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
44 |
| Offices of Dentists |
204 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
235 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
24 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
20 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
15 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
37 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
5 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
33 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
2 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
8 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Packing and Crating |
5 |
| Paging |
2 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
9 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
42 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
8 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
25 |
| Payroll Services |
34 |
| Periodical Publishers |
10 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
12 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
7 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
41 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
35 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
1 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
2 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
8 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
23 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
7 |
| Prepress Services |
11 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
4 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
75 |
| Professional Organizations |
5 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
8 |
| Quick Printing |
18 |
| Radio Stations |
16 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
5 |
| Real Estate Credit |
63 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
2 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
11 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
3 |
| Repossession Services |
5 |
| Residential Property Managers |
30 |
| Residential Remodelers |
64 |
| Resilient Floor Covering Manufacturing |
1 |
| Retail Bakeries |
4 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
7 |
| Roofing Contractors |
16 |
| Sales Financing |
16 |
| Savings Institutions |
13 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
7 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
4 |
| Securities Brokerage |
58 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
12 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
7 |
| Shoe Stores |
36 |
| Siding Contractors |
11 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
11 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
27 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
55 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
4 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
15 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
8 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
5 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
32 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
9 |
| Spring (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
2 |
| Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
37 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
4 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
3 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
3 |
| Television Broadcasting |
5 |
| Temporary Help Services |
72 |
| Temporary Shelters |
6 |
| Testing Laboratories |
8 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
7 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
3 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
7 |
| Tire Dealers |
19 |
| Tire Retreading |
2 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
10 |
| Tobacco Stores |
2 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
6 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
5 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
5 |
| Travel Agencies |
20 |
| Truck Trailer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
2 |
| Used Car Dealers |
21 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
10 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
26 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
9 |
| Veterinary Services |
23 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
28 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
37 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
21 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
11 |
| Web Search Portals |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
96 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
6 |
| Wineries |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
44 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
34 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
2 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
4 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
4 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
2 |
A good company name can give a big boost to a new startup. It might seem like an easy thing to do, but there are many things to consider when naming a business.
Companies like Starbucks, Apple, Target, Microsoft and Intuit all have strong company names that are easy to remember and have become well-loved brands. Wouldn't it be nice if your new company name got on a similar track?
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are planning on starting a business in Grand Rapids, it's very important that you make sure no other Michigan company is using the business name you want to use.
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 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 Michigan, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Michigan. In fact, 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 ESOP Formation. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Grand Rapids, Michigan, our information on Incorporating in Michigan may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Michigan.
Having a business plan is vital in laying a solid foundation for your business success. Indeed, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Starting a business without a business plan makes you more prone to becoming a business failure statistic.
To grow your Grand Rapids business, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your doing well.
Being able to sell is fundamental to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Grand Rapids or are selling to customers throughout Michigan, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
Good selling involves demonstrating that your wares meet your customer's needs. Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Grand Rapids. 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 Grand Rapids and elsewhere to achieve real success. We have a wealth of experience in business start-ups, financing, marketing, sales and more...and we've made all of our knowledge available to you.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Grand Rapids.
