Are you starting a business in Greensburg, Pennsylvania? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Greensburg.
Are You Ready for Entrepreneurship?
Running your own business is difficult, much more arduous than working as an employee. Are you sure you are ready to take on this challenge?
Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.
- Grab a meal or cofee with other entrepreneurs in Greensburg. Listen closely to their experiences and see if you think you too can be successful.
- Take a look at Starting a Company. It's a short article but it's a good reality check for those are about to jump into the world of entrepreneurship.
- Talk it over with a close friend or partner. Ask them directly: Do I have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Listen carefully to their answer, as they presumably know your strengths and weaknesses.
Greensburg, Pennsylvania Demographic Information
Greensburg has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Greensburg demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Greensburg.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
14555 |
| 5-9 Employees |
6615 |
| 10-19 Employees |
4170 |
| 20-49 Employees |
2490 |
| 50-99 Employees |
825 |
| 100-249 Employees |
630 |
| 250-499 Employees |
135 |
| 500-999 Employees |
30 |
| 1000+ Employees |
15 |
| All Greensburg Businesses |
29465 |
As a new Greensburg entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Greensburg 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 |
2 |
| Aluminum Die-Casting Foundries |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
1 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
3 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
9 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
3 |
| Barber Shops |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
47 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
10 |
| Book Stores |
6 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
3 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
3 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
2 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
1 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
2 |
| Caterers |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
8 |
| Child Day Care Services |
17 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
18 |
| Claims Adjusting |
2 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
2 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
3 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
4 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
3 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
7 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
5 |
| Convenience Stores |
3 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
1 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
10 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
5 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
2 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
5 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
5 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
10 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
1 |
| Educational Support Services |
1 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
9 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
2 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
9 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
2 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
14 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
2 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
10 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
5 |
| Flooring Contractors |
5 |
| Florists |
5 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
3 |
| Food Service Contractors |
8 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
6 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
56 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
4 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
13 |
| General Automotive Repair |
26 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
2 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
18 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
8 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
1 |
| Graphic Design Services |
4 |
| Hardware Stores |
1 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
3 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
5 |
| Home Centers |
3 |
| Home Health Care Services |
5 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
2 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
4 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
2 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
33 |
| Interior Design Services |
2 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
3 |
| Investment Advice |
5 |
| Janitorial Services |
12 |
| Jewelry Stores |
13 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
4 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
4 |
| Landscaping Services |
12 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
2 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
52 |
| Locksmiths |
2 |
| Machine Shops |
4 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
3 |
| Masonry Contractors |
11 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
4 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
1 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
2 |
| Museums |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
3 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
2 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
2 |
| New Car Dealers |
9 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
11 |
| Office Administrative Services |
4 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
4 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
16 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
27 |
| Offices of Dentists |
50 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
85 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
12 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
5 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
5 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
2 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
9 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
4 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
1 |
| Payroll Services |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
3 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
11 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
5 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
2 |
| Political Organizations |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
3 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
3 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
5 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
2 |
| Radio Stations |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
8 |
| Remediation Services |
3 |
| Residential Property Managers |
2 |
| Residential Remodelers |
15 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
3 |
| Sales Financing |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
7 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
12 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
1 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
12 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
2 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
7 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
17 |
| Software Publishers |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
9 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
4 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
2 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
2 |
| Temporary Help Services |
6 |
| Temporary Shelters |
2 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Textile Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
3 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
7 |
| Tire Retreading |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
5 |
| Tobacco Stores |
2 |
| Tour Operators |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
3 |
| Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
4 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
1 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
5 |
| Veterinary Services |
5 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
5 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
2 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
16 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
8 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
19 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
Is a Franchise Opportunity Right For You?
Visit the business district of Greensburg and you'll see that franchises make up a large percentage of local businesses. Is it perhaps smarter to franchise a business instead of doing it from scratch.
We highly recommend you consider franchising as an option. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as Questions to Ask Franchisors. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
A comprehensive list of franchisors is available via our List of Franchise Opportunities.
Sample franchise opportunities include SOUP 'N JUICE and CATZ Sports Fitness. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Fast Food Franchises and Pizza Franchises.
Note on Greensburg Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Greensburg.
Choosing a Business Name
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.
Before you decide on a company name, run it by some prospective customers and see what they think. If they don't like it, it's probably a good idea to go back to the drawing board.
Numerous company naming issues are discussed in more detail in this article: Naming a Company.
As a final piece of advice, remember that because you are planning on starting a business in Greensburg, it's critical that you ensure that your company name has not already been claimed by another Pennsylvania business.
Company Formation in Greensburg, Pennsylvania
It's essential that you are forming a legal entity that operates independently from you. Doing so will shield you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
When forming a company, you will choose from many company types, such as 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. Just because you are starting a business in Pennsylvania, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Pennsylvania. In fact, you can incorporate in the state of your choosing. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.
There's a lot to know about forming a company. To learn the fundamentals of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Subchapter S Corporations. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, our web page covering Incorporating in Pennsylvania may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Pennsylvania.
The Role of the Business Plan
Having a business plan is critical in laying a solid foundation for your business success. In effect, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Not having a business plan makes you more prone to becoming a business failure statistic.
To learn more about business plans, read Expert Advice on Business Plans. You should also take advantage of free business counselors available to you through your local SCORE chapter in Pennsylvania.
Never Give Up
As an entrepreneur in Greensburg, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Greensburg and elsewhere to achieve real success. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Greensburg, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Greensburg.
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