Connecticut Business Startup Guides

Start a Business in Guilford, Connecticut

Are you starting a business in Guilford, Connecticut? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Guilford.

Will You Be a Successful Entrepreneur?

Running your own business is hard work, much harder 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 Guilford. They are usually very willing to share their insights on the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur.
  • Take a look at The Entrepreneurial Personality. It's a short article but it's a good reality check for those are about to jump into the world of entrepreneurship.
  • Reach out to a trusted acquaintance. Others sometimes know you better than you know yourself.

Guilford, Connecticut Demographic Information

Guilford has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.

To give you a better feel for Guilford demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Guilford.

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
4736
5-9 Employees
1488
10-19 Employees
1008
20-49 Employees
624
50-99 Employees
204
100-249 Employees
60
250-499 Employees
0
500-999 Employees
0
1000+ Employees
0
All Guilford Businesses
8120

As a new Guilford entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Guilford 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
Amusement Arcades
1
Architectural Services
3
Art Dealers
1
Automobile Driving Schools
1
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
2
Automotive Transmission Repair
1
Beauty Salons
13
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
5
Boat Dealers
1
Book Publishers
2
Book Stores
2
Building Inspection Services
1
Business Associations
2
Child Day Care Services
9
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
2
Clothing Accessories Stores
1
Commercial Bakeries
1
Commercial Flexographic Printing
1
Commercial Gravure Printing
2
Commercial Lithographic Printing
1
Computer Systems Design Services
4
Computer Training
1
Confectionery and Nut Stores
1
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
1
Copper Wire (except Mechanical) Drawing
1
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
2
Custom Computer Programming Services
3
Discount Department Stores
1
Document Preparation Services
2
Drafting Services
1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
1
Educational Support Services
1
Electrical Contractors
7
Electronic Connector Manufacturing
1
Engineering Services
5
Environmental Consulting Services
3
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
1
Family Clothing Stores
1
Fine Arts Schools
4
Finish Carpentry Contractors
6
Fish and Seafood Markets
1
Floor Covering Stores
4
Florists
2
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
2
Food Service Contractors
1
Framing Contractors
1
Full-Service Restaurants
22
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
1
General Automotive Repair
7
General Freight Trucking, Local
2
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
3
Grantmaking Foundations
2
Graphic Design Services
2
Heating Oil Dealers
1
Historical Sites
1
Home Health Care Services
2
Homes for the Elderly
1
Household Appliance Stores
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
14
Interior Design Services
1
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
1
Internet Service Providers
1
Investment Advice
5
Janitorial Services
1
Jewelry Stores
3
Landscaping Services
16
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
1
Limited-Service Restaurants
10
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
1
Mail-Order Houses
4
Marinas
3
Marketing Consulting Services
3
Masonry Contractors
2
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
3
Museums
2
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
1
New Car Dealers
3
New Housing Operative Builders
1
Newspaper Publishers
1
Nonresidential Property Managers
1
Nursing Care Facilities
2
Office Administrative Services
1
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
3
Offices of Chiropractors
2
Offices of Dentists
10
Offices of Lawyers
17
Offices of Optometrists
2
Offices of Other Holding Companies
1
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
1
One-Hour Photofinishing
1
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
1
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
4
Periodical Publishers
2
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
2
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
1
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
3
Portfolio Management
2
Prepress Services
1
Private Mail Centers
1
Professional Employer Organizations
1
Quick Printing
2
Racetracks
1
Residential Property Managers
1
Residential Remodelers
10
Roofing Contractors
1
Savings Institutions
5
Sawmills
1
School and Employee Bus Transportation
1
Securities Brokerage
5
Shoe Stores
1
Site Preparation Contractors
4
Solid Waste Collection
1
Special Needs Transportation
1
Sporting Goods Stores
3
Sports and Recreation Instruction
2
Tax Preparation Services
2
Television Broadcasting
1
Temporary Help Services
1
Tour Operators
1
Translation and Interpretation Services
1
Travel Agencies
1
Used Car Dealers
1
Used Merchandise Stores
2
Veterinary Services
2
Video Tape and Disc Rental
2
Voluntary Health Organizations
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
12
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
2
Women's Clothing Stores
7

What About Franchising Opportunities?

As you drive around Guilford, it's apparent that franchising has become a very popular way to start a business. Is it perhaps smarter to franchise a business instead of doing it from scratch.

Most business experts recommend that you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchising Mistakes. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.

To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.

Sample franchise opportunities include Subway Franchises and Starbucks Franchises. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Accounting Franchises and Moving Franchises.

Note on Guilford Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Guilford.

Make Sure You Have a Business Plan

A business plan is vital in maximizing the prospects of your new company. In effect, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Starting a business without a business plan is a recipe for disaster.

To learn more about business plans, read Reasons to Write a Business Plan. You should also take advantage of free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Connecticut.

Raising Money for Your Venture

Getting your Guilford business the capital it needs to succeed 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.

Recognizing this challenge, this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled Business Line of Credit.

For Guilford entrepreneurs on the hunt for startup funding, check out our List of Connecticut Angel Investors and our List of Connecticut Venture Capital Firms.

Increase Your Entrepreneurial Knowledge

The best business owners know that they need to continually improve.

With your business being located in Guilford, Connecticut, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Connecticut universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any Guilford networking organizations.

What's Next?

As an entrepreneur in Guilford, 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.

We are here to help Guilford businesses to be successful. 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.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Guilford, Connecticut

Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Guilford.

Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in Connecticut

Starting a Business in Groton
Starting a Business in Hartford

Browse All Business Startup Guides for Connecticut
Starting a Business Guides for Other States

 

 

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Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs

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