Are you starting a business in Hamilton, Ohio? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Hamilton.
Is Becoming an Entrepreneur Right for You?
Before you get too far along in the process, consider 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.
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Hamilton. Get their take on what it's really like to be an entrepreneur.
- We recommend reading Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Seek the advice of somebody who knows you well. That's the best way to get a truly objective assessment as to whether others think you have what it takes.
Hamilton, Ohio Demographic Information
Hamilton has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Hamilton demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Hamilton.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
45390 |
| 5-9 Employees |
19200 |
| 10-19 Employees |
11385 |
| 20-49 Employees |
7110 |
| 50-99 Employees |
3105 |
| 100-249 Employees |
1575 |
| 250-499 Employees |
405 |
| 500-999 Employees |
45 |
| 1000+ Employees |
135 |
| All Hamilton Businesses |
88350 |
As a new Hamilton entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Hamilton 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 |
1 |
| Advertising Agencies |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
3 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
1 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
10 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
1 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
23 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
16 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
2 |
| Book Stores |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
3 |
| Business Associations |
10 |
| Cafeterias |
4 |
| Car Washes |
5 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
5 |
| Caterers |
3 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
3 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
5 |
| Child Day Care Services |
12 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
19 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
2 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
6 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
9 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
4 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
3 |
| Convenience Stores |
14 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Couriers |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
6 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
7 |
| Dance Companies |
2 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
3 |
| Document Preparation Services |
2 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
21 |
| Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
8 |
| Educational Support Services |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
34 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
5 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
10 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
2 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
2 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
3 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
11 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
8 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
4 |
| Flooring Contractors |
4 |
| Florists |
6 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
2 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food Service Contractors |
2 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
10 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
42 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
9 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Furniture Stores |
13 |
| General Automotive Repair |
31 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
4 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
3 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
3 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
7 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
3 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
2 |
| Graphic Design Services |
2 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
4 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
2 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
3 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
1 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
3 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
29 |
| Interior Design Services |
4 |
| Internet Service Providers |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
2 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
20 |
| Jewelry Stores |
8 |
| Land Subdivision |
3 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
2 |
| Landscaping Services |
41 |
| Lead Pencil and Art Good Manufacturing |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
2 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
71 |
| Limousine Service |
2 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
2 |
| Machine Shops |
15 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
6 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
12 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
2 |
| Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
| Mineral Wool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
1 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
3 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
7 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
2 |
| Museums |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
2 |
| New Car Dealers |
4 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
2 |
| News Syndicates |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
6 |
| Office Administrative Services |
4 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
3 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
8 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
13 |
| Offices of Dentists |
27 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
46 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
3 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
2 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
6 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
3 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
1 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
12 |
| Paper (except Newsprint) Mills |
4 |
| Periodical Publishers |
5 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
1 |
| Petroleum Refineries |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
8 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
6 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
4 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
3 |
| Quick Printing |
1 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
5 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
2 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
4 |
| Residential Remodelers |
24 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
| Rolled Steel Shape Manufacturing |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
7 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
2 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
6 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
4 |
| Shoe Stores |
4 |
| Siding Contractors |
5 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
4 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
13 |
| Skiing Facilities |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
7 |
| Software Publishers |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
1 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
7 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
7 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
10 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
2 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
6 |
| Temporary Shelters |
2 |
| Testing Laboratories |
3 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
1 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
8 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
3 |
| Used Car Dealers |
19 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
3 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
3 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
7 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
10 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
1 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
10 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
6 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
2 |
| Wood Preservation |
1 |
Have You Considered Buying an Existing Hamilton Business?
An excellent way to get started in business is to Buy a Business in Ohio. Follow that link and you might discover several good businesses for sale in Hamilton.
Before buying a business, be sure to read this article: How to Buy a Business.
Company Formation in Hamilton, Ohio
A critical step is ensuring that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will shield you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
When forming a company, you will decide among many company types, such as a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporating is a very popular way to form a business. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. Just because you are starting a business in Ohio, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Ohio. In fact, you are allowed to 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. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Avoiding Personal Liability in Business. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Hamilton, Ohio, our web page covering Incorporating in Ohio may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Ohio.
Getting Money to Start a Business
Obtaining startup financing for your Hamilton business is a difficult chore. If you don't have a rich uncle to fund you, you'll need to be creative in how you approach your fundraising efforts.
The good news is this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled Only Idiots Send Venture Capitalists Business Plans.
For Hamilton entrepreneurs who want to raise money for a new venture, check out our List of Ohio Angel Investors and our List of Ohio Venture Capital Firms.
The Art of Selling
Being able to sell is essential to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Hamilton or are selling to customers throughout Ohio, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
Why should customers buy from you instead of buying from competitors? Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
Hiring Telemarketing Firms to Generate Sales Leads is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.
Moving Forward
You have a dream -- starting a business in Hamilton. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
We are here to help Hamilton 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 Hamilton, Ohio
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Hamilton.
- Resources for Hamilton, Ohio Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Hamilton entrepreneurs.
- Ohio Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Ohio.
- Ohio Small Business Development Center - Whether you're starting your business, expanding your business, or just looking to stay in business, the Small Business Development Centers of Ohio (SBDCs of Ohio) can help with professional guidance by connecting you with research, financing sources, and training opportunities.
- Hamilton, Ohio Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Hamilton, Ohio newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Hamilton area.
- Hamilton, Ohio Radio Advertising Prices - To help you in your marketing efforts, we've gathered radio advertising rates for Hamilton, Ohio area radio stations.
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