Iowa Business Startup Guides

Start a Business in Hawarden, Iowa

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

Is Becoming an Entrepreneur Right for You?

Most new ventures don't make it, in part because the business owner did not have the tenacity and/or the skills to succeed. So, before you open a business, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.

To determine whether you have what it takes to run a business, we recommend these three steps to help you decide:

  • Talk to other entrepreneurs in Hawarden. Get their take on what it's really like to be an entrepreneur.
  • We recommend reading Why Small Businesses Fail. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
  • Get feedback from somebody whom you trust. That's the best way to get a truly objective assessment as to whether others think you have what it takes.

Hawarden, Iowa Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
233
5-9 Employees
66
10-19 Employees
57
20-49 Employees
21
50-99 Employees
9
100-249 Employees
3
250-499 Employees
0
500-999 Employees
0
1000+ Employees
0
All Hawarden Businesses
389

As a new Hawarden entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Hawarden 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
Beauty Salons
2
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
1
Bowling Centers
1
Business Associations
1
Car Washes
1
Caterers
1
Child Day Care Services
1
Computer Systems Design Services
1
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
3
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
1
Electrical Contractors
1
Elementary and Secondary Schools
1
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
4
Framing Contractors
1
Full-Service Restaurants
3
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
1
Furniture Stores
1
General Automotive Repair
5
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
1
Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
2
Janitorial Services
1
Limited-Service Restaurants
1
Livestock Merchant Wholesalers
2
Machine Shops
1
New Car Dealers
1
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
1
Offices of Lawyers
2
Offices of Optometrists
1
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
1
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
1
Photography Studios, Portrait
1
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
2
Residential Remodelers
3
Tire Dealers
1
Veterinary Services
1

Have You Considered Franchising?

Visit the business district of Hawarden and you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. But is franchising the right option for you?

Our recommendation is that you look into purchasing a franchise. We have many articles on franchises, such as Buying an Existing Franchise. 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.

Representative franchise opportunities include Stained Glass Overlay and Shape Up Sisters. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Vending Franchises and Real Estate Franchises.

Note on Hawarden Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Hawarden, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.

Naming the Business

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.

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.

To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Branding Advice.

There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are opening a business in Hawarden, it's imperative that you check now that no Iowa company has already registered the company name you have selected.

Forming a Company in Hawarden, Iowa

It's essential that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will protect you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.

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. If you are starting a business in Iowa, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Iowa. In fact, you can incorporate in any state you would like to. 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 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 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 Hawarden, Iowa, our web page covering Incorporating in Iowa may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Iowa.

Advancing Your Entrepreneurial Skills

Successful entrepreneurs recognize that they need to continually improve.

Given that you are starting a business in Hawarden, Iowa, you should check out some of the many programs available at nearby Iowa universities, colleges and community colleges. Another way to keep up on your learning is to investigate networking groups or organizations in which Hawarden entrepreneurs get together to network and trade their business experiences.

Moving Forward

Most new Hawarden businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.

Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.

This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Hawarden and elsewhere to achieve real success. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Hawarden entrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Hawarden, Iowa

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

  • Resources for Hawarden, Iowa Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Hawarden entrepreneurs.
  • Iowa Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Iowa.
  • Iowa Small Business Development Center - The Iowa SBDC conducts research, counsels, and trains business people in management, financing, and operating small businesses. They provide comprehensive information services and access to experts in a variety of fields. This is a great resource for Iowa entrepreneurs!

Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in Iowa

Starting a Business in Hartley
Starting a Business in Hinton

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