California Business Startup Guides

Starting a Business in Hayward, California

Thinking about starting a business in Hayward, California? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Hayward.

Hayward, California Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
21812
5-9 Employees
9160
10-19 Employees
7140
20-49 Employees
5076
50-99 Employees
2100
100-249 Employees
1212
250-499 Employees
108
500-999 Employees
72
1000+ Employees
12
All Hayward Businesses
46692

As a new Hayward entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Hayward 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
Adhesive Manufacturing
2
Advertising Agencies
1
Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting)
1
Amusement Arcades
2
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
1
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
3
Apprenticeship Training
3
Art Dealers
2
Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing
2
Automobile Driving Schools
4
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
4
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
6
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
35
Automotive Transmission Repair
7
Barber Shops
1
Beauty Salons
19
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
2
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
25
Blind and Shade Manufacturing
2
Book Publishers
3
Book Stores
5
Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills
1
Building Inspection Services
2
Business Associations
5
Business to Business Electronic Markets
2
Cable and Other Program Distribution
2
Cafeterias
7
Canvas and Related Product Mills
1
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
1
Caterers
9
Cemeteries and Crematories
3
Charter Bus Industry
2
Child and Youth Services
4
Child Day Care Services
31
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
1
Claims Adjusting
3
Clothing Accessories Stores
1
Coffee and Tea Manufacturing
1
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
10
Collection Agencies
3
Commercial Bakeries
10
Commercial Flexographic Printing
5
Commercial Photography
1
Commercial Screen Printing
7
Computer and Software Stores
7
Computer Facilities Management Services
1
Computer Systems Design Services
17
Confectionery and Nut Stores
2
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
2
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
2
Convenience Stores
8
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
5
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
1
Couriers
13
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
2
Credit Unions
8
Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins
1
Custom Computer Programming Services
23
Custom Roll Forming
1
Deep Sea Freight Transportation
1
Dental Laboratories
3
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
2
Digital Printing
2
Direct Mail Advertising
3
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
3
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
3
Discount Department Stores
2
Display Advertising
2
Distilleries
1
Document Preparation Services
1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
15
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
21
Educational Support Services
5
Electrical Contractors
55
Electronic Computer Manufacturing
3
Electronic Connector Manufacturing
1
Electronic Shopping
5
Employment Placement Agencies
3
Engineering Services
24
Envelope Manufacturing
1
Environmental Consulting Services
3
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
8
Family Clothing Stores
7
Family Planning Centers
1
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
1
Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing
1
Fine Arts Schools
3
Finish Carpentry Contractors
11
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers
2
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
14
Flight Training
2
Flooring Contractors
4
Florists
5
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
2
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
3
Food Product Machinery Manufacturing
1
Food Service Contractors
5
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
2
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
3
Framing Contractors
3
Freight Transportation Arrangement
17
Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing
1
Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing
5
Fruit and Vegetable Canning
1
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
3
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
3
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
14
Furniture Stores
13
General Automotive Repair
47
General Freight Trucking, Local
34
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
2
General Rental Centers
1
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
7
Glass and Glazing Contractors
3
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
1
Grantmaking Foundations
2
Graphic Design Services
1
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
18
Hardware Stores
5
Heavy Duty Truck Manufacturing
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
2
Home Centers
4
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
11
Home Health Care Services
25
Homes for the Elderly
22
Household Appliance Stores
4
Industrial Launderers
3
Institutional Furniture Manufacturing
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
33
Interior Design Services
1
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
1
Internet Service Providers
1
Investigation Services
1
Janitorial Services
35
Jewelry Stores
13
Junior Colleges
2
Kidney Dialysis Centers
2
Landscape Architectural Services
2
Landscaping Services
23
Language Schools
1
Limited-Service Restaurants
121
Limousine Service
2
Linen Supply
3
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
11
Locksmiths
1
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
1
Machine Shops
32
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
1
Marine Cargo Handling
1
Marketing Consulting Services
3
Marking Device Manufacturing
2
Masonry Contractors
8
Materials Recovery Facilities
3
Meat Markets
5
Media Representatives
2
Medical Laboratories
2
Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing
1
Men's Clothing Stores
7
Metal Heat Treating
1
Metal Stamping
1
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
4
Miscellaneous Intermediation
2
Mobile Food Services
2
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
13
Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing
1
Motor Vehicle Towing
8
Motorcycle Dealers
4
Museums
2
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
1
Nail Salons
15
New Car Dealers
18
New Housing Operative Builders
2
News Dealers and Newsstands
2
Newspaper Publishers
1
Nonresidential Property Managers
6
Office Administrative Services
11
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
7
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
3
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
23
Offices of Chiropractors
13
Offices of Dentists
69
Offices of Lawyers
55
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
1
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
2
Optical Goods Stores
5
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
1
Packaging and Labeling Services
1
Packaging Machinery Manufacturing
1
Paging
1
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
6
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
22
Parking Lots and Garages
1
Passenger Car Rental
8
Payroll Services
1
Periodical Publishers
1
Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing
2
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
2
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
14
Photography Studios, Portrait
6
Plastics Bag Manufacturing
1
Plate Work Manufacturing
1
Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing
1
Portfolio Management
1
Prepress Services
2
Primary Aluminum Production
1
Printing Ink Manufacturing
2
Private Mail Centers
3
Professional Employer Organizations
2
Professional Organizations
5
Quick Printing
3
Real Estate Credit
6
Real Estate Investment Trusts
1
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
1
Remediation Services
5
Repossession Services
2
Residential Property Managers
20
Residential Remodelers
35
Retail Bakeries
9
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
7
Roofing Contractors
18
Rooming and Boarding Houses
2
Sales Financing
4
Savings Institutions
4
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
1
Secondary Market Financing
1
Securities and Commodity Exchanges
1
Securities Brokerage
7
Security Guards and Patrol Services
8
Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing
1
Septic Tank and Related Services
1
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
10
Siding Contractors
3
Sign Manufacturing
4
Site Preparation Contractors
10
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
22
Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing
1
Soft Drink Manufacturing
2
Software Publishers
1
Soybean Processing
1
Special Needs Transportation
3
Sporting Goods Stores
3
Sports and Recreation Instruction
3
Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing
2
Steel Wire Drawing
1
Tax Preparation Services
14
Telemarketing Bureaus
1
Telephone Answering Services
2
Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing
2
Temporary Help Services
17
Temporary Shelters
4
Testing Laboratories
6
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
11
Tire Dealers
20
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
1
Tobacco Stores
2
Toilet Preparation Manufacturing
2
Tortilla Manufacturing
3
Tradebinding and Related Work
1
Travel Agencies
6
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
11
Used Merchandise Stores
5
Vending Machine Operators
2
Veterinary Services
5
Video Tape and Disc Rental
7
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
5
Voluntary Health Organizations
2
Watch, Clock, and Part Manufacturing
1
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
34
Wineries
2
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
12
Women's Clothing Stores
9
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
5
Zoos and Botanical Gardens
1

Have You Considered Franchising?

As you drive around Hayward, it's apparent that franchising has become a very popular way to start a business. Should you be giving franchising serious consideration?

Our recommendation is that you consider franchising as an option. To help you learn more about franchising, we've gathered a ton of articles on franchising, including Benefits of Owning A Franchise. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.

You can find franchise opportunities by browsing our Franchise Opportunities Directory.

Sample franchise opportunities include The Glove Lady and Manufacturing Management Associates. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Frozen Yogurt Franchises and Kid Friendly Franchises.

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

Should You Buy an Existing Hayward Business?

If you have some capital to play with, you may want to Buy a Business in California. Follow that link and you might discover several good businesses for sale in Hayward.

Before buying a business, be sure to read this article: How to Buy a Business.

Choosing a Company Name

A big decision when starting a company is choosing a company name. Believe it or not, choosing a good company name can be a big contributor to your business success.

Company names should be fun to say, and they should help people to understand what you do and how you differentiate yourself in the market.

Numerous company naming issues are discussed in more detail in this article: Naming a Business.

On a final note, given that you are opening a business in Hayward, it's critical that you ensure that no California company has already registered the company name you have selected.

Raising Money for Your New Venture

Obtaining startup financing for your Hayward business is not an easy task. Bootstrapping, which means growing the business without outside funding, is the best alternative, but that's not a viable option for many startup plans.

To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as Bank Credit Lines.

For Hayward entrepreneurs who need startup capital, check out our List of California Angel Investors and our List of California Venture Capital Firms.

Getting the Word Out About Your New Business

Whether your goal is to attract Hayward customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.

We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Pricing and Positioning is an article that will stimulate a few thoughts on your marketing plan. That's just a taste of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.

Building Up Your Sales

Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Hayward business, you need to focus on sales.

Why should customers buy from you instead of buying from competitors? The good news is we can help you to make selling a big competitve advantage for your new firm.

Closing Sales Techniques is worth reading, as it may give you some good ideas on how to sell your products or services. We have many more good articles on selling that you may enjoy reading.

Never Give Up

As an entrepreneur in Hayward, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.

From this point on, you control your own destiny.

Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Hayward and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Hayward 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 Hayward, California

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

More Business Startup Guides for California

Starting a Business in Hawthorne
Starting a Business in Healdsburg

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

 

 

Share this article


Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs

Lists of Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms

Franchise Opportunities

Contributors

Business Glossary