Contemplating starting a business in Herndon, Virginia? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Herndon.
Are You Ready for the Challenges of Being an Entrepreneur?
Being an entrepreneur is hard work, much more arduous than working as an employee. Are you certain you have the stamina and skills to succeed on your own?
Because entrepreneurship is not for everyone, we recommend you do the following to help you assess whether you should move forward with starting a business:
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Herndon. Listen closely to their experiences and see if you think you too can be successful.
- We recommend reading Should You Become an Entrepreneur?. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Have a candid conversation with friends and family. 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.
Herndon, Virginia Demographic Information
Herndon has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Herndon demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Herndon.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
11400 |
| 5-9 Employees |
3249 |
| 10-19 Employees |
2439 |
| 20-49 Employees |
1917 |
| 50-99 Employees |
729 |
| 100-249 Employees |
432 |
| 250-499 Employees |
126 |
| 500-999 Employees |
54 |
| 1000+ Employees |
9 |
| All Herndon Businesses |
20355 |
As a new Herndon entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Herndon 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 |
8 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
9 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
1 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
3 |
|
Automotive Transmission Repair |
1 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
17 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
3 |
| Book Publishers |
5 |
| Building Inspection Services |
3 |
| Business Associations |
12 |
|
Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
3 |
| Cafeterias |
1 |
| Car Washes |
1 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
1 |
| Caterers |
5 |
| Child and Youth Services |
2 |
| Child Day Care Services |
28 |
|
Civic and Social Organizations |
6 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
2 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
2 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
6 |
|
Computer Facilities Management Services |
16 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
189 |
| Computer Training |
3 |
| Convenience Stores |
9 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
2 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Couriers |
4 |
| Credit Bureaus |
2 |
|
Credit Unions |
6 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
149 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
5 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Digital Printing |
2 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
3 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
4 |
|
Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
3 |
| Educational Support Services |
1 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
14 |
| Electronic Shopping |
7 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
3 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
|
Employment Placement Agencies |
5 |
| Engineering Services |
54 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
4 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
4 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
2 |
| Facilities Support Services |
4 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
5 |
|
Finish Carpentry Contractors |
4 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
10 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
8 |
| Flooring Contractors |
1 |
| Florists |
5 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
3 |
| Food Service Contractors |
15 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
|
Framing Contractors |
5 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
56 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
4 |
| General Automotive Repair |
11 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
4 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
|
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
5 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
3 |
| Graphic Design Services |
5 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
4 |
| Home Health Care Services |
1 |
|
Household Appliance Stores |
3 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
33 |
| Interior Design Services |
4 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
2 |
| Internet Service Providers |
6 |
|
Investigation Services |
3 |
| Investment Advice |
9 |
| Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
18 |
| Jewelry Stores |
4 |
| Land Subdivision |
4 |
| Landscaping Services |
30 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
1 |
|
Limited-Service Restaurants |
73 |
| Limousine Service |
3 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
3 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
20 |
| Masonry Contractors |
7 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
2 |
|
Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mixed Mode Transit Systems |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
13 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
6 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
4 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
1 |
|
New Housing Operative Builders |
2 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
8 |
| Office Administrative Services |
12 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
9 |
|
Offices of Chiropractors |
12 |
| Offices of Dentists |
35 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
15 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
5 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
4 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
2 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
6 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Optical Goods Stores |
1 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
16 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
5 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
3 |
|
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
4 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
4 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
2 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
2 |
| Private Mail Centers |
2 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
|
Professional Organizations |
7 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
5 |
| Quick Printing |
4 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
10 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
3 |
| Remediation Services |
2 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
|
Residential Property Managers |
7 |
| Residential Remodelers |
27 |
| Retail Bakeries |
2 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
3 |
| Sales Financing |
4 |
| Savings Institutions |
4 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
1 |
|
Securities Brokerage |
4 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
3 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
2 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
3 |
| Siding Contractors |
1 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
7 |
|
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
14 |
| Software Publishers |
27 |
| Software Reproducing |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
4 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
11 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
4 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
|
Telecommunications Resellers |
3 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
3 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
13 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
6 |
|
Tour Operators |
1 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
8 |
| Used Car Dealers |
1 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
6 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
7 |
|
Video Tape and Disc Rental |
5 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
4 |
| Web Search Portals |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
13 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
28 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
1 |
Have You Considered Buying an Existing Herndon Business?
If you have some capital to play with, you may want to Buy a Business in Virginia. Follow that link and you can review several good businesses for sale in Herndon.
For anybody who wants to buy a business, we recommend reading this useful article: Hold Harmless Agreements When Buying Businesses.
Forming a Company in Herndon, Virginia
It's very important 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.
The entity you form can be a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporation 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. If you are starting a business in Virginia, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Virginia. 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 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 LLC Advantages. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Herndon, Virginia, our information on Incorporating in Virginia may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Virginia.
Ramping Up Sales
Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Herndon 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.
Mastering the Complex Sale 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.
Improving Your Entrepreneurial Skillset
Good business owners recognize that they need to continually improve.
As an entrepreneur who lives in Herndon, Virginia, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Virginia universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any networking organizations for Herndon entrepreneurs.
Never Give Up
As an entrepreneur in Herndon, 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 Herndon 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 Herndon, Virginia
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Herndon.
- Resources for Herndon, Virginia Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Herndon entrepreneurs.
- Virginia Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Virginia.
- Virginia Small Business Development Center - Virginia Small Business Development Centers offer professional business counseling, training and information resources to help grow and strengthen Virginia businesses.
- Herndon, Virginia Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Herndon, Virginia newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Herndon area.
- Herndon, Virginia Payroll Services - This list includes Herndon, Virginia payroll services, national payroll services for Herndon, and helpful information on choosing a Herndon payroll service.
- Herndon, Virginia Businesses for Sale - This list includes resources for buying a business in Herndon, Virginia, such as business brokers in Herndon and other helpful information on how to buy a Herndon business.
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