Thinking about starting a business in Huntington, West Virginia? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Huntington.
Are You Sure You Want to Do This?
Running your own business is demanding, and can be orders of magnitude more strenuous than working as an employee. Are you positive you are ready to take on this challenge?
While entrepreneurship has become a popular career choice, we recommend you do the following before you take the plunge:
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Huntington. Ask them candidly what it's like to run a business.
- We recommend reading Why Small Businesses Fail. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Get feedback from somebody whom you trust. The people who know you best are often in the best position to tell you bluntly whether you will be a good entrepreneur.
Huntington, West Virginia Demographic Information
Huntington has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Huntington demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Huntington.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
22488 |
| 5-9 Employees |
10296 |
| 10-19 Employees |
8512 |
| 20-49 Employees |
5328 |
| 50-99 Employees |
1920 |
| 100-249 Employees |
816 |
| 250-499 Employees |
312 |
| 500-999 Employees |
120 |
| 1000+ Employees |
72 |
| All Huntington Businesses |
49864 |
As a new Huntington entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Huntington 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 |
3 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
|
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
2 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
4 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
3 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
2 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
18 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
2 |
|
Baked Goods Stores |
2 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
11 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
6 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Stores |
3 |
|
Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
2 |
| Business Associations |
3 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
2 |
| Car Washes |
6 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
1 |
|
Caterers |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
6 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
4 |
| Child Day Care Services |
12 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
22 |
| Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Collection Agencies |
3 |
|
Commercial Bakeries |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
5 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
3 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
6 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
1 |
|
Consumer Lending |
3 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
4 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
2 |
| Couriers |
4 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
3 |
| Credit Unions |
15 |
|
Custom Computer Programming Services |
5 |
| Dental Laboratories |
5 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
3 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
3 |
| Display Advertising |
2 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
|
Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
31 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
3 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
4 |
| Electrical Contractors |
13 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
3 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
|
Engineering Services |
11 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
1 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
10 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
4 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
11 |
|
Floor Covering Stores |
4 |
| Flooring Contractors |
4 |
| Florists |
11 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
3 |
| Food Service Contractors |
2 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
1 |
|
Full-Service Restaurants |
40 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
6 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
7 |
| General Automotive Repair |
16 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
4 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
3 |
| General Rental Centers |
3 |
|
General Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
4 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
3 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
3 |
| Graphic Design Services |
1 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
|
Hardware Stores |
5 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
1 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
7 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
3 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
2 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
1 |
|
Hydroelectric Power Generation |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
4 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Inland Water Freight Transportation |
3 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
49 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investment Advice |
2 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
3 |
|
Janitorial Services |
13 |
| Jewelry Stores |
5 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
3 |
| Landscaping Services |
8 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
8 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
83 |
|
Limousine Service |
1 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
6 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
1 |
| Marinas |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
4 |
| Masonry Contractors |
4 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Medical Laboratories |
2 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
6 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
3 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
2 |
|
Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
2 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
3 |
| Museums |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
2 |
|
New Car Dealers |
8 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
3 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonferrous Forging |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
2 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
5 |
| Office Administrative Services |
9 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
|
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
1 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
21 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
16 |
| Offices of Dentists |
34 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
77 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
5 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
2 |
|
Offices of Podiatrists |
3 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
3 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
3 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
3 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
4 |
|
Payroll Services |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
3 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
14 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
3 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
1 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Political Organizations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
2 |
| Professional Organizations |
2 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
7 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
2 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
7 |
| Residential Remodelers |
27 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
| Rolled Steel Shape Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Roofing Contractors |
5 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
4 |
| Sales Financing |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
3 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
3 |
| Securities Brokerage |
11 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
2 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Shoe Stores |
3 |
| Siding Contractors |
4 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
2 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
10 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
11 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
1 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
6 |
|
Sports and Recreation Instruction |
4 |
| Steel Investment Foundries |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
6 |
| Taxi Service |
2 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
3 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
2 |
| Television Broadcasting |
3 |
| Temporary Help Services |
5 |
|
Temporary Shelters |
5 |
| Testing Laboratories |
2 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
6 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
1 |
| Tobacco Stores |
6 |
| Travel Agencies |
3 |
| Used Car Dealers |
6 |
|
Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
2 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
8 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
8 |
| Veterinary Services |
8 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
6 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
4 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
9 |
|
Window Treatment Stores |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
7 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
Forming a Company in Huntington, West Virginia
It's essential 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 select one of many company types, such as a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporation is a very popular way to form a business. A key decision is whether to form and S-Corp or a C-Corp, and you also must decide in which state you will incorporate. If you are starting a business in West Virginia, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in West Virginia. As it turns out, 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 Subchapter S Corporations. You may also want to seek the advice of an lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Huntington, West Virginia, our web page covering Incorporating in West Virginia may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in West Virginia.
Don't Skip the Business Plan
Writing a business plan is critical in laying a solid foundation for your business success. Simply put, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Failure to write a business plan will greatly reduce your chances of business success.
If you want more information on writing business plans, we recommend reading Business Plan Software. You should also take advantage of face-to-face free consulting available from your local SCORE chapter in West Virginia.
Ramping Up Sales
Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Huntington business, you need to focus on sales.
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.
Anticipating Prospect Responses 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.
Advancing Your Entrepreneurial Skills
Successful entrepreneurs recognize that they don't know everything.
With your business being located in Huntington, West Virginia, you should check out some of the many programs available at nearby West Virginia universities, colleges and community colleges. Another way to keep up on your learning is to investigate networking organizations for Huntington entrepreneurs.
Next Steps
As an entrepreneur in Huntington, 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.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Huntington and elsewhere to achieve real success. 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 Huntington, West Virginia
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Huntington.
- Resources for Huntington, West Virginia Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Huntington entrepreneurs.
- West Virginia Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in West Virginia.
- Wisconsin Small Business Development Center - Wisconsin Small Business Development Centers offer a variety of educational services to small-businesses. The low-cost courses, seminars, and workshops cover both basic and complex topics, from marketing to management techniques to business plan development.
- Huntington, West Virginia Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Huntington, West Virginia newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Huntington area.
- Huntington, West Virginia Radio Advertising Prices - To help you in your marketing efforts, we've gathered radio advertising rates for Huntington, West Virginia area radio stations.
- Huntington, West Virginia Payroll Services - This list includes Huntington, West Virginia payroll services, national payroll services for Huntington, and helpful information on choosing a Huntington payroll service.
- Huntington, West Virginia Businesses for Sale - This list includes resources for buying a business in Huntington, West Virginia, such as business brokers in Huntington and other helpful information on how to buy a Huntington business.
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