Contemplating starting a business in Huntsville, Alabama? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Huntsville.
Most new businesses don't make it, in part because the founder did not have the tenacity and/or the skills to succeed. So, before jumping into the world of entrepreneurship, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
With so much at stake when you start a business, we strongly recommend you do the following before you proceed:
Huntsville has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Huntsville demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Huntsville.
As a new Huntsville entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Huntsville 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 |
8 |
| Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing |
1 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
18 |
| Armored Car Services |
2 |
| Art Dealers |
4 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
5 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
5 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
37 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
9 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
3 |
| Barber Shops |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
63 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
13 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
2 |
| Book Stores |
15 |
| Books Printing |
2 |
| Bowling Centers |
5 |
| Building Inspection Services |
5 |
| Business Associations |
8 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
4 |
| Cafeterias |
5 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Car Washes |
8 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
5 |
| Caterers |
6 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
4 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
6 |
| Child Day Care Services |
39 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
10 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
20 |
| Claims Adjusting |
4 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
6 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
2 |
| Collection Agencies |
3 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
6 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
5 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
15 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
13 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
67 |
| Computer Terminal Manufacturing |
1 |
| Computer Training |
2 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
5 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
28 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
2 |
| Convenience Stores |
13 |
| Copper Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
3 |
| Couriers |
10 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
15 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
3 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
87 |
| Dance Companies |
2 |
| Dental Laboratories |
13 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
5 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
4 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
9 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
3 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
5 |
| Discount Department Stores |
3 |
| Display Advertising |
2 |
| Document Preparation Services |
2 |
| Drafting Services |
4 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
33 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
13 |
| Educational Support Services |
4 |
| Electrical Contractors |
41 |
| Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Connector Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
2 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
9 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
5 |
| Engineering Services |
177 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
3 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
3 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
9 |
| Facilities Support Services |
6 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
34 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
12 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
6 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
37 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
18 |
| Flooring Contractors |
4 |
| Florists |
15 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
8 |
| Food Service Contractors |
16 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
2 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
6 |
| Framing Contractors |
8 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
11 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
4 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
135 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
8 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
38 |
| General Automotive Repair |
66 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
5 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
3 |
| General Rental Centers |
6 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
11 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
26 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
7 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
3 |
| Graphic Design Services |
7 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Hardware Stores |
4 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
9 |
| Home Centers |
3 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Home Health Care Services |
18 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
8 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
4 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
14 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
3 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
2 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
94 |
| Interior Design Services |
9 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
1 |
| Internet Service Providers |
3 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
11 |
| Janitorial Services |
46 |
| Jewelry Stores |
34 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
4 |
| Land Subdivision |
9 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
58 |
| Language Schools |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
2 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
195 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
2 |
| Locksmiths |
5 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
11 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
5 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
3 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
15 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
2 |
| Masonry Contractors |
8 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
2 |
| Meat Markets |
3 |
| Medical Laboratories |
9 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
11 |
| Metal Stamping |
2 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
8 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
8 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
6 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
6 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
3 |
| Museums |
4 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
3 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
7 |
| New Car Dealers |
19 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
13 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
3 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
11 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
9 |
| Office Administrative Services |
16 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
8 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
14 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
48 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
20 |
| Offices of Dentists |
120 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
158 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
15 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
5 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
19 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
15 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
2 |
| Paging |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
6 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
18 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
2 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
6 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
5 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
9 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
31 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
20 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
8 |
| Powder Metallurgy Part Manufacturing |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
3 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
2 |
| Professional Organizations |
8 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
3 |
| Quick Printing |
4 |
| Radio Networks |
2 |
| Radio Stations |
6 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
3 |
| Real Estate Credit |
15 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
4 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
3 |
| Residential Property Managers |
14 |
| Residential Remodelers |
27 |
| Retail Bakeries |
2 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
6 |
| Rolled Steel Shape Manufacturing |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
12 |
| Sales Financing |
4 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
3 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
5 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
2 |
| Securities Brokerage |
30 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
11 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
7 |
| Shoe Stores |
28 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
4 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
7 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
25 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
13 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
4 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
29 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
14 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
3 |
| Storage Battery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
14 |
| Taxi Service |
3 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
3 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
3 |
| Television Broadcasting |
3 |
| Temporary Help Services |
28 |
| Temporary Shelters |
4 |
| Testing Laboratories |
7 |
| Textile Bag Mills |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
6 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
25 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
6 |
| Tobacco Stores |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
13 |
| Used Car Dealers |
24 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
13 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
23 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
20 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
16 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
4 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
4 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
7 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
58 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
4 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
24 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
37 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
2 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
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.
On a final note, given that you are starting a business in Huntsville, it's imperative that you check now that no other Alabama company is using the business name you want to use.
To grow your Huntsville business, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.
The best business owners recognize that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.
With your business being located in Huntsville, Alabama, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Alabama universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any Huntsville networking organizations.
Most new Huntsville 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 Huntsville 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.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Huntsville.
