Starting a Business in Hyannis, Massachusetts

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

Are You Sure You Want to Do This?

Most new businesses fail, 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.

Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.

• Talk to other entrepreneurs in Hyannis. Ask them candidly what it's like to run a business.
• We recommend reading Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
• Seek the advice of somebody who knows you well. The people who know you best are often in the best position to tell you bluntly whether you will be a good entrepreneur.

What Business Are You Starting?

An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. To help you decide on a business type, we encourage you to read Good Business Ideas.

For step-by-step instructions on starting a variety of business types, visit the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our Starting a Dance Club guide or our Starting a Tatoo Parlor guide.

Remember that you are opening your new business in Hyannis. Some businesses will do better in Hyannis than others. Make sure you fully understand Hyannis demographics before you lock in on your business idea.

Hyannis, Massachusetts Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size	# of Businesses
1-4 Employees	1654
5-9 Employees	819
10-19 Employees	648
20-49 Employees	375
50-99 Employees	126
100-249 Employees	90
250-499 Employees	3
500-999 Employees	3
1000+ Employees	3
All Hyannis Businesses	3721

As a new Hyannis entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Hyannis 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	1
Amusement Arcades	2
Appliance Repair and Maintenance	2
Apprenticeship Training	1
Art Dealers	2
Automobile Driving Schools	2
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops	4
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores	9
Automotive Transmission Repair	1
Barber Shops	1
Beauty Salons	19
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns	2
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores	9
Boat Dealers	6
Book Stores	2
Business Associations	1
Cable and Other Program Distribution	2
Cafeterias	2
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores	1
Car Washes	5
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services	1
Caterers	1
Child and Youth Services	3
Child Day Care Services	10
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores	5
Civic and Social Organizations	7
Claims Adjusting	2
Clothing Accessories Stores	3
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners	5
Collection Agencies	3
Commercial Bakeries	1
Commercial Lithographic Printing	3
Commercial Photography	1
Community Food Services	1
Computer and Software Stores	2
Computer Systems Design Services	2
Confectionery and Nut Stores	2
Consumer Lending	3
Convenience Stores	13
Convention and Trade Show Organizers	1
Cosmetology and Barber Schools	1
Credit Unions	1
Custom Computer Programming Services	2
Dental Laboratories	3
Diagnostic Imaging Centers	2
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers	1
Direct Mail Advertising	1
Direct Title Insurance Carriers	1
Directory and Mailing List Publishers	1
Discount Department Stores	1
Document Preparation Services	1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)	3
Drywall and Insulation Contractors	3
Educational Support Services	1
Electrical Contractors	10
Elementary and Secondary Schools	3
Emergency and Other Relief Services	1
Engineering Services	2
Environmental Consulting Services	2
Exam Preparation and Tutoring	1
Exterminating and Pest Control Services	2
Family Clothing Stores	14
Family Planning Centers	2
Fine Arts Schools	1
Finish Carpentry Contractors	4
Fish and Seafood Markets	1
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers	6
Floor Covering Stores	5
Flooring Contractors	3
Florists	3
Food (Health) Supplement Stores	5
Food Service Contractors	2
Formal Wear and Costume Rental	2
Framing Contractors	3
Full-Service Restaurants	60
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services	1
Furniture Stores	11
General Automotive Repair	20
General Freight Trucking, Local	2
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals	1
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores	10
Glass and Glazing Contractors	2
Golf Courses and Country Clubs	1
Grantmaking Foundations	2
Graphic Design Services	1
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers	1
Hardware Stores	4
Heating Oil Dealers	3
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores	6
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers	1
Home Health Care Services	4
Homes for the Elderly	1
Household Appliance Stores	3
Human Rights Organizations	2
Industrial Launderers	1
Industrial Mold Manufacturing	1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages	14
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation	1
Investigation Services	1
Investment Advice	3
Janitorial Services	3
Jewelry Stores	17
Landscaping Services	8
Libraries and Archives	1
Limited-Service Restaurants	29
Limousine Service	1
Linen Supply	3
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores	2
Machine Shops	1
Marinas	2
Marketing Consulting Services	2
Masonry Contractors	1
Medical Laboratories	3
Men's Clothing Stores	3
Mobile Food Services	1
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers	2
Motion Picture and Video Production	1
Motor Vehicle Towing	2
Motorcycle Dealers	2
Museums	1
Nail Salons	1
New Car Dealers	15
Newspaper Publishers	2
Nonresidential Property Managers	3
Nursing Care Facilities	2
Office Administrative Services	3
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers	1
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores	1
Offices of Certified Public Accountants	7
Offices of Chiropractors	6
Offices of Dentists	26
Offices of Lawyers	34
Offices of Optometrists	5
Offices of Other Holding Companies	1
Offices of Podiatrists	2
Optical Goods Stores	6
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores	2
Packaging and Labeling Services	1
Paint and Wallpaper Stores	3
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors	1
Parking Lots and Garages	4
Passenger Car Rental	5
Periodical Publishers	2
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores	4
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services	1
Pharmacies and Drug Stores	6
Photography Studios, Portrait	2
Portfolio Management	2
Private Mail Centers	1
Quick Printing	4
Radio Stations	1
Real Estate Credit	2
Recreational Goods Rental	1
Recreational Vehicle Dealers	1
Residential Property Managers	3
Residential Remodelers	10
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair	3
Roofing Contractors	1
Savings Institutions	8
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation	2
School and Employee Bus Transportation	1
Securities Brokerage	12
Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing	1
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing	1
Shellfish Fishing	1
Shoe Stores	9
Siding Contractors	1
Sign Manufacturing	1
Site Preparation Contractors	3
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars	20
Software Publishers	1
Sporting Goods Stores	10
Sports and Recreation Instruction	2
Tax Preparation Services	4
Taxi Service	2
Telemarketing Bureaus	1
Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing	1
Temporary Help Services	3
Temporary Shelters	4
Testing Laboratories	1
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors	1
Tire Dealers	3
Tobacco Stores	4
Tour Operators	3
Travel Agencies	2
Used Car Dealers	4
Used Household and Office Goods Moving	2
Used Merchandise Stores	7
Vending Machine Operators	1
Veterinary Services	1
Video Tape and Disc Rental	2
Vocational Rehabilitation Services	3
Voluntary Health Organizations	2
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters	1
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems	1
Wired Telecommunications Carriers	7
Women's Clothing Stores	20

Have You Considered Franchising?

As you drive around Hyannis, 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 consider franchising as an option. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as Five Franchise Opportunities To Watch. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.

To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.

Sample franchise opportunities include Subway Franchises and Starbucks Franchises. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Accounting Franchises and Moving Franchises.

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

Have You Considered Buying an Existing Hyannis Business?

An excellent way to get started in business is to Buy a Business in Massachusetts. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Hyannis.

For anybody who wants to buy a business, we recommend reading this useful article: Buying a Business.

Selecting a Name For Your Venture

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 need to be easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and easy to remember.

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

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

Company Formation in Hyannis, Massachusetts

A critical step is ensuring that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. The biggest advantage of forming your new business as a legal entity is that it separates your business liabilities from your personal liabilities.

When forming a company, you will pick from many company types, such as a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.

Incorporating 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. Just because you are starting a business in Massachusetts, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Massachusetts. In fact, you can incorporate wherever you want. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.

There's a lot to know about forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Registered Agents. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Hyannis, Massachusetts, our web page covering Incorporating in Massachusetts may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Massachusetts.

Make Sure You Have a Business Plan

A business plan is essential to the health of your new business. Simply put, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. Starting a business without a business plan is a recipe for disaster.

To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Software. A great resource for business planning assistance is the free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Massachusetts.

Raising Money for Your New Venture

Obtaining startup financing for your Hyannis 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.

Take advantage of our many articles on raising capital, such as 504 Loans.

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

Letting the World Know You Exist

Whether your goal is to attract Hyannis customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you need a excellent marketing plan.

You can learn quite a bit about marketing on our site. Advertising on Google discusses marketing strategy and tactical marketing in a way that should get you thinking about how to creatively promote your business. There are many more articles on marketing on our site. Visit our Small Business Marketing resource section to see them all.

Bring in Revenues

Mastering the art of selling is essential if you want your new Hyannis business to do well.

So what does it take to bring in more prospects and close more business? Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.

Selling Stuff on the Web is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.

How to Improve Your Entrepreneurial Abilities

Good entrepreneurs know that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.

Given that you are starting a business in Hyannis, Massachusetts, you should get information on some of the learning programs at local Massachusetts educational institutions. Another way to keep up on your entrepreneurial education is to investigate networking groups or organizations in which Hyannis entrepreneurs get together to network and trade their business experiences.

Next Steps

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

From this point on, you control your own destiny.

This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Hyannis 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 Hyannis, Massachusetts

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

• Resources for Hyannis, Massachusetts Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Hyannis entrepreneurs.
• Massachusetts Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Massachusetts.
• Massachusetts Small Business Development Center - The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC) Network provides one-to-one free comprehensive and confidential services focusing on, business growth and strategies, financing and loan assistance as well as strategic, marketing and operational analysis.
• Hyannis, Massachusetts Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Hyannis, Massachusetts newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Hyannis area.

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