Thinking about starting a business in Indianapolis, Indiana? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Indianapolis.
Choosing a business that is right for you is very important. You might get some good ideas about what kind of business to start by reading Finding Your Niche in Life.
Always keep in mind that starting a business in Indianapolis has some implications. Some businesses will do better in Indianapolis than others. Make sure you fully understand Indianapolis demographics before you lock in on your business idea.
Indianapolis has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Indianapolis demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Indianapolis.
As a new Indianapolis entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Indianapolis 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 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
3 |
| Advertising Agencies |
63 |
| Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing |
4 |
| Aluminum Extruded Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
6 |
| Amusement Arcades |
5 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
13 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
9 |
| Architectural Services |
99 |
| Armored Car Services |
6 |
| Art Dealers |
14 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automatic Vending Machine Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
3 |
| Automobile Manufacturing |
4 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
4 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
25 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
132 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
26 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
12 |
| Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing |
4 |
| Barber Shops |
10 |
| Beauty Salons |
207 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
3 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
140 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
9 |
| Boat Dealers |
9 |
| Book Publishers |
15 |
| Book Stores |
41 |
| Books Printing |
4 |
| Bottled Water Manufacturing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
12 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
3 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
13 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
3 |
| Business Associations |
100 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
2 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
6 |
| Cafeterias |
47 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
11 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
9 |
| Car Washes |
49 |
| Carpet and Rug Mills |
1 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
36 |
| Caterers |
38 |
| Cement Manufacturing |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
13 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
9 |
| Child and Youth Services |
37 |
| Child Day Care Services |
264 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
16 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
192 |
| Claims Adjusting |
19 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
30 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
43 |
| Collection Agencies |
29 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
5 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
7 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
55 |
| Commercial Photography |
17 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
23 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
2 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
6 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
28 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
16 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
174 |
| Computer Training |
10 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
3 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
3 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
7 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
18 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
3 |
| Consumer Lending |
41 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
11 |
| Convenience Stores |
42 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
21 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
2 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
7 |
| Couriers |
43 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
16 |
| Credit Bureaus |
6 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
71 |
| Crop Harvesting, Primarily by Machine |
1 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
8 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
168 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
2 |
| Dance Companies |
3 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
25 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
27 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
13 |
| Digital Printing |
9 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
69 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
16 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
40 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
4 |
| Discount Department Stores |
14 |
| Display Advertising |
5 |
| Document Preparation Services |
26 |
| Drafting Services |
6 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
181 |
| Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters |
2 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
49 |
| Educational Support Services |
23 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
5 |
| Electrical Contractors |
157 |
| Electron Tube Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Connector Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
23 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
56 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
3 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
40 |
| Engineering Services |
237 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
3 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
44 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
13 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
29 |
| Facilities Support Services |
24 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
67 |
| Family Planning Centers |
11 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
4 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
12 |
| Fats and Oils Refining and Blending |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
30 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
69 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
2 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
104 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
50 |
| Flooring Contractors |
51 |
| Florists |
54 |
| Flour Milling |
2 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
2 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
27 |
| Food Service Contractors |
74 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
11 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
7 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
4 |
| Framing Contractors |
51 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
59 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
6 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
616 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
48 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
21 |
| Furniture Stores |
100 |
| General Automotive Repair |
209 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
51 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
16 |
| General Rental Centers |
19 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
45 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
88 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
20 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
21 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
46 |
| Graphic Design Services |
73 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
4 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
4 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
36 |
| Hardware Stores |
27 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
4 |
| Historical Sites |
3 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
3 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
30 |
| Home Centers |
14 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
20 |
| Home Health Care Services |
56 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
8 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
18 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
27 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
19 |
| Hydroelectric Power Generation |
1 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
7 |
| Industrial Design Services |
5 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
17 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
5 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
3 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
4 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
510 |
| Interior Design Services |
49 |
| International Trade Financing |
1 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
3 |
| Internet Service Providers |
20 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
15 |
| Investment Advice |
79 |
| Iron Foundries |
5 |
| Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
234 |
| Jewelry Stores |
93 |
| Junior Colleges |
6 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
12 |
| Land Subdivision |
33 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
20 |
| Landscaping Services |
237 |
| Language Schools |
8 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
13 |
| Libraries and Archives |
4 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
769 |
| Limousine Service |
8 |
| Linen Supply |
5 |
| Livestock Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
19 |
| Locksmiths |
12 |
| Logging |
2 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
4 |
| Machine Shops |
71 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
22 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
4 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
6 |
| Marinas |
3 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
82 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
62 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
3 |
| Meat Markets |
3 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
3 |
| Media Representatives |
7 |
| Medical Laboratories |
36 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
35 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
13 |
| Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
4 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
3 |
| Mineral Wool Manufacturing |
6 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
10 |
| Mobile Food Services |
9 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
120 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
47 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
2 |
| Motor Home Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
3 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
21 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
8 |
| Museums |
12 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
12 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
23 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
6 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
2 |
| Natural Gas Liquid Extraction |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
65 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
24 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
6 |
| News Syndicates |
5 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
20 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
72 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
36 |
| Office Administrative Services |
99 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
83 |
| Office Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
35 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
186 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
61 |
| Offices of Dentists |
421 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
573 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
62 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
33 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
25 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
81 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
3 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
40 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
11 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
21 |
| Packing and Crating |
9 |
| Paging |
3 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
6 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
32 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
153 |
| Paper (except Newsprint) Mills |
1 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
69 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
4 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
42 |
| Payroll Services |
24 |
| Pen and Mechanical Pencil Manufacturing |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
30 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
29 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
29 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
11 |
| Petroleum Refineries |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
123 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
37 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil |
1 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
2 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
2 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
4 |
| Political Organizations |
16 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
44 |
| Powder Metallurgy Part Manufacturing |
2 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
9 |
| Prepress Services |
12 |
| Primary Aluminum Production |
1 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
3 |
| Private Mail Centers |
14 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
20 |
| Professional Organizations |
49 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
25 |
| Quick Printing |
24 |
| Racetracks |
9 |
| Radio Networks |
5 |
| Radio Stations |
26 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
14 |
| Real Estate Credit |
112 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
15 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
2 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
4 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
7 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
4 |
| Remediation Services |
13 |
| Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
5 |
| Residential Property Managers |
155 |
| Residential Remodelers |
224 |
| Retail Bakeries |
12 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
18 |
| Rolled Steel Shape Manufacturing |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
64 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
18 |
| Sales Financing |
33 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
7 |
| Savings Institutions |
25 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
19 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
2 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
122 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
46 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
4 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
2 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
22 |
| Shoe Stores |
106 |
| Siding Contractors |
30 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
45 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
62 |
| Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturing |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
98 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
3 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
4 |
| Software Publishers |
36 |
| Software Reproducing |
2 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
8 |
| Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators |
1 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
3 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
8 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
3 |
| Specialty Canning |
1 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
3 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
73 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
27 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
4 |
| Steel Investment Foundries |
2 |
| Surface Active Agent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
91 |
| Taxi Service |
4 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
15 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
18 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
5 |
| Television Broadcasting |
12 |
| Temporary Help Services |
186 |
| Temporary Shelters |
10 |
| Testing Laboratories |
29 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
9 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
24 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
10 |
| Tire Dealers |
65 |
| Tire Retreading |
4 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
31 |
| Tobacco Stores |
16 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
3 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
2 |
| Tour Operators |
5 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
9 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
7 |
| Travel Agencies |
43 |
| Truck Trailer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
103 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
36 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
70 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
28 |
| Veterinary Services |
70 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
60 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
36 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
34 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
21 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
2 |
| Web Search Portals |
4 |
| Wet Corn Milling |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
220 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
7 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
125 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
118 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
7 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
2 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
Getting your Indianapolis business the capital it needs to succeed is very difficult due to the ongoing business credit crunch. The reality is that there is very little funding available for new small businesses, and you have to explore every possible alternative.
Whether your goal is to attract Indianapolis customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your succeeding.
We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Advertising in Magazines is a good read to get your marketing thoughts flowing. That's just a taste of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Indianapolis or are selling to customers throughout Indiana, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
So what does it take to bring in more prospects and close more business? Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
The best entrepreneurs know that they need to continually improve.
Given that you are starting a business in Indianapolis, Indiana, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Indiana universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any networking organizations for Indianapolis entrepreneurs.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Indianapolis. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Indianapolis and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Indianapolis, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Indianapolis.
