Contemplating starting a business in Lancaster, Pennsylvania? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Lancaster.
There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? To help you decide on a business type, we encourage you to read Business Ideas That Don't Make Sense.
Don't forget that your new business will be in Lancaster. Some businesses will do better in Lancaster than others. Make sure you fully understand Lancaster demographics before you lock in on your business idea.
Lancaster has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Lancaster demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Lancaster.
As a new Lancaster entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Lancaster 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 |
24 |
| Ambulance Services |
2 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
31 |
| Armored Car Services |
3 |
| Art Dealers |
4 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
2 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
2 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
3 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
21 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
4 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
5 |
| Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing |
1 |
| Barber Shops |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
71 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
4 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
17 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
3 |
| Book Stores |
14 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing |
1 |
| Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
5 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
5 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
2 |
| Cafeterias |
4 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
8 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
4 |
| Caterers |
4 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
3 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
2 |
| Cheese Manufacturing |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
6 |
| Child Day Care Services |
41 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
11 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
42 |
| Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
7 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
9 |
| Collection Agencies |
3 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
2 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
22 |
| Commercial Photography |
4 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
2 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
6 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
29 |
| Computer Training |
2 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
5 |
| Consumer Lending |
4 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
7 |
| Convenience Stores |
13 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
3 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
2 |
| Copper Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
2 |
| Couriers |
4 |
| Credit Unions |
16 |
| Crop Harvesting, Primarily by Machine |
1 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
21 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
4 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
7 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
4 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
6 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
5 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
9 |
| Discount Department Stores |
5 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
2 |
| Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
21 |
| Dry Pasta Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
9 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
29 |
| Electron Tube Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
4 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
12 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
3 |
| Engineering Services |
19 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
6 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
4 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
3 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
42 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
| Farm Management Services |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
8 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
13 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
2 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
28 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
8 |
| Flooring Contractors |
3 |
| Florists |
10 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
5 |
| Food Service Contractors |
20 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
5 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
1 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
117 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
4 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Furniture Stores |
29 |
| General Automotive Repair |
43 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
6 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
3 |
| General Rental Centers |
7 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
31 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
4 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
4 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
5 |
| Graphic Design Services |
11 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Hardware Stores |
6 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
6 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
11 |
| Home Centers |
4 |
| Home Health Care Services |
12 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
6 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
8 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
2 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
3 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
7 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
66 |
| Interior Design Services |
3 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
1 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
24 |
| Iron Foundries |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
31 |
| Jewelry Stores |
30 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
5 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
5 |
| Landscaping Services |
45 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
6 |
| Libraries and Archives |
6 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
136 |
| Livestock Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
3 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Logging |
1 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
5 |
| Machine Shops |
13 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
7 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
1 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
16 |
| Masonry Contractors |
14 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
2 |
| Meat Markets |
5 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
5 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
14 |
| Metal Can Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
2 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
8 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
3 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
3 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
4 |
| Museums |
8 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
3 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
4 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
17 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
11 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
7 |
| Nuclear Electric Power Generation |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
13 |
| Office Administrative Services |
11 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
7 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
5 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
26 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
26 |
| Offices of Dentists |
77 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
106 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
12 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
9 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
8 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
17 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
3 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
9 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
20 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
2 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
1 |
| Payroll Services |
3 |
| Periodical Publishers |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
7 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
3 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
24 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
15 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
2 |
| Political Organizations |
3 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
19 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
6 |
| Prepress Services |
3 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
4 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
3 |
| Professional Organizations |
8 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
2 |
| Quick Printing |
4 |
| Radio Stations |
3 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
30 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
12 |
| Residential Remodelers |
28 |
| Resilient Floor Covering Manufacturing |
1 |
| Retail Bakeries |
3 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
| Roofing Contractors |
5 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
21 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
25 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
3 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
2 |
| Shoe Stores |
47 |
| Siding Contractors |
3 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
3 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
14 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
27 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
2 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
3 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
2 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
19 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
5 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
13 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
3 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
5 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
28 |
| Temporary Shelters |
5 |
| Testing Laboratories |
4 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
4 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
2 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Tire Dealers |
7 |
| Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading) |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
10 |
| Tobacco Stemming and Redrying |
1 |
| Tobacco Stores |
4 |
| Tour Operators |
1 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
4 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
11 |
| Used Car Dealers |
19 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
1 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
10 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
3 |
| Veterinary Services |
12 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
9 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
13 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
4 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
3 |
| Watch, Clock, and Part Manufacturing |
1 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Web Search Portals |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
34 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
4 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
10 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
37 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
A critical step is ensuring that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. The principal advantage of forming your new business as a legal entity is that it separates your business liabilities from your personal liabilities.
The entity you form can be a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporating 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 Pennsylvania, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Pennsylvania. 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. To learn the fundamentals of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as How to Incorporate. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, our information on Incorporating in Pennsylvania may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Pennsylvania.
A business plan is essential to the health of your new business. Simply put, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Not having a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
Whether your goal is to attract Lancaster customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your successs.
Being able to sell is a key enabler to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Lancaster or are selling to customers throughout Pennsylvania, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
Why should customers buy from you instead of buying from competitors? Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Lancaster. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Lancaster and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Lancaster entrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Lancaster.
