Contemplating starting a business in Lebanon, Pennsylvania? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Lebanon.
Will You Be a Good Entrepreneur?
Most new companies fail, in part because the founder did not have the tenacity and/or the skills to succeed. So, before you open a business, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
Before you move forward with starting a business, be sure to do these three things:
- Reach out to other entrepreneurs in Lebanon. They are usually very willing to share their insights on the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur.
- Peruse Why Small Businesses Fail. This is one of our more popular articles for folks who want to go into business for themselves.
- Get feedback from somebody whom you trust. Others sometimes know you better than you know yourself.
What Business to Start
Choosing a business that is right for you is very important. We recommend that you read Good Business Ideas.
To view an extensive list of business types, complete with startup instructions, spend some time in the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our How to Start an Axles Retail Business guide or our How to Start a Sign Installation & Hanging Business guide.
Always keep in mind that starting a business in Lebanon has some implications. Some businesses will do better in Lebanon than others. Study Lebanon demographics and do a competitive analysis as part of your startup planning process.
Lebanon, Pennsylvania Demographic Information
Lebanon has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Lebanon demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Lebanon.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
28476 |
| 5-9 Employees |
14322 |
| 10-19 Employees |
8190 |
| 20-49 Employees |
5418 |
| 50-99 Employees |
2100 |
| 100-249 Employees |
882 |
| 250-499 Employees |
210 |
| 500-999 Employees |
84 |
| 1000+ Employees |
42 |
| All Lebanon Businesses |
59724 |
As a new Lebanon entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Lebanon 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 |
5 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
2 |
| Ambulance Services |
3 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
3 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
3 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
11 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
1 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
34 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
10 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Book Stores |
2 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business Associations |
3 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
2 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Car Washes |
2 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
1 |
| Caterers |
4 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
2 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
1 |
| Child Day Care Services |
19 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
17 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
2 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
3 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
6 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
4 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
5 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
2 |
| Convenience Stores |
4 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
4 |
| Crop Harvesting, Primarily by Machine |
1 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
3 |
| Dental Laboratories |
2 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
3 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
12 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
2 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
3 |
| Electrical Contractors |
10 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
2 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
4 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
2 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
2 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
2 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
7 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
2 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
7 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
5 |
| Flooring Contractors |
1 |
| Florists |
3 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
2 |
| Food Service Contractors |
4 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
4 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
33 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
3 |
| Furniture Stores |
4 |
| General Automotive Repair |
20 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
1 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
6 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
3 |
| Graphic Design Services |
3 |
| Hardware Stores |
1 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
8 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
4 |
| Home Centers |
4 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
4 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
1 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
2 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
27 |
| Interior Design Services |
2 |
| Investigation Services |
1 |
| Investment Advice |
2 |
| Iron Foundries |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
8 |
| Jewelry Stores |
6 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
17 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
1 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
40 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
10 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
2 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
2 |
| Masonry Contractors |
5 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
3 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
4 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
1 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
7 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
5 |
| Office Administrative Services |
3 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
4 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
9 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
11 |
| Offices of Dentists |
27 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
22 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
4 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
3 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
3 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
5 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
4 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
6 |
| Periodical Publishers |
3 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
12 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
3 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
2 |
| Political Organizations |
3 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Prepress Services |
2 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
2 |
| Radio Stations |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
2 |
| Residential Remodelers |
7 |
| Retail Bakeries |
2 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
3 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
5 |
| Sawmills |
1 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
4 |
| Securities Brokerage |
8 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
3 |
| Shoe Stores |
5 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
6 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
7 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
4 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
2 |
| Steel Investment Foundries |
1 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
1 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
4 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
3 |
| Temporary Help Services |
6 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Testing Laboratories |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
1 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
4 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
4 |
| Tobacco Stores |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
4 |
| Used Car Dealers |
13 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
3 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
4 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
7 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
3 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
1 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
2 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
4 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
2 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Yarn Spinning Mills |
1 |
Is Franchising a Better Option?
As you drive around Lebanon, you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. Is franchising maybe a better way for you to start your business?
Most business experts recommend that you investigate buying a franchise. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as Before Buying a Franchise. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
A comprehensive list of franchisors is available via our List of Franchise Opportunities.
Representative franchise opportunities include Verlo Mattress Factory Stores, LLC and Energy Kitchen. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Healthcare Franchises and Miscellaneous Franchises.
Note on Lebanon Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Lebanon.
Is Buying an Existing Lebanon Business a Good Strategy?
An excellent way to get started in business is to Buy a Business in Pennsylvania. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Lebanon.
If you are intent on buying a business, you may want to read this article: Buying a Business.
Company Formation in Lebanon, Pennsylvania
It's essential that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will separate you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
The entity you form can be a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
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 Pennsylvania, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Pennsylvania. In fact, you are allowed to incorporate in any state you would like to. For example, it's very popular to incorporate in Delaware, and incorporating in Nevada has become very trendy as well. Don't forget, though, that you will have to register as a foreign entity in all states that you do business in.
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 Offshore Company Formation. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, our information on Incorporating in Pennsylvania may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Pennsylvania.
Marketing Your New Venture
To rise above the crowd in Lebanon and accelerate your business, you need a excellent marketing plan.
You can learn quite a bit about marketing on our site. Facebook Advertising discusses marketing strategy and tactical marketing in a way that should get you thinking about how to creatively promote your business. That's just one of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
What's Next?
Most new Lebanon businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
We are here to help Lebanon businesses to be successful. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Lebanon, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Lebanon.
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