Florida Business Startup Guides

Starting a Business in Longwood, Florida

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

Longwood, Florida Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
4894
5-9 Employees
1172
10-19 Employees
747
20-49 Employees
573
50-99 Employees
120
100-249 Employees
99
250-499 Employees
18
500-999 Employees
9
1000+ Employees
0
All Longwood Businesses
7632

As a new Longwood entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Longwood 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
Adhesive Manufacturing
1
Advertising Agencies
8
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
1
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
4
Apprenticeship Training
1
Architectural Services
12
Art Dealers
1
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
3
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
9
Automotive Transmission Repair
2
Beauty Salons
29
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
2
Blind and Shade Manufacturing
2
Boat Building
1
Book Publishers
3
Book Stores
1
Bowling Centers
1
Building Inspection Services
6
Business Associations
3
Cable and Other Program Distribution
1
Canvas and Related Product Mills
1
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
7
Caterers
2
Charter Bus Industry
1
Child Day Care Services
17
Civic and Social Organizations
2
Claims Adjusting
4
Clothing Accessories Stores
2
Commercial Lithographic Printing
10
Commercial Photography
2
Commercial Screen Printing
1
Community Food Services
1
Computer and Software Stores
12
Computer Facilities Management Services
1
Computer Systems Design Services
24
Confectionery and Nut Stores
1
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
1
Construction Machinery Manufacturing
1
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
2
Convenience Stores
9
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
1
Copper Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding
1
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
2
Credit Unions
4
Curtain and Drapery Mills
2
Custom Computer Programming Services
26
Dental Laboratories
1
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
1
Digital Printing
1
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
2
Direct Mail Advertising
1
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
5
Discount Department Stores
1
Document Preparation Services
2
Drafting Services
1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
8
Educational Support Services
4
Electrical Contractors
22
Electronic Capacitor Manufacturing
1
Electronic Shopping
6
Elementary and Secondary Schools
3
Emergency and Other Relief Services
1
Employment Placement Agencies
1
Environmental Consulting Services
3
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
1
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
7
Facilities Support Services
1
Family Clothing Stores
1
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
2
Fine Arts Schools
3
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
10
Floor Covering Stores
4
Flooring Contractors
8
Florists
6
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
2
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
1
Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation
2
Freight Transportation Arrangement
2
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
3
Full-Service Restaurants
42
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
1
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
4
Furniture Stores
11
General Automotive Repair
35
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
1
General Rental Centers
1
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
4
Glass and Glazing Contractors
4
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
4
Grantmaking Foundations
4
Graphic Design Services
7
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
6
Hardware Stores
2
Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing
1
Hazardous Waste Collection
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
1
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
9
Home Health Care Services
4
Household Appliance Stores
2
Industrial Design Services
1
Industrial Gas Manufacturing
1
Industrial Mold Manufacturing
1
Industrial Valve Manufacturing
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
71
Interior Design Services
13
Internet Service Providers
2
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
1
Investigation Services
4
Investment Advice
18
Iron and Steel Forging
1
Janitorial Services
16
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
2
Kidney Dialysis Centers
1
Land Subdivision
13
Landscape Architectural Services
5
Landscaping Services
30
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
1
Limited-Service Restaurants
39
Limousine Service
2
Machine Shops
7
Mail-Order Houses
2
Marinas
1
Marketing Consulting Services
27
Masonry Contractors
9
Mattress Manufacturing
1
Media Representatives
3
Men's Clothing Stores
1
Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing
1
Metal Stamping
1
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
1
Miscellaneous Intermediation
3
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
21
Motion Picture and Video Production
7
Motorcycle Dealers
6
Music Publishers
1
Musical Groups and Artists
1
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
2
Nail Salons
2
New Car Dealers
15
New Housing Operative Builders
3
Nonresidential Property Managers
10
Nursing Care Facilities
5
Office Administrative Services
9
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
2
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
1
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
25
Offices of Chiropractors
5
Offices of Lawyers
38
Offices of Optometrists
7
Offices of Other Holding Companies
1
Offices of Podiatrists
3
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
11
Optical Goods Stores
1
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
6
Packing and Crating
1
Paging
2
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
4
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
27
Passenger Car Leasing
1
Passenger Car Rental
3
Payroll Services
4
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
2
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
3
Petrochemical Manufacturing
1
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
2
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
9
Photography Studios, Portrait
5
Political Organizations
1
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
2
Prepress Services
2
Printing Ink Manufacturing
1
Professional Employer Organizations
3
Professional Organizations
2
Public Relations Agencies
3
Quick Printing
10
Real Estate Credit
12
Real Estate Investment Trusts
1
Recreational Goods Rental
2
Residential Property Managers
15
Residential Remodelers
15
Retail Bakeries
1
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
4
Sales Financing
1
Savings Institutions
2
Securities Brokerage
5
Security Guards and Patrol Services
1
Shoe Stores
2
Siding Contractors
1
Sign Manufacturing
5
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
2
Software Publishers
4
Solid Waste Collection
2
Sound Recording Studios
1
Special Needs Transportation
1
Sporting Goods Stores
2
Sports and Recreation Instruction
8
Support Activities for Forestry
1
Tax Preparation Services
3
Taxi Service
1
Telecommunications Resellers
4
Telemarketing Bureaus
6
Temporary Help Services
6
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
1
Tire Dealers
7
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
13
Tour Operators
3
Travel Agencies
6
Truss Manufacturing
1
Used Car Dealers
21
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
2
Vending Machine Operators
4
Veterinary Services
6
Video Tape and Disc Rental
2
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
2
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
1
Web Search Portals
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
50
Wineries
1
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
1
Women's Clothing Stores
2
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
1
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
2

Should You Franchise?

Visit the business district of Longwood and you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. But is franchising the right option for you?

Our advice is to consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Credit and Franchise Purchasing. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.

You can find franchise opportunities by browsing our Franchise Opportunities Directory.

Sample franchise opportunities include Ground Round and Different Twist Pretzel Company. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Travel and Leisure Franchises and Bath Remodeling Franchises.

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

Naming the Business

Making the right decision when choosing a company name is very important. There are many decisions you'll make now that you can change later, but changing a company name years down the road is not very easy. So, choose a good company name at the outset.

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: Branding Advice.

On a final note, given that you are opening a business in Longwood, it's imperative that you check now that no other Florida company is using the business name you want to use.

Getting Money to Start a Business

Getting your Longwood business the capital it needs to succeed requires strong organization skills and perseverance. The reality is that there is very little funding available for new small businesses, and you have to explore every possible alternative.

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

For Longwood entrepreneurs who want to raise money for a new venture, you'll want to take a look at our List of Florida Angel Investors and our List of Florida Venture Capital Firms.

Promoting Your New Company

Whether your goal is to attract Longwood customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.

You can learn plenty about marketing on our site. Business Cards discusses marketing strategy and tactical marketing in a way that should get you thinking about how to creatively promote your business. That's just a taste of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.

How to Sell

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

The key to selling is to set sales goals goals and monitor your progress towards those goals. Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.

Hiring Telemarketing Firms to Generate Sales Leads offers some helpful tips on how to sell. It's one of several good articles on our site regarding Entrepreneurial Selling.

Learning More About Entrepreneurship

The best entrepreneurs recognize that they don't know everything.

Given that you are starting a business in Longwood, Florida, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Florida universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any networking groups or organizations in which Longwood entrepreneurs get together to network and trade their business experiences.

Some Interesting Longwood Entrepreneurs

We're compiling a number of interviews with Longwood entrepreneurs. Enjoy!

Moving Forward

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

From this point on, you control your own destiny.

We are here to help Longwood businesses to be successful. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Longwood, neighborhood development and overall economic health.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Longwood, Florida

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

  • Resources for Longwood, Florida Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Longwood entrepreneurs.
  • Florida Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Florida.
  • Florida Small Business Development Center - The Florida Small Business Development Center Network (FSBDCN) is a statewide economic development partnership between higher education and other stakeholder organizations dedicated to providing entrepreneurs and established businesses with the assistance needed to start, grow and succeed, contributing to the Florida economy.

Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in Florida

Starting a Business in Longboat Key
Starting a Business in Lutz

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Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs

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