Contemplating starting a business in Los Altos, California? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Los Altos.
Choosing the Right Company to Start
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. To stir your creative juices on what kind of business to start, take a look at Free 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 Nailing Machinery Business guide or our Starting a Fertilizer Handling Equipment Business guide.
Always keep in mind that your new startup will be located in Los Altos. Think about what needs are currently being underserved in Los Altos. A critical consideration is whether Los Altos demographics mesh well with your startup concept.
Los Altos, California Demographic Information
Los Altos has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Los Altos demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Los Altos.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
2642 |
| 5-9 Employees |
612 |
| 10-19 Employees |
357 |
| 20-49 Employees |
183 |
| 50-99 Employees |
63 |
| 100-249 Employees |
33 |
| 250-499 Employees |
0 |
| 500-999 Employees |
0 |
| 1000+ Employees |
0 |
| All Los Altos Businesses |
3890 |
As a new Los Altos entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Los Altos 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 |
2 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
11 |
| Beauty Salons |
15 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
2 |
|
Business Associations |
3 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Car Washes |
1 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
2 |
| Caterers |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
2 |
| Child Day Care Services |
13 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
2 |
|
Civic and Social Organizations |
3 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
2 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
28 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
2 |
|
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
2 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
45 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
1 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
2 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
6 |
|
Drafting Services |
1 |
| Educational Support Services |
4 |
| Electrical Contractors |
5 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
6 |
| Engineering Services |
28 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
1 |
|
Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
2 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
2 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
11 |
| Flooring Contractors |
2 |
| Florists |
4 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
1 |
|
Food Service Contractors |
4 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
33 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
2 |
|
General Automotive Repair |
3 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
4 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
7 |
| Graphic Design Services |
5 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
3 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
3 |
|
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
2 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
16 |
| Interior Design Services |
8 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
2 |
| Internet Service Providers |
4 |
|
Investment Advice |
9 |
| Janitorial Services |
3 |
| Jewelry Stores |
8 |
| Land Subdivision |
4 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
2 |
| Landscaping Services |
16 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
7 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
|
Limited-Service Restaurants |
13 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
18 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
5 |
|
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
5 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
2 |
| Museums |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
3 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
3 |
|
Nursing Care Facilities |
1 |
| Office Administrative Services |
5 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
2 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
14 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
6 |
| Offices of Dentists |
33 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
30 |
|
Offices of Optometrists |
6 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
1 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
2 |
| Payroll Services |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
4 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
3 |
|
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
3 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
6 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
3 |
| Portfolio Management |
11 |
| Private Mail Centers |
2 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
2 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
|
Quick Printing |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
4 |
| Residential Property Managers |
18 |
| Residential Remodelers |
15 |
| Retail Bakeries |
2 |
| Sales Financing |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
4 |
|
School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
9 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
1 |
| Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
10 |
| Software Publishers |
13 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
1 |
|
Sporting Goods Stores |
6 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
3 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
7 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
5 |
| Testing Laboratories |
2 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
1 |
|
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
3 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
5 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
6 |
| Veterinary Services |
5 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
1 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
|
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
12 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
3 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
8 |
Is a Franchise Opportunity Right For You?
As you drive around Los Altos, you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. Is it perhaps smarter to franchise a business instead of doing it from scratch.
We advise the entrepreneurs we work with to investigate buying a franchise. We have many articles on franchises, such as Benefits of Owning A Franchise. 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.
Representative franchise opportunities include Atlantic Windshield and Church's Chicken. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Soccer Franchises and Payday Loan Franchises.
Note on Los Altos Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Los Altos, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.
Have You Considered Buying an Existing Los Altos Business?
We've created a handy website page for those who want to Buy a Business in California. Follow that link and you might discover several good businesses for sale in Los Altos.
Before buying a business, be sure to read this article: Buying a Business.
The Art of Selling
Being able to sell is essential to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Los Altos or are selling to customers throughout California, 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? Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
Tips on Customer Referrals is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.
Advancing Your Entrepreneurial Skills
Good business owners recognize that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.
Given that you are starting a business in Los Altos, California, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby California universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any Los Altos networking organizations.
Moving Forward
You have a dream -- starting a business in Los Altos. 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.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Los Altos and elsewhere to achieve real success. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Los Altos, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Los Altos, California
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Los Altos.
- Resources for Los Altos, California Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Los Altos entrepreneurs.
- California Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in California.
- Fresno, California Small Business Development Center - The UC Merced SBDC Regional Network assists Central California entrepreneurs and small business owners through counseling, training and business information.
- Los Angeles, California Small Business Development Center - The Los Angeles Regional Small Business Development Center Network (LA SBDC Network) is part of the national, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) effort to provide free one-on-one customized consulting services and low-cost training workshops to growing businesses and start-up businesses.
- Sacramento, California Small Business Development Center - As Northern California continues to grow demographically and economically, the Northeastern California Small Business Development Center (NECSBDC) at CSU, Chico is committed to helping communities prepare and plan for future growth.
- San Diego, California Small Business Development Center - The Small Business Development & International Trade Center (SBDITC) at Southwestern College is part of the California SBDC San Diego and Imperial Regional Network. The SBDITC provides no-cost business assistance to start-up & existing businesses.
- San Francisco, California Small Business Development Center - The Northern California Network of Small Business Development Centers helps individuals start, manage and grow their businesses.
- Santa Ana, California Small Business Development Center - The Tri-County Lead Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in the Santa Ana District provides oversight and support for SBDCs located in the Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The Santa Ana SBDC Network is a leader in providing consulting, training, and technical assistance to the small business community.
- Los Altos, California Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Los Altos, California newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Los Altos area.
- Los Altos, California Payroll Services - This list includes Los Altos, California payroll services, national payroll services for Los Altos, and helpful information on choosing a Los Altos payroll service.
- Los Altos, California Businesses for Sale - This list includes resources for buying a business in Los Altos, California, such as business brokers in Los Altos and other helpful information on how to buy a Los Altos business.
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