Contemplating starting a business in Manassas, Virginia? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Manassas.
What Business Are You Starting?
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.
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 How to Start a Meat Processing Business guide or our Starting a Prestressed Concrete Business guide.
Remember that Manassas is the place where you are starting a business. If Manassas already has plenty of the kind of business you want to start, you might want to change your plans. Make sure you fully understand Manassas demographics before you lock in on your business idea.
Manassas, Virginia Demographic Information
Manassas has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Manassas demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Manassas.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
10610 |
| 5-9 Employees |
4056 |
| 10-19 Employees |
3126 |
| 20-49 Employees |
2310 |
| 50-99 Employees |
738 |
| 100-249 Employees |
384 |
| 250-499 Employees |
72 |
| 500-999 Employees |
0 |
| 1000+ Employees |
18 |
| All Manassas Businesses |
21314 |
As a new Manassas entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Manassas 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 |
3 |
| Air Traffic Control |
1 |
| Aircraft Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
6 |
| Architectural Services |
5 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
|
Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
7 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
20 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
2 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
3 |
| Barber Shops |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
53 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
3 |
|
Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
9 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
6 |
| Business Associations |
6 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
6 |
| Cafeterias |
4 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
|
Car Washes |
7 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
12 |
| Casino Hotels |
1 |
| Caterers |
4 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
1 |
| Child Day Care Services |
44 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
2 |
|
Civic and Social Organizations |
6 |
| Claims Adjusting |
3 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
4 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
4 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
8 |
| Commercial Photography |
2 |
|
Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
5 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
11 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
55 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
2 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
|
Consumer Lending |
3 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
16 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
4 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
26 |
| Dental Laboratories |
5 |
|
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
2 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
6 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
6 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
5 |
| Display Advertising |
2 |
| Document Preparation Services |
2 |
| Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
34 |
| Educational Support Services |
2 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
61 |
| Electronic Shopping |
5 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
11 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
2 |
|
Employment Placement Agencies |
3 |
| Engineering Services |
42 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
5 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
6 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
14 |
| Facilities Support Services |
3 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
13 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
|
Fine Arts Schools |
7 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
39 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
16 |
| Flight Training |
2 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
10 |
| Flooring Contractors |
15 |
| Florists |
6 |
|
Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
6 |
| Food Service Contractors |
8 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
2 |
| Framing Contractors |
25 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
1 |
| Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
82 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
4 |
|
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Furniture Stores |
16 |
| General Automotive Repair |
61 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
10 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
3 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
11 |
|
Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Graphic Design Services |
7 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Hardware Stores |
4 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
6 |
|
Home Centers |
3 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
4 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
6 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
4 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
2 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
59 |
|
Interior Design Services |
6 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
1 |
| Internet Service Providers |
3 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
6 |
| Iron and Steel Forging |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
38 |
| Jewelry Stores |
8 |
|
Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
3 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
58 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
3 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
101 |
| Limousine Service |
3 |
|
Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
4 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
2 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
4 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
7 |
| Masonry Contractors |
44 |
| Meat Markets |
3 |
|
Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Mobile Food Services |
4 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
11 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
2 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
3 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
|
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
3 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
16 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
5 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
11 |
|
Nursing Care Facilities |
1 |
| Office Administrative Services |
17 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
4 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
19 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
9 |
| Offices of Dentists |
49 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
81 |
|
Offices of Optometrists |
7 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
3 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
8 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
5 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
3 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
31 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
3 |
| Payroll Services |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
6 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
|
Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
7 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
5 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
2 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
3 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
3 |
| Professional Organizations |
2 |
|
Public Relations Agencies |
2 |
| Quick Printing |
4 |
| Racetracks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
2 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
14 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
3 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
3 |
|
Remediation Services |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
9 |
| Residential Remodelers |
64 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
5 |
| Roofing Contractors |
18 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
1 |
|
Savings Institutions |
2 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
2 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
2 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
2 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
14 |
| Siding Contractors |
10 |
|
Sign Manufacturing |
5 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
38 |
| Small Arms Manufacturing |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
10 |
| Software Publishers |
4 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
6 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
|
Sporting Goods Stores |
11 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
8 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
12 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
2 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Temporary Help Services |
9 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Testing Laboratories |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
14 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
3 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
18 |
| Tobacco Stores |
1 |
|
Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
3 |
| Used Car Dealers |
21 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
7 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
10 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
3 |
| Veterinary Services |
10 |
|
Video Tape and Disc Rental |
6 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
2 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
7 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
14 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
11 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
2 |
Choosing a Company Name
A big decision when starting a company is choosing a company name. Believe it or not, choosing a good company name can be a big contributor to your business success.
Company names should be fun to say, and they should help people to understand what you do and how you differentiate yourself in the market.
For other considerations regarding naming a company, we recommend this article: Naming a Business.
On a final note, given that you are starting a business in Manassas, it's very important that you make sure your company name has not already been claimed by another Virginia business.
Do You Need a Business Plan?
A business plan is essential to the health of your new business. In effect, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Not having a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
If writing a business plan is on your to-do list, be sure to read Expert Advice on Business Plans. You can also get free business counselors available to you through your local SCORE chapter in Virginia.
Marketing Your New Venture
To grow your Manassas business, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your beating the competition.
You can learn plenty about marketing on our site. Billboard Advertising Best Practices is a good read to get your marketing juices flowing. There are many more articles on marketing on our site. Visit our Small Business Marketing resource section to see them all.
Bring in Revenues
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Manassas or are selling to customers throughout Virginia, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
Not knowing how to sell can result in lost customers and minimal market share. Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
Hiring Telemarketing Firms to Generate Sales Leads is worth reading, as it may give you some good ideas on how to sell your products or services. We have many more good articles on selling that you may enjoy reading.
Advancing Your Entrepreneurial Skills
Successful entrepreneurs know that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.
With your business being located in Manassas, Virginia, you should get information on some of the learning programs at local Virginia educational institutions. You should also check if there are any networking organizations for Manassas entrepreneurs.
What's Next?
You have a dream -- starting a business in Manassas. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Manassas and elsewhere to achieve real success. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Manassas, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Manassas, Virginia
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Manassas.
- Resources for Manassas, Virginia Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Manassas entrepreneurs.
- Virginia Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Virginia.
- Virginia Small Business Development Center - Virginia Small Business Development Centers offer professional business counseling, training and information resources to help grow and strengthen Virginia businesses.
- Manassas, Virginia Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Manassas, Virginia newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Manassas area.
- Manassas, Virginia Radio Advertising Prices - To help you in your marketing efforts, we've gathered radio advertising rates for Manassas, Virginia area radio stations.
- Manassas, Virginia Payroll Services - This list includes Manassas, Virginia payroll services, national payroll services for Manassas, and helpful information on choosing a Manassas payroll service.
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