Contemplating starting a business in Manchester, New Hampshire? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Manchester.
Before quitting your day job, take inventory of your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
While entrepreneurship has become a popular career choice, we recommend you do the following before you take the plunge:
Manchester has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Manchester demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Manchester.
As a new Manchester entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Manchester 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 |
10 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
7 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
3 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
8 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
14 |
|
Automotive Transmission Repair |
4 |
| Barber Shops |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
48 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
5 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
2 |
| Book Stores |
9 |
| Bowling Centers |
3 |
|
Building Inspection Services |
6 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
6 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
3 |
| Cafeterias |
5 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
4 |
|
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
4 |
| Caterers |
2 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
3 |
| Child Day Care Services |
26 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
36 |
|
Claims Adjusting |
10 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
4 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
9 |
| Collection Agencies |
3 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
12 |
| Commercial Photography |
2 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
4 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
1 |
|
Community Food Services |
4 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
5 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
21 |
| Computer Training |
3 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
|
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
4 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
3 |
| Convenience Stores |
29 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
2 |
| Couriers |
12 |
|
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
13 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
21 |
| Dental Laboratories |
6 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
3 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
5 |
|
Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
9 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
1 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
3 |
| Drafting Services |
3 |
|
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
10 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
9 |
| Educational Support Services |
3 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
7 |
| Electrical Contractors |
42 |
| Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Resistor Manufacturing |
2 |
| Electronic Shopping |
3 |
|
Elementary and Secondary Schools |
12 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
2 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
3 |
| Engineering Services |
37 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
3 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
5 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
3 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
15 |
|
Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
10 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
15 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
14 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
5 |
| Flooring Contractors |
10 |
| Florists |
9 |
|
Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
3 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food Service Contractors |
6 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
7 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
4 |
|
Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing |
1 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
127 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
9 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Furniture Stores |
16 |
| General Automotive Repair |
49 |
|
General Freight Trucking, Local |
8 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
3 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
14 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
6 |
|
Graphic Design Services |
5 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Hardware Stores |
4 |
| Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
6 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
10 |
|
Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Home Health Care Services |
7 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
3 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
4 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
4 |
| Hydroelectric Power Generation |
1 |
|
Industrial Launderers |
5 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
60 |
| Interior Design Services |
5 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
1 |
| Internet Service Providers |
3 |
| Investigation Services |
3 |
| Investment Advice |
11 |
| Janitorial Services |
30 |
|
Jewelry Stores |
23 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
2 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
22 |
| Language Schools |
2 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
2 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
|
Limited-Service Restaurants |
114 |
| Limousine Service |
3 |
| Linen Supply |
2 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
3 |
| Locksmiths |
2 |
| Logging |
1 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
12 |
|
Mail-Order Houses |
1 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
6 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
3 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
|
Medical Laboratories |
3 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
7 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
8 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
4 |
|
Motorcycle Dealers |
6 |
| Museums |
3 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Nail Salons |
6 |
| Narrow Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
4 |
| New Car Dealers |
19 |
|
New Housing Operative Builders |
6 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
2 |
| News Syndicates |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
3 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
5 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
14 |
| Office Administrative Services |
7 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
|
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
3 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
38 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
11 |
| Offices of Dentists |
52 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
136 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
7 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
5 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
3 |
|
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
4 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
6 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
2 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
18 |
|
Parking Lots and Garages |
12 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
9 |
| Payroll Services |
9 |
| Periodical Publishers |
5 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
17 |
|
Photography Studios, Portrait |
7 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
9 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
4 |
|
Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
2 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
3 |
| Radio Stations |
5 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
19 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
2 |
|
Reinsurance Carriers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
20 |
| Residential Remodelers |
33 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
9 |
| Savings Institutions |
15 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
1 |
|
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
7 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
15 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
3 |
| Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
2 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
3 |
| Shellfish Fishing |
1 |
|
Ship Building and Repairing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
16 |
| Siding Contractors |
5 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
10 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
7 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
30 |
| Software Publishers |
13 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
3 |
|
Special Needs Transportation |
3 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
18 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
7 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
9 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
3 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
2 |
|
Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
17 |
| Temporary Shelters |
2 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
2 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
10 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
6 |
|
Tobacco Stores |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
1 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
5 |
| Used Car Dealers |
10 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
3 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
5 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
|
Veterinary Services |
6 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
7 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
9 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
2 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
17 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
24 |
|
Women's Clothing Stores |
15 |
A critical step is ensuring that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will insulate you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
When forming a company, you will select one of many company types, such as a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporation 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 New Hampshire, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in New Hampshire. In fact, you are allowed to incorporate in any state you would like to. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.
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 Incorporating Online. You may also want to seek the advice of an lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Manchester, New Hampshire, our web page covering Incorporating in New Hampshire may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in New Hampshire.
A business plan is vital to the health of your new business. In effect, 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.
To rise above the crowd in Manchester and advance your business, you need a solid marketing plan.
We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Marketing Basics is a good read to get your marketing creativity flowing. That's just a taste of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Being able to sell is a key enabler to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Manchester or are selling to customers throughout New Hampshire, 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? The good news is we can help you to make selling a big competitve advantage for your new firm.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Manchester. 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 Manchester and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Manchester 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 Manchester.
