Contemplating starting a business in Mesa, Arizona? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Mesa.
Being an entrepreneur is difficult, much more arduous than working as an employee. Are you certain you want to go into business for yourself?
Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.
There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? To stir your creative juices on what kind of business to start, take a look at Finding Your Niche in Life.
Always keep in mind that Mesa is the place where you are starting a business. Some businesses will do better in Mesa than others. Make sure you fully understand Mesa demographics before you lock in on your business idea.
Mesa has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Mesa demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Mesa.
As a new Mesa entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Mesa 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 |
16 |
| Air Traffic Control |
1 |
| Aircraft Manufacturing |
3 |
| Ambulance Services |
9 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
2 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
12 |
| Architectural Services |
25 |
| Art Dealers |
6 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
9 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
26 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
58 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
13 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
5 |
| Barber Shops |
4 |
| Beauty Salons |
112 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
8 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
2 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
3 |
| Boat Dealers |
7 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
14 |
| Bowling Centers |
4 |
| Building Inspection Services |
9 |
| Business Associations |
5 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
4 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
4 |
| Cafeterias |
14 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
28 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
28 |
| Caterers |
10 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
2 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
8 |
| Child Day Care Services |
76 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
8 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
13 |
| Claims Adjusting |
3 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
8 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
9 |
| Collection Agencies |
4 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
5 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
18 |
| Commercial Photography |
4 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
5 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
18 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
49 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
4 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
4 |
| Consumer Lending |
9 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
10 |
| Convenience Stores |
28 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
2 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
2 |
| Couriers |
5 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
5 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
17 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
2 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
37 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
1 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
20 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
14 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
4 |
| Digital Printing |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
13 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
4 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
28 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
11 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
4 |
| Drafting Services |
18 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
22 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
36 |
| Educational Support Services |
3 |
| Electrical Contractors |
126 |
| Electronic Shopping |
16 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
43 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
4 |
| Engineering Services |
93 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
14 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
5 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
32 |
| Facilities Support Services |
6 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
40 |
| Family Planning Centers |
3 |
| Farm Management Services |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
15 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
43 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
31 |
| Flight Training |
4 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
20 |
| Flooring Contractors |
38 |
| Florists |
25 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
20 |
| Food Service Contractors |
14 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
7 |
| Framing Contractors |
37 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
6 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
4 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
241 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
15 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Furniture Stores |
70 |
| General Automotive Repair |
130 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
22 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
4 |
| General Rental Centers |
6 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
5 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
37 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
7 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
16 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
4 |
| Graphic Design Services |
13 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Hardware Stores |
13 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
21 |
| Home Centers |
6 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
9 |
| Home Health Care Services |
22 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
3 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
38 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
12 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
4 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
2 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
196 |
| Interior Design Services |
7 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
4 |
| Internet Service Providers |
5 |
| Investigation Services |
11 |
| Investment Advice |
44 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
92 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Jewelry Stores |
53 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
9 |
| Land Subdivision |
14 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
4 |
| Landscaping Services |
117 |
| Language Schools |
2 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
43 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
336 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
2 |
| Locksmiths |
5 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
16 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
9 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
1 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
16 |
| Marinas |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
26 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
61 |
| Meat Markets |
6 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
26 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
8 |
| Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
3 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
5 |
| Mobile Food Services |
4 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
50 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
1 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
7 |
| Motor Home Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
6 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
14 |
| Museums |
5 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
5 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Nail Salons |
9 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
35 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
10 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
3 |
| News Syndicates |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
3 |
| Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
31 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
17 |
| Office Administrative Services |
41 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
17 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
99 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
87 |
| Offices of Dentists |
202 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
174 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
32 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
8 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
10 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
42 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
27 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
3 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
3 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
14 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
57 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
2 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
12 |
| Payroll Services |
6 |
| Periodical Publishers |
5 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
13 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
7 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
36 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
24 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
2 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
10 |
| Power-Driven Handtool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
5 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
15 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
10 |
| Professional Organizations |
6 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
3 |
| Pulp Mills |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
7 |
| Radio Stations |
2 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
8 |
| Real Estate Credit |
58 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
4 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
3 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
17 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
3 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
39 |
| Residential Remodelers |
84 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
12 |
| Roofing Contractors |
24 |
| Rope, Cordage, and Twine Mills |
1 |
| Sales Financing |
5 |
| Savings Institutions |
14 |
| Sawmills |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
1 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
2 |
| Securities and Commodity Exchanges |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
35 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
3 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
8 |
| Shoe Stores |
48 |
| Siding Contractors |
6 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
8 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
31 |
| Small Arms Manufacturing |
3 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
50 |
| Software Publishers |
10 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
3 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
45 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
24 |
| Spring (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Support Activities for Metal Mining |
2 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
39 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
4 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
8 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
2 |
| Temporary Help Services |
35 |
| Temporary Shelters |
3 |
| Testing Laboratories |
4 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
3 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
26 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
34 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
11 |
| Tobacco Stores |
9 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
2 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
4 |
| Travel Agencies |
13 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
37 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
7 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
26 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
5 |
| Veterinary Services |
37 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
33 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
2 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
3 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
6 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
2 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
46 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
6 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
19 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
40 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
As you drive around Mesa, you'll see that franchises make up a large percentage of local businesses. Is it perhaps smarter to franchise a business instead of doing it from scratch.
Our recommendation is that you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Questions to Ask Franchisors. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
It's very important that you form your business as a legal structure. Among other things, forming a legal entity for the business limits your liabilities.
The entity you form can be a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporating is a very popular way to form a business. A key decision is whether to form and S-Corp or a C-Corp, and you also must decide in which state you will incorporate. Just because you are starting a business in Arizona, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Arizona. As it turns out, you can incorporate wherever you want. 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. To learn the basics of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Registered Agents. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Mesa, Arizona, our information on Incorporating in Arizona may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Arizona.
Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Mesa business, you need to focus on sales.
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.
As an entrepreneur in Mesa, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Mesa and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Mesa, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Mesa.
