Are you starting a business in Middletown, Connecticut? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Middletown.
Are You Sure You Want to Do This?
Most new ventures fail, in part because the entrepreneur did not have the perseverance and abilities that are necessary to succeed. So, before jumping into the world of entrepreneurship, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Middletown. Ask them candidly what it's like to run a business.
- We recommend reading Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Seek the advice of somebody who knows you well. The people who know you best are often in the best position to tell you bluntly whether you will be a good entrepreneur.
Middletown, Connecticut Demographic Information
Middletown has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Middletown demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Middletown.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
23865 |
| 5-9 Employees |
10170 |
| 10-19 Employees |
7785 |
| 20-49 Employees |
5355 |
| 50-99 Employees |
1845 |
| 100-249 Employees |
1350 |
| 250-499 Employees |
225 |
| 500-999 Employees |
0 |
| 1000+ Employees |
225 |
| All Middletown Businesses |
50820 |
As a new Middletown entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Middletown 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 |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
3 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
2 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
1 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
4 |
| Barber Shops |
3 |
|
Beauty Salons |
17 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
10 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
3 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business Associations |
3 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
|
Cafeterias |
3 |
| Car Washes |
2 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
1 |
| Caterers |
2 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
3 |
| Child and Youth Services |
4 |
| Child Day Care Services |
12 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
8 |
|
Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
2 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
3 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
5 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
2 |
|
Convenience Stores |
5 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
6 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
3 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
10 |
| Dental Laboratories |
2 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
3 |
|
Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
5 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
1 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
14 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
4 |
|
Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
3 |
| Engineering Services |
14 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
2 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
2 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
|
Fine Arts Schools |
3 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
4 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
3 |
| Flooring Contractors |
2 |
| Florists |
5 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
2 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Food Service Contractors |
19 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
44 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
4 |
| Furniture Stores |
5 |
| General Automotive Repair |
14 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
1 |
|
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
5 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
2 |
| Graphic Design Services |
1 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
2 |
|
Heating Oil Dealers |
6 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
2 |
| Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
3 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
|
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
16 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
1 |
| Investment Advice |
1 |
| Iron and Steel Forging |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
8 |
| Jewelry Stores |
4 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
5 |
|
Landscaping Services |
14 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
20 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
5 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
10 |
| Meat Markets |
3 |
|
Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Metal Stamping |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
1 |
| Museums |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
2 |
| Narrow Fabric Mills |
1 |
|
New Car Dealers |
6 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
3 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
6 |
| Office Administrative Services |
4 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Office Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
2 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
8 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
4 |
| Offices of Dentists |
27 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
38 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
2 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
2 |
|
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
1 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
5 |
| Periodical Publishers |
2 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
8 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
2 |
|
Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
2 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
2 |
| Radio Stations |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
4 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
|
Residential Property Managers |
3 |
| Residential Remodelers |
8 |
| Retail Bakeries |
4 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
| Rope, Cordage, and Twine Mills |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
8 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
2 |
|
Security Guards and Patrol Services |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
2 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
10 |
| Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturing |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
6 |
|
Software Publishers |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
3 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
5 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
3 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
4 |
|
Temporary Shelters |
2 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
2 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
3 |
|
Used Merchandise Stores |
2 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
1 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
2 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
7 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
2 |
| Watch, Clock, and Part Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
4 |
|
Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
5 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
7 |
Is Franchising a Better Option?
Browse the Yellow Pages for Middletown and it becomes clear that purchasing a franchise is a common way to get started as an entrepreneur. But is franchising the right option for you?
Our recommendation is that you evaluate the possibility of your buying a franchise opportunity. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchisees Versus Licensees. 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 @WORK Medical Services and RSVP Publications. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Home Inspection Franchises and Print and Sign Franchises.
Note on Middletown Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Middletown.
Forming a Company in Middletown, Connecticut
A critical step is ensuring that you are forming a legal entity that operates independently from you. Doing so will insulate you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
The entity you form can be 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. If you are starting a business in Connecticut, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Connecticut. 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 are many nuances to forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Corporate Formalities. You may also want to seek the advice of an lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Middletown, Connecticut, our information on Incorporating in Connecticut may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Connecticut.
Marketing Your New Venture
To grow your Middletown business, you need a excellent marketing plan.
You can learn plenty about marketing on our site. Typical Direct Mail Response Rates 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 sampling of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Improving Your Entrepreneurial Skillset
Good business owners recognize that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.
With your business being located in Middletown, Connecticut, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Connecticut universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any Middletown networking organizations.
Next Steps
Most new Middletown businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
We are here to help Middletown businesses to be successful. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Middletown entrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Middletown, Connecticut
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Middletown.
- Resources for Middletown, Connecticut Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Middletown entrepreneurs.
- Connecticut Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Connecticut.
- Connecticut Small Business Development Center - Central Connecticut State University's Institute of Technology and Business Development (ITBD) supports Connecticut businesses and business-related organizations with training, technology assistance, conferencing services, procurement services and business incubation.
- Middletown, Connecticut Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Middletown, Connecticut newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Middletown area.
- Middletown, Connecticut Radio Advertising Prices - To help you in your marketing efforts, we've gathered radio advertising rates for Middletown, Connecticut area radio stations.
- Middletown, Connecticut Payroll Services - This list includes Middletown, Connecticut payroll services, national payroll services for Middletown, and helpful information on choosing a Middletown payroll service.
- Middletown, Connecticut Businesses for Sale - This list includes resources for buying a business in Middletown, Connecticut, such as business brokers in Middletown and other helpful information on how to buy a Middletown business.
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