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  Milford, Connecticut Resources for Entrepreneurs  
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Open a Business in Milford, Connecticut

Thinking about starting a business in Milford, Connecticut? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Milford.

Will You Be a Successful Entrepreneur?

Most startup ventures fail, in part because the founder did not have the tenacity and/or the skills to succeed. So, before you start your business, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.

Because entrepreneurship is not for everyone, we recommend you do the following to help you assess whether you should move forward with starting a business:

  • Talk to other entrepreneurs in Milford. They are usually very willing to share their insights on the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur.
  • We recommend reading Should You Become an Entrepreneur?. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
  • Have a candid conversation with friends and family. Others sometimes know you better than you know yourself.

Milford, Connecticut Demographic Information

Milford has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.

To give you a better feel for Milford demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Milford.

Business Size# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees 51927
5-9 Employees 21527
10-19 Employees 13623
20-49 Employees 10659
50-99 Employees 3534
100-249 Employees 1881
250-499 Employees 399
500-999 Employees 285
1000+ Employees 0
All Milford Businesses 103835

As a new Milford entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Milford 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 7
Amusement Arcades 2
Appliance Repair and Maintenance 3
Architectural Services 3
Art Dealers 1
Automobile Driving Schools 2
Automotive Exhaust System Repair 1
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops 1
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores 5
Automotive Transmission Repair 3
Barber Shops 3
Beauty Salons 30
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores 10
Boat Building 1
Boat Dealers 2
Book Publishers 1
Book Stores 4
Bottled Water Manufacturing 1
Bowling Centers 1
Building Inspection Services 1
Business Associations 1
Business to Business Electronic Markets 1
Cable and Other Program Distribution 1
Cafeterias 1
Canvas and Related Product Mills 4
Car Washes 6
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services 5
Caterers 5
Cemeteries and Crematories 1
Child and Youth Services 3
Child Day Care Services 19
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores 4
Civic and Social Organizations 5
Clothing Accessories Stores 2
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners 6
Collection Agencies 2
Commercial Bakeries 1
Commercial Lithographic Printing 3
Commercial Screen Printing 2
Computer and Software Stores 3
Computer Systems Design Services 13
Computer Training 1
Concrete Pipe Manufacturing 1
Confectionery and Nut Stores 1
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers 1
Convenience Stores 8
Convention and Trade Show Organizers 3
Couriers 2
Credit Card Issuing 1
Credit Unions 5
Crown and Closure Manufacturing 1
Curtain and Drapery Mills 1
Custom Computer Programming Services 13
Dental Laboratories 3
Diagnostic Imaging Centers 1
Digital Printing 1
Direct Life Insurance Carriers 1
Direct Title Insurance Carriers 1
Directory and Mailing List Publishers 2
Discount Department Stores 2
Document Preparation Services 1
Drafting Services 1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) 12
Drywall and Insulation Contractors 2
Educational Support Services 4
Electric Power Distribution 1
Electrical Contractors 20
Electronic Shopping 4
Elementary and Secondary Schools 4
Emergency and Other Relief Services 1
Employment Placement Agencies 4
Engineering Services 12
Exam Preparation and Tutoring 2
Exterminating and Pest Control Services 2
Family Clothing Stores 9
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers 1
Fine Arts Schools 4
Finish Carpentry Contractors 6
Fish and Seafood Markets 2
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers 2
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers 9
Floor Covering Stores 5
Flooring Contractors 2
Florists 5
Food (Health) Supplement Stores 4
Food Service Contractors 2
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers 1
Framing Contractors 2
Freight Transportation Arrangement 3
Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing 1
Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing 1
Fruit and Vegetable Markets 1
Full-Service Restaurants 62
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services 3
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers 2
Furniture Stores 13
General Automotive Repair 19
General Freight Trucking, Local 1
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 1
General Warehousing and Storage 1
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores 16
Glass and Glazing Contractors 1
Golf Courses and Country Clubs 3
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing 1
Hardware Manufacturing 1
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers 2
Hardware Stores 1
Hazardous Waste Collection 1
Heating Oil Dealers 2
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores 4
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers 1
Home Health Care Services 2
Homes for the Elderly 2
Industrial Mold Manufacturing 3
Institutional Furniture Manufacturing 1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages 29
Interior Design Services 1
Internet Service Providers 1
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation 2
Investigation Services 2
Investment Advice 4
Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing 1
Janitorial Services 9
Jewelry Stores 13
Kidney Dialysis Centers 2
Land Subdivision 1
Landscaping Services 27
Limited-Service Restaurants 56
Limousine Service 2
Linen Supply 1
Local Messengers and Local Delivery 1
Locksmiths 3
Machine Shops 22
Mail-Order Houses 1
Marinas 5
Marketing Consulting Services 7
Masonry Contractors 3
Meat Markets 3
Men's Clothing Stores 6
Metal Stamping 4
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing 1
Mobile Food Services 2
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers 6
Motion Picture and Video Production 2
Motor and Generator Manufacturing 1
Motor Vehicle Towing 2
Musical Groups and Artists 1
Nail Salons 10
Natural Gas Distribution 1
New Car Dealers 16
New Housing Operative Builders 1
Nonresidential Property Managers 3
Nursing Care Facilities 4
Office Administrative Services 4
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers 7
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores 2
Offices of Certified Public Accountants 14
Offices of Chiropractors 10
Offices of Dentists 32
Offices of Lawyers 40
Offices of Optometrists 4
Offices of Podiatrists 3
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers 1
One-Hour Photofinishing 1
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing 1
Optical Goods Stores 6
Packaging and Labeling Services 2
Paint and Coating Manufacturing 1
Paint and Wallpaper Stores 1
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors 10
Payroll Services 4
Pen and Mechanical Pencil Manufacturing 1
Periodical Publishers 2
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores 3
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services 3
Pharmacies and Drug Stores 11
Photography Studios, Portrait 4
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas 1
Political Organizations 1
Portfolio Management 3
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing 7
Printing Ink Manufacturing 1
Private Mail Centers 3
Professional Organizations 2
Public Relations Agencies 1
Quick Printing 5
Radio Networks 1
Radio Stations 2
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing 2
Real Estate Credit 12
Real Estate Investment Trusts 1
Recreational Goods Rental 1
Recreational Vehicle Dealers 1
Residential Property Managers 2
Residential Remodelers 18
Retail Bakeries 2
Roofing Contractors 4
Sales Financing 1
Savings Institutions 8
School and Employee Bus Transportation 2
Securities Brokerage 5
Security Guards and Patrol Services 1
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing 7
Shellfish Fishing 2
Shoe Stores 14
Siding Contractors 1
Sign Manufacturing 1
Site Preparation Contractors 4
Small Arms Manufacturing 1
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars 14
Software Publishers 3
Solid Waste Collection 1
Sporting Goods Stores 8
Sports and Recreation Instruction 5
Sports Teams and Clubs 1
Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing 1
Tax Preparation Services 7
Telecommunications Resellers 1
Telemarketing Bureaus 2
Temporary Help Services 5
Temporary Shelters 1
Testing Laboratories 4
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors 3
Tire Dealers 4
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices 3
Tobacco Stores 2
Toilet Preparation Manufacturing 1
Tradebinding and Related Work 1
Travel Agencies 4
Used Car Dealers 6
Used Household and Office Goods Moving 2
Used Merchandise Stores 2
Vending Machine Operators 1
Veterinary Services 6
Video Tape and Disc Rental 6
Vocational Rehabilitation Services 3
Voluntary Health Organizations 1
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters 1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers 8
Window Treatment Stores 1
Wired Telecommunications Carriers 4
Women's Clothing Stores 15
Wood Preservation 1

Should You Buy an Existing Milford Business?

An excellent way to get started in business is to Buy a Business in Connecticut. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Milford.

Before buying a business, be sure to read this article: How to Buy a Business.

Forming a Company in Milford, Connecticut

It's very important 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.

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. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. If you are starting a business in Connecticut, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Connecticut. As it turns out, you can 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 LLC Advantages. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Milford, Connecticut, our information on Incorporating in Connecticut may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Connecticut.

The Role of the Business Plan

A business plan is essential in maximizing the prospects of your new company. Indeed, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Starting a business without a business plan is a recipe for disaster.

To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Contests. A great resource for business planning assistance is the free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Connecticut.

Raising Money for Your New Venture

Getting your Milford business the capital it needs to succeed is not an easy task. Bootstrapping, which means growing the business without outside funding, is the best alternative, but that's not a viable option for many startup plans.

Fortunately, this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled Business Incubators.

For Milford entrepreneurs with great ambition but a shortage of investment capital, check out our List of Connecticut Angel Investors and our List of Connecticut Venture Capital Firms.

What's Next?

Most new Milford 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 Milford businesses to be successful. We have a wealth of experience in business start-ups, financing, marketing, sales and more...and we've made all of our knowledge available to you.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Milford, Connecticut

Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Milford.

More Business Startup Guides for Connecticut
Starting a Business in Middletown
Starting a Business in Mystic

Browse All Business Startup Guides for Connecticut
Starting a Business Guides for Other States

 

 

Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs

Starting a Business - Business Ideas - Naming and Branding - City Guides

Buying a Business - Writing a Business Plan - Raising Money - Incorporate

Small Business Marketing - Customer Service Tips - Entrepreneurial Selling

Startup Leadership - Strategy - Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurs

Articles on Exporting - Human Resources for Entrepreneurs - Workers Comp

Legal Information for Entrepreneurs - Sarbanes-Oxley - Accounting - SBDC

Business Credit Cards - Nonprofit Entrepreneurs - Mission Statements

Tax Tips and Resources for Entrepreneurs - Operating Your Startup Business

Real Estate Decisions for Entrepreneurs - Franchising - Selling a Business

Starting a Home Business - Small Business Technology - Business Travel

Business Finance - Advice for Retailers - Entrepreneurship for Scientists

Administrative Professionals / Office Managers - Family Business Advice

Good Businesses to Start - Start an Energy Business - Start a Hedge Fund

Payroll Service Information - Productivity Tips - Bad Economy Advice

Small Business Websites - Search Engine Optimization - Online Reputation

Search Engine Marketing - Social Marketing Optimization - Business Forms

Business in the Jungle - Business in Fiction - Negotiating - Radio Ad Costs

Newspaper Advertising Rates - City-Specific Resources for Entrepreneurs

Small Business Insurance - Global Entrepreneurship - China & Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneur Features - Acquisition Speculation - Business Book Reviews

Small Business Loans - Studying Entrepreneurship - Social Entrepreneurship

Veteran Entrepreneurs - Useful Web Sites for Entrepreneurs - Dell Deals

Entrepreneurial Resources by State - Resources for Young Entrepreneurs

African American Entrepreneurs - Resources for Hispanic Entrepreneurs

Resources for Asian Entrepreneurs - Resources for Women Entrepreneurs

Resources for Gay Entrepreneurs - Businesses for Sale - Office Supplies

Economics - Lists of Small Business Incubators - Lists of Angel Investors

Lists of Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms - Franchise Opportunities

Recommended Products and Services for Entrepreneurs - Contributors

Get FREE Price Quotes from Multiple Vendors - Business Glossary