Thinking about starting a business in Milwaukee, Wisconsin? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Milwaukee.
Being an entrepreneur is demanding, much more arduous than working as an employee. Are you positive you have the stamina and skills to succeed on your own?
Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.
Choosing a business that is right for you is very important. To help you decide on a business type, we encourage you to read Free Business Ideas.
Always keep in mind that starting a business in Milwaukee has some implications. The business you want to start may already be well-represented in Milwaukee. Only by spending some time analyzing Milwaukee demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.
Milwaukee has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Milwaukee demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Milwaukee.
As a new Milwaukee entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Milwaukee 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 |
| Abrasive Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
1 |
| Advertising Agencies |
70 |
| Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing |
2 |
| Aluminum Die-Casting Foundries |
4 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
2 |
| Ambulance Services |
8 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
7 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
10 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
4 |
| Architectural Services |
81 |
| Armored Car Services |
6 |
| Art Dealers |
21 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
8 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
16 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
12 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
93 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
15 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
13 |
| Barber Shops |
23 |
| Beauty Salons |
226 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
87 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
1 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
9 |
| Boat Building |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
7 |
| Book Publishers |
10 |
| Book Stores |
26 |
| Books Printing |
2 |
| Bowling Centers |
19 |
| Breweries |
3 |
| Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
12 |
| Burial Casket Manufacturing |
1 |
| Business Associations |
33 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
2 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
4 |
| Cafeterias |
6 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
2 |
| Car Washes |
32 |
| Carpet and Rug Mills |
1 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
20 |
| Casinos (except Casino Hotels) |
1 |
| Caterers |
31 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
10 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
4 |
| Child and Youth Services |
54 |
| Child Day Care Services |
557 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
16 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
85 |
| Claims Adjusting |
3 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
13 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
21 |
| Collection Agencies |
10 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
7 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
3 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
44 |
| Commercial Photography |
21 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
21 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
2 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
2 |
| Community Food Services |
8 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
27 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
7 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
74 |
| Computer Terminal Manufacturing |
1 |
| Computer Training |
11 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
13 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
4 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
23 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
19 |
| Convenience Stores |
79 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
4 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
3 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
1 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
4 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
2 |
| Couriers |
18 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
10 |
| Credit Bureaus |
2 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
46 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
2 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
91 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
1 |
| Dance Companies |
7 |
| Dental Laboratories |
20 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
11 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
9 |
| Digital Printing |
7 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
39 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
15 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
11 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
3 |
| Discount Department Stores |
18 |
| Display Advertising |
6 |
| Document Preparation Services |
12 |
| Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
3 |
| Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
340 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
25 |
| Educational Support Services |
18 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
13 |
| Electrical Contractors |
84 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Resistor Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
8 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
140 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
7 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
39 |
| Engineering Services |
116 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
2 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
16 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
35 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
4 |
| Facilities Support Services |
13 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
40 |
| Family Planning Centers |
10 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
22 |
| Finfish Fishing |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
60 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
5 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
47 |
| Flight Training |
4 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
35 |
| Flooring Contractors |
34 |
| Florists |
44 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
2 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
19 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
3 |
| Food Service Contractors |
82 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
2 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
6 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
2 |
| Framing Contractors |
10 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
40 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
8 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
519 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
49 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
11 |
| Furniture Stores |
66 |
| General Automotive Repair |
195 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
47 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
12 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
37 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
61 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
8 |
| Glove and Mitten Manufacturing |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
8 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
30 |
| Graphic Design Services |
61 |
| Greeting Card Publishers |
2 |
| Gypsum Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
7 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
3 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
15 |
| Hardware Stores |
38 |
| Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
2 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
4 |
| Historical Sites |
2 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
18 |
| Home Centers |
7 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
18 |
| Home Health Care Services |
35 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
3 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
56 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
16 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
9 |
| Hunting and Trapping |
1 |
| Hydroelectric Power Generation |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
7 |
| Industrial Design Services |
3 |
| Industrial Launderers |
8 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
7 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
6 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
3 |
| Inorganic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing |
2 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
5 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
352 |
| Interior Design Services |
19 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
7 |
| Internet Service Providers |
11 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
2 |
| Investigation Services |
13 |
| Investment Advice |
33 |
| Iron and Steel Forging |
3 |
| Iron Foundries |
6 |
| Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing |
3 |
| Janitorial Services |
187 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
2 |
| Jewelry Stores |
60 |
| Junior Colleges |
3 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
14 |
| Land Subdivision |
10 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
8 |
| Landscaping Services |
119 |
| Language Schools |
2 |
| Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing |
4 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
6 |
| Libraries and Archives |
2 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
490 |
| Limousine Service |
11 |
| Linen Supply |
3 |
| Livestock Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
22 |
| Locksmiths |
14 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
60 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
22 |
| Malt Manufacturing |
1 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
3 |
| Marinas |
6 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
45 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
29 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
3 |
| Meat Markets |
9 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
6 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
2 |
| Media Representatives |
3 |
| Medical Laboratories |
20 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
25 |
| Metal Can Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
12 |
| Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Stamping |
10 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
5 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
| Mineral Wool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
9 |
| Mobile Food Services |
9 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
53 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
36 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
3 |
| Motor Home Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
3 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
18 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
8 |
| Museums |
18 |
| Music Publishers |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
14 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
17 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
3 |
| Nail Salons |
18 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
8 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
59 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
9 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
2 |
| News Syndicates |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
13 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
29 |
| Nonwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
50 |
| Office Administrative Services |
71 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
25 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
18 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
7 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
105 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
74 |
| Offices of Dentists |
339 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
556 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
29 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
36 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
31 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
33 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
3 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
3 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
40 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
7 |
| Outerwear Knitting Mills |
1 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
9 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
5 |
| Packing and Crating |
5 |
| Paging |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
4 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
21 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
97 |
| Paper (except Newsprint) Mills |
1 |
| Paper Industry Machinery Manufacturing |
3 |
| Paperboard Mills |
1 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
107 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
6 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
23 |
| Payroll Services |
14 |
| Pen and Mechanical Pencil Manufacturing |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
20 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
5 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
20 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
18 |
| Petrochemical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
9 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
129 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
31 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
7 |
| Political Organizations |
10 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
56 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
11 |
| Prepress Services |
8 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
4 |
| Private Mail Centers |
7 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
14 |
| Professional Organizations |
20 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
24 |
| Quick Printing |
34 |
| Radio Networks |
2 |
| Radio Stations |
25 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing |
3 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
5 |
| Real Estate Credit |
61 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1 |
| Record Production |
1 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
4 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
3 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
4 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
5 |
| Remediation Services |
13 |
| Repossession Services |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
96 |
| Residential Remodelers |
151 |
| Retail Bakeries |
31 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
15 |
| Roofing Contractors |
48 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
2 |
| Sales Financing |
29 |
| Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing |
3 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
84 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
5 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
16 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
15 |
| Securities Brokerage |
84 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
36 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
4 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
9 |
| Ship Building and Repairing |
2 |
| Shoe Stores |
72 |
| Siding Contractors |
27 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
30 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
25 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
85 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
4 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
2 |
| Software Publishers |
24 |
| Software Reproducing |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
8 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
2 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
4 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
28 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
46 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
15 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
7 |
| Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Steel Foundries (except Investment) |
2 |
| Steel Investment Foundries |
3 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
1 |
| Storage Battery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
81 |
| Taxi Service |
10 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
4 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
17 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
4 |
| Television Broadcasting |
7 |
| Temporary Help Services |
163 |
| Temporary Shelters |
13 |
| Testing Laboratories |
11 |
| Textile Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
21 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
12 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
24 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
11 |
| Tobacco Stores |
16 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
8 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
5 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
8 |
| Travel Agencies |
59 |
| Used Car Dealers |
83 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
25 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
47 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
11 |
| Veterinary Services |
39 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
36 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
40 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
20 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
3 |
| Weft Knit Fabric Mills |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
97 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
6 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
68 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
89 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
5 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
| Yarn Spinning Mills |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
2 |
Obtaining startup financing for your Milwaukee business is very difficult due to the ongoing business credit crunch. Bootstrapping, which means growing the business without outside funding, is the best alternative, but that's not a viable option for many startup plans.
Recognizing this challenge, this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled Getting a Small Business Loan.
To grow your Milwaukee business, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.
We have some excellent resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Smart Branding is an article that will stimulate a few thoughts on your marketing plan. That's just a taste of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Milwaukee business, you need to focus on sales.
Clever sales techniques can transform any business from good to great. Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
The best business owners recognize that they don't know everything.
With your business being located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, you should check out some of the many programs available at nearby Wisconsin universities, colleges and community colleges. Another way to keep up on your learning is to investigate Milwaukee networking organizations.
As an entrepreneur in Milwaukee, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
We are here to help Milwaukee businesses to be successful. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Milwaukee, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Milwaukee.
