Are you starting a business in Montgomery, Alabama? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Montgomery.
An entrepreneurial life is difficult, much harder than working as an employee. Are you positive 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.
Montgomery has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Montgomery demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Montgomery.
As a new Montgomery entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Montgomery 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 |
13 |
| Aluminum Extruded Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
4 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
3 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
34 |
| Armored Car Services |
2 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automobile Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
6 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
8 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
48 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
8 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
3 |
| Barber Shops |
4 |
| Beauty Salons |
65 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
19 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
1 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
4 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Publishers |
4 |
| Book Stores |
13 |
| Bottled Water Manufacturing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
47 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
2 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
2 |
| Cafeterias |
12 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
9 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
10 |
| Caterers |
5 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
3 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
15 |
| Child Day Care Services |
72 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
7 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
30 |
| Claims Adjusting |
6 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
7 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
3 |
| Collection Agencies |
5 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
13 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
3 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
3 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
10 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
5 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
38 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
5 |
| Consumer Lending |
20 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
6 |
| Convenience Stores |
9 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Couriers |
8 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
5 |
| Credit Unions |
20 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
3 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
23 |
| Dance Companies |
2 |
| Dental Laboratories |
8 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
15 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
1 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
17 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
3 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
4 |
| Discount Department Stores |
1 |
| Display Advertising |
6 |
| Document Preparation Services |
2 |
| Drafting Services |
3 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
17 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
15 |
| Educational Support Services |
2 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
10 |
| Electrical Contractors |
48 |
| Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
19 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
6 |
| Engineering Services |
50 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
1 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
4 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
14 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
27 |
| Family Planning Centers |
4 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
5 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
9 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
14 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
11 |
| Flooring Contractors |
5 |
| Florists |
13 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
8 |
| Food Service Contractors |
13 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
3 |
| Framing Contractors |
9 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
3 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
142 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
9 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Furniture Stores |
25 |
| General Automotive Repair |
49 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
6 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
5 |
| General Rental Centers |
4 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
11 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
19 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
4 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
7 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
14 |
| Graphic Design Services |
3 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
8 |
| Hardware Stores |
11 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
3 |
| Historical Sites |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
10 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
21 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
6 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
10 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
4 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
10 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
4 |
| Industrial Launderers |
3 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
100 |
| Interior Design Services |
6 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
5 |
| Investment Advice |
7 |
| Iron Foundries |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
52 |
| Jewelry Stores |
28 |
| Junior Colleges |
2 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
8 |
| Land Subdivision |
5 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
4 |
| Landscaping Services |
50 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
8 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
173 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Livestock Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
2 |
| Locksmiths |
6 |
| Machine Shops |
7 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
3 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
3 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
8 |
| Masonry Contractors |
11 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
2 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
2 |
| Meat Markets |
6 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
2 |
| Media Representatives |
3 |
| Medical Laboratories |
7 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
17 |
| Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
3 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
9 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
5 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
4 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
3 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
4 |
| Museums |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Nail Salons |
2 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
2 |
| Natural Gas Liquid Extraction |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
18 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
10 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
3 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
6 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
13 |
| Office Administrative Services |
19 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
11 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
11 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
38 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
14 |
| Offices of Dentists |
89 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
211 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
8 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
5 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
7 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
12 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
19 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
4 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paging |
3 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
11 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
18 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
12 |
| Payroll Services |
3 |
| Periodical Publishers |
9 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
7 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
1 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
7 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
39 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
12 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
1 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
9 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
5 |
| Poultry Processing |
2 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
2 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
33 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
17 |
| Quick Printing |
12 |
| Racetracks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
11 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing |
2 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
6 |
| Real Estate Credit |
20 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
2 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
3 |
| Residential Property Managers |
25 |
| Residential Remodelers |
17 |
| Retail Bakeries |
5 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
5 |
| Roofing Contractors |
17 |
| Sales Financing |
8 |
| Savings Institutions |
1 |
| Saw Blade and Handsaw Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sawmills |
3 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
2 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
18 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
8 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
29 |
| Siding Contractors |
4 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
6 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
12 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
17 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
3 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
3 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
16 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
5 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
3 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
17 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
3 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
4 |
| Temporary Help Services |
24 |
| Temporary Shelters |
2 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
5 |
| Timber Tract Operations |
2 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
26 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
7 |
| Tobacco Stores |
3 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
7 |
| Used Car Dealers |
29 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
11 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
21 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
12 |
| Veterinary Services |
24 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
16 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
10 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
7 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
3 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
27 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
16 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
50 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Preservation |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
Making the right decision when choosing a company name is very important. There are many decisions you'll make now that you can change later, but changing a company name years down the road is not very easy. So, choose a good company name at the outset.
Company names need to be easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and easy to remember.
To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Naming a Business.
On a final note, given that you are planning on starting a business in Montgomery, it's critical that you ensure that no other Alabama company is using the business name you want to use.
A critical step is ensuring that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will shield 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 common way to legally create a business entity. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. If you are starting a business in Alabama, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Alabama. In fact, you can incorporate in the state of your choosing. 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. To learn the fundamentals of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as How to Incorporate. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Montgomery, Alabama, our information on Incorporating in Alabama may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Alabama.
Creating a business plan is essential in maximizing the prospects of your new company. In effect, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Failure to write a business plan
As an entrepreneur in Montgomery, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Montgomery and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Montgomery, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Montgomery.
