Contemplating starting a business in New Haven, Connecticut? We walk you through the process of opening a business in New Haven.
Are You Ready for Entrepreneurship?
Most new businesses don't make it, in part because the business owner did not have the perseverance and abilities that are necessary to succeed. So, before you open a business, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
With so much at stake when you start a business, we strongly recommend you do the following before you proceed:
- Speak with other entrepreneurs in New Haven. Listen closely to their experiences and see if you think you too can be successful.
- You should read Business Failure. It's a good read for those who are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur.
- Involve a spouse, family member or trusted friend in the decision. Ask them directly: Do I have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Listen carefully to their answer, as they presumably know your strengths and weaknesses.
New Haven, Connecticut Demographic Information
New Haven has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for New Haven demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in New Haven.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
30779 |
| 5-9 Employees |
11424 |
| 10-19 Employees |
7896 |
| 20-49 Employees |
6048 |
| 50-99 Employees |
1785 |
| 100-249 Employees |
1302 |
| 250-499 Employees |
252 |
| 500-999 Employees |
105 |
| 1000+ Employees |
63 |
| All New Haven Businesses |
59654 |
As a new New Haven entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in New Haven 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 |
2 |
| Ambulance Services |
2 |
|
Apprenticeship Training |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
36 |
| Armored Car Services |
1 |
| Art Dealers |
2 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
4 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
8 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
3 |
|
Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Barber Shops |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
31 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
30 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Boat Building |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
|
Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
9 |
| Building Inspection Services |
3 |
| Business Associations |
7 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
2 |
| Car Washes |
4 |
|
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
1 |
| Caterers |
6 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
3 |
| Child and Youth Services |
10 |
| Child Day Care Services |
29 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
22 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
3 |
|
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
10 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
3 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
7 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
2 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
14 |
|
Computer Training |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
2 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
2 |
| Convenience Stores |
22 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Couriers |
3 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
2 |
|
Credit Bureaus |
3 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
13 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
13 |
| Dental Laboratories |
3 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
7 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
4 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
|
Discount Department Stores |
1 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
2 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
26 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
3 |
| Educational Support Services |
3 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
|
Electrical Contractors |
14 |
| Electronic Connector Manufacturing |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
10 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
2 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
16 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
1 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
4 |
|
Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
3 |
| Fabric Coating Mills |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
8 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
6 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
5 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
2 |
|
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
7 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
3 |
| Flooring Contractors |
1 |
| Florists |
6 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
1 |
| Food Service Contractors |
17 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
2 |
|
Freight Transportation Arrangement |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
3 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
148 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
10 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
5 |
| General Automotive Repair |
26 |
|
General Freight Trucking, Local |
4 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
7 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
12 |
|
Graphic Design Services |
8 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
3 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
4 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
8 |
| Historical Sites |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
2 |
| Home Centers |
1 |
|
Home Health Care Services |
11 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
2 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
4 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
4 |
| Inland Water Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
24 |
|
Interior Design Services |
3 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
1 |
| Internet Service Providers |
3 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
5 |
| Janitorial Services |
16 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Jewelry Stores |
8 |
|
Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
6 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
2 |
| Landscaping Services |
9 |
| Language Schools |
2 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
93 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
|
Locksmiths |
2 |
| Machine Shops |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
2 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
4 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
4 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
4 |
|
Media Representatives |
3 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
11 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
1 |
| Mineral Wool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
8 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
1 |
|
Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
3 |
| Museums |
3 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
6 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
5 |
| New Car Dealers |
1 |
|
News Dealers and Newsstands |
3 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
8 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
15 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
7 |
| Office Administrative Services |
6 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
7 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
3 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
|
Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
10 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
11 |
| Offices of Dentists |
51 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
214 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
5 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
6 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
3 |
|
Optical Goods Stores |
4 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
11 |
| Paperboard Mills |
1 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
30 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
8 |
| Periodical Publishers |
5 |
|
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
1 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
22 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
3 |
| Political Organizations |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
8 |
| Poultry Processing |
1 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
|
Private Mail Centers |
3 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
5 |
| Quick Printing |
5 |
| Radio Stations |
4 |
| Real Estate Credit |
7 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
3 |
|
Residential Property Managers |
15 |
| Residential Remodelers |
16 |
| Retail Bakeries |
5 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
3 |
| Roofing Contractors |
5 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
1 |
| Sales Financing |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
10 |
|
School and Employee Bus Transportation |
2 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
9 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
3 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shellfish Fishing |
1 |
|
Shoe Stores |
8 |
| Siding Contractors |
3 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
2 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
2 |
| Small Arms Manufacturing |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
23 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
3 |
|
Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
2 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
3 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
5 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Television Broadcasting |
3 |
| Temporary Help Services |
11 |
| Temporary Shelters |
5 |
| Testing Laboratories |
3 |
| Textile Bag Mills |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
6 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
3 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
|
Tire Dealers |
2 |
| Tire Retreading |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
1 |
| Tobacco Stores |
2 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
13 |
| Used Car Dealers |
6 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
1 |
|
Used Merchandise Stores |
9 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
4 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
5 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
12 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
4 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
3 |
|
Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
26 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
16 |
What About Franchising Opportunities?
As you drive around New Haven, you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. Should you be giving franchising serious consideration?
We highly recommend you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as How Franchises Work. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.
Sample franchise opportunities include Milex Tune Up and Brake and American Business Advantage. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Restaurant Services Franchises and Florist Franchises.
Note on New Haven Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in New Haven.
Naming the Business
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.
Even if the name doesn't do it by itself, many naming experts believe there should be a story behind the name that ties into your company mission.
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 starting a business in New Haven, it's imperative that you check now that no other Connecticut company is using the business name you want to use.
The Role of the Business Plan
A business plan is critical in maximizing the prospects of your new company. Simply put, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. Not having 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 face-to-face free consulting available from your local SCORE chapter in Connecticut.
Promoting Your New Company
To grow your New Haven business, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your succeeding.
We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Television Advertising Rates discusses marketing strategy and tactical marketing in a way that should get you thinking about how to creatively promote your business. There are many more articles on marketing on our site. Visit our Small Business Marketing resource section to see them all.
Never Give Up
Most new New Haven businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in New Haven and elsewhere to achieve real success. 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 New Haven, Connecticut
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in New Haven.
- Resources for New Haven, Connecticut Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist New Haven 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.
- New Haven, Connecticut Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for New Haven, Connecticut newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the New Haven area.
- New Haven, Connecticut Radio Advertising Prices - To help you in your marketing efforts, we've gathered radio advertising rates for New Haven, Connecticut area radio stations.
- New Haven, Connecticut Payroll Services - This list includes New Haven, Connecticut payroll services, national payroll services for New Haven, and helpful information on choosing a New Haven payroll service.
- New Haven, Connecticut Businesses for Sale - This list includes resources for buying a business in New Haven, Connecticut, such as business brokers in New Haven and other helpful information on how to buy a New Haven business.
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