Are you starting a business in North Haven, Connecticut? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in North Haven.
Are You Ready for Life as an Owner?
An entrepreneurial life is hard work, much more challenging than working as an employee. Are you certain you are ready to take on this challenge?
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 North Haven. Listen closely to their experiences and see if you think you too can be successful.
- 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. 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.
North Haven, Connecticut Demographic Information
North Haven has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for North Haven demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in North Haven.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
3010 |
| 5-9 Employees |
1074 |
| 10-19 Employees |
918 |
| 20-49 Employees |
582 |
| 50-99 Employees |
258 |
| 100-249 Employees |
144 |
| 250-499 Employees |
48 |
| 500-999 Employees |
6 |
| 1000+ Employees |
12 |
| All North Haven Businesses |
6052 |
As a new North Haven entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in North 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 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
4 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
2 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
5 |
| Beauty Salons |
17 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
5 |
| Book Publishers |
3 |
| Book Stores |
2 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Car Washes |
2 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
2 |
| Caterers |
2 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Cheese Manufacturing |
1 |
| Child Day Care Services |
8 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
1 |
| Claims Adjusting |
5 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
1 |
| Collection Agencies |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
4 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
2 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
6 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
4 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
3 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
2 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
4 |
| Dental Laboratories |
1 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
3 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
3 |
| Educational Support Services |
1 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
18 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
4 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
3 |
| Engineering Services |
8 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
3 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
4 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
9 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
2 |
| Flooring Contractors |
3 |
| Florists |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
1 |
| Food Service Contractors |
3 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
34 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
3 |
| General Automotive Repair |
16 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
10 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
5 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
1 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
2 |
| Graphic Design Services |
2 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Hardware Stores |
2 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
8 |
| Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
2 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
3 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
12 |
| Interior Design Services |
2 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
8 |
| Janitorial Services |
5 |
| Jewelry Stores |
2 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
15 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
26 |
| Limousine Service |
2 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
2 |
| Machine Shops |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
3 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
6 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Mineral Wool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
4 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
5 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
2 |
| Office Administrative Services |
3 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
2 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
20 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
2 |
| Offices of Dentists |
15 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
19 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
2 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
3 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
3 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
2 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
10 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
5 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
3 |
| Portfolio Management |
2 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
3 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
7 |
| Residential Property Managers |
1 |
| Residential Remodelers |
20 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
5 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
5 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
2 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
2 |
| Siding Contractors |
5 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
3 |
| Small Arms Manufacturing |
2 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
12 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
6 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
2 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
4 |
| Testing Laboratories |
2 |
| Textile Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
2 |
| Used Car Dealers |
3 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
3 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
1 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
3 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
3 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
1 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
6 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
5 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
8 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
2 |
Is a Franchise Opportunity Right For You?
As you drive around North Haven, you'll see that franchises make up a large percentage of local businesses. But is franchising the right option for you?
Our recommendation is that you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as The Franchising Process. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.
Sample franchise opportunities include The eYardSale.com and Bellini Furniture. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Home Repair Franchises and Miscellaneous Franchises.
Note on North Haven Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in North Haven.
Have You Considered Buying an Existing North Haven Business?
If you have some capital to play with, you may want to Buy a Business in Connecticut. Follow that link and you might discover several good businesses for sale in North Haven.
Before buying a business, be sure to read this article: How to Buy a Business.
Company Formation in North Haven, Connecticut
A critical step is ensuring that you form your business as a legal structure. Doing so will protect 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. Just because you are starting a business in Connecticut, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Connecticut. In fact, 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's a lot to know about forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Avoiding Personal Liability in Business. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in North Haven, Connecticut, our information on Incorporating in Connecticut may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Connecticut.
Where to Get Money to Start a Company
Finding the funds to fuel the growth of your North Haven business requires strong organization skills and perseverance. In fact, financing your new business may be the hardest challenge you ever face.
Fortunately, this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled 504 Loans.
For North Haven entrepreneurs who want to raise money for a new venture, check out our List of Connecticut Angel Investors and our List of Connecticut Venture Capital Firms.
Never Give Up
As an entrepreneur in North Haven, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in North Haven and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new North Haven 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 North Haven, Connecticut
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in North Haven.
- Resources for North Haven, Connecticut Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist North 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.
- North Haven, Connecticut Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for North Haven, Connecticut newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the North Haven area.
- North Haven, Connecticut Payroll Services - This list includes North Haven, Connecticut payroll services, national payroll services for North Haven, and helpful information on choosing a North Haven payroll service.
Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in Connecticut
Starting a Business in Norfolk
Starting a Business in Norwalk
Browse All
Business Startup Guides for Connecticut
Starting a Business
Guides for Other States
