Are you starting a business in Oakland, California? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Oakland.
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. You might get some good ideas about what kind of business to start by reading Good Business Ideas.
Don't forget that your new business will be in Oakland. If Oakland already has plenty of the kind of business you want to start, you might want to change your plans. Only by spending some time analyzing Oakland demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.
Oakland has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Oakland demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Oakland.
As a new Oakland entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Oakland 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 |
| Aircraft Manufacturing |
1 |
| Alkalies and Chlorine Manufacturing |
1 |
| Aluminum Die-Casting Foundries |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
3 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
3 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
72 |
| Armored Car Services |
4 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
6 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
6 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
6 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
32 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
8 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
9 |
| Barber Shops |
4 |
| Beauty Salons |
67 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
63 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
6 |
| Boat Dealers |
7 |
| Book Publishers |
10 |
| Book Stores |
17 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing |
1 |
| Breweries |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
3 |
| Building Inspection Services |
6 |
| Business Associations |
28 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
3 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
3 |
| Cafeterias |
9 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Car Washes |
20 |
| Carpet and Rug Mills |
1 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
4 |
| Caterers |
11 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
4 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
41 |
| Child Day Care Services |
157 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
6 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
54 |
| Claims Adjusting |
9 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
3 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
17 |
| Collection Agencies |
6 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
12 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
14 |
| Commercial Photography |
3 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
3 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
8 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
7 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
7 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
57 |
| Computer Training |
4 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
3 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
4 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
6 |
| Convenience Stores |
32 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
9 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
2 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
4 |
| Couriers |
26 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
6 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
27 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
3 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
95 |
| Dance Companies |
3 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
8 |
| Dental Laboratories |
7 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
6 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
5 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
10 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
10 |
| Drafting Services |
2 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
51 |
| Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters |
2 |
| Dry Pasta Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
12 |
| Educational Support Services |
22 |
| Electrical Contractors |
48 |
| Electronic Auctions |
2 |
| Electronic Connector Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
12 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
48 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
5 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
8 |
| Engineering Services |
137 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
1 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
32 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
14 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
13 |
| Facilities Support Services |
5 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
20 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
16 |
| Finfish Fishing |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
5 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
6 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
32 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
11 |
| Flooring Contractors |
11 |
| Florists |
12 |
| Flour Milling |
1 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
2 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
10 |
| Food Service Contractors |
19 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
2 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
6 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
33 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
16 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
350 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
9 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Furniture Stores |
27 |
| General Automotive Repair |
109 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
44 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
5 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
10 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
21 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
6 |
| Glass Container Manufacturing |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
5 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
32 |
| Graphic Design Services |
39 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
8 |
| Hardware Stores |
13 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
2 |
| Historical Sites |
4 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
6 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
8 |
| Home Centers |
5 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Home Health Care Services |
19 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
27 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
7 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
11 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
4 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
95 |
| Interior Design Services |
20 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
5 |
| Internet Service Providers |
5 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
6 |
| Investment Advice |
28 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Iron Foundries |
2 |
| Janitorial Services |
62 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
5 |
| Jewelry Stores |
24 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
8 |
| Land Subdivision |
13 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
19 |
| Landscaping Services |
47 |
| Language Schools |
8 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
6 |
| Libraries and Archives |
2 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
224 |
| Limousine Service |
2 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
8 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
2 |
| Machine Shops |
16 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
7 |
| Marinas |
2 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
10 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
29 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
7 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
3 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
20 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
3 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
2 |
| Media Representatives |
3 |
| Medical Laboratories |
3 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's and Boys' Neckwear Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
7 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
1 |
| Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing |
3 |
| Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
5 |
| Mixed Mode Transit Systems |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
4 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
29 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
15 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
18 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
6 |
| Museums |
5 |
| Music Publishers |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
11 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
31 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
3 |
| New Car Dealers |
19 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
4 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
2 |
| News Syndicates |
3 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
10 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
23 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
21 |
| Office Administrative Services |
39 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
11 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
8 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
66 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
57 |
| Offices of Dentists |
172 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
401 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
28 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
13 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
9 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
9 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
6 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
38 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
96 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
26 |
| Payroll Services |
3 |
| Periodical Publishers |
12 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
10 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
8 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
41 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
9 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
4 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
4 |
| Port and Harbor Operations |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
22 |
| Poultry Processing |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
4 |
| Prepress Services |
4 |
| Private Mail Centers |
5 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
6 |
| Professional Organizations |
11 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
6 |
| Quick Printing |
13 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
9 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
6 |
| Real Estate Credit |
67 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
3 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
2 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
2 |
| Repossession Services |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
50 |
| Residential Remodelers |
112 |
| Retail Bakeries |
16 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
4 |
| Roofing Contractors |
31 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
3 |
| Sales Financing |
4 |
| Savings Institutions |
28 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
11 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities and Commodity Exchanges |
2 |
| Securities Brokerage |
25 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
30 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
5 |
| Ship Building and Repairing |
2 |
| Shoe Stores |
21 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
4 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
11 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
77 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
4 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
18 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
4 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
3 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
3 |
| Specialty Canning |
1 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
14 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
15 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
2 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
30 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
3 |
| Television Broadcasting |
2 |
| Temporary Help Services |
36 |
| Temporary Shelters |
9 |
| Testing Laboratories |
4 |
| Textile Bag Mills |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
4 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
5 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
16 |
| Tire Retreading |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
7 |
| Tobacco Stores |
7 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
5 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
4 |
| Travel Agencies |
25 |
| Used Car Dealers |
11 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
12 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
30 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
3 |
| Veterinary Services |
11 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
20 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
32 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
21 |
| Watch, Clock, and Part Manufacturing |
1 |
| Web Search Portals |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
44 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
3 |
| Wineries |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
30 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
24 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
3 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
4 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
5 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
As you drive around Oakland, you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. So, it probably makes sense for you to consider franchising too.
We highly recommend you look into purchasing a franchise. We have many articles on franchises, such as How Franchises Work. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.
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: Branding Advice.
As a final piece of advice, remember that because you are planning on starting a business in Oakland, it's imperative that you check now that no other California company is using the business name you want to use.
A business plan is vital 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.
Getting your Oakland business the capital it needs to succeed is a difficult chore. To obtain business financing, you will need to hear a lot of rejections before you finally find a funding solution that works for you.
Good entrepreneurs recognize that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.
Given that you are starting a business in Oakland, California, you will want to take advantage of the learning programs at local California educational institutions. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any networking groups or organizations in which Oakland entrepreneurs get together to network and trade their business experiences.
Most new Oakland businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Oakland and elsewhere to achieve real success. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Oakland, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Oakland.
