Are you starting a business in Oceanside, California? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Oceanside.
Are You Sure You Want to Do This?
Most new businesses fail, in part because the business owner did not have the tenacity and/or the skills to succeed. So, before jumping into the world of entrepreneurship, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
To determine whether you have what it takes to run a business, we recommend these three steps to help you decide:
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Oceanside. Ask them candidly what it's like to run a business.
- We recommend reading Should You Become an Entrepreneur?. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Have a candid conversation with friends and family. The people who know you best are often in the best position to tell you bluntly whether you will be a good entrepreneur.
Choosing the Right Company to Start
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. To help you decide on a business type, we encourage you to read How to Evaluate a Business Idea.
For in-depth how-to guides on how to start specific businesses, browse our Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our Opening a Cake & Pie Shop guide or our Starting a Food Products Retail Business guide.
Remember that you are starting a business in Oceanside. Some businesses will do better in Oceanside than others. A critical consideration is whether Oceanside demographics mesh well with your startup concept.
Oceanside, California Demographic Information
Oceanside has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Oceanside demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Oceanside.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
13752 |
| 5-9 Employees |
4293 |
| 10-19 Employees |
3066 |
| 20-49 Employees |
2205 |
| 50-99 Employees |
738 |
| 100-249 Employees |
387 |
| 250-499 Employees |
81 |
| 500-999 Employees |
0 |
| 1000+ Employees |
9 |
| All Oceanside Businesses |
24531 |
As a new Oceanside entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Oceanside 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 |
3 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
8 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
3 |
|
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
18 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
6 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
18 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
14 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Boat Building |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
3 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
2 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
5 |
| Business Associations |
2 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
2 |
|
Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
3 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
8 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
2 |
| Caterers |
2 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
2 |
|
Child Day Care Services |
37 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
8 |
| Claims Adjusting |
3 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
3 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
3 |
| Collection Agencies |
4 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
3 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
4 |
|
Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
5 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
18 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
9 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
3 |
| Convenience Stores |
6 |
|
Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
3 |
| Credit Unions |
5 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
15 |
| Dental Laboratories |
5 |
|
Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
3 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
2 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
7 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
3 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
17 |
|
Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
7 |
| Educational Support Services |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
23 |
| Electron Tube Manufacturing |
2 |
| Electronic Connector Manufacturing |
2 |
| Electronic Shopping |
7 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
5 |
|
Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
3 |
| Engineering Services |
23 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
4 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
2 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
6 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
8 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
|
Farm Labor Contractors and Crew Leaders |
1 |
| Farm Management Services |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
4 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
10 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
2 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
9 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
5 |
|
Flooring Contractors |
10 |
| Florists |
4 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
7 |
| Food Service Contractors |
6 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
5 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
2 |
|
Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
97 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
11 |
| General Automotive Repair |
36 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
7 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
|
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
9 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
4 |
| Graphic Design Services |
10 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Hardware Stores |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
1 |
|
Home Centers |
3 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Home Health Care Services |
8 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
5 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
1 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
|
Industrial Launderers |
2 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
33 |
| Interior Design Services |
1 |
| Internet Service Providers |
4 |
| Investigation Services |
4 |
| Investment Advice |
12 |
| Janitorial Services |
24 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Jewelry Stores |
5 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
2 |
| Land Subdivision |
1 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
5 |
| Landscaping Services |
39 |
| Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
8 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
113 |
|
Limousine Service |
4 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
2 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
10 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
6 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
10 |
| Masonry Contractors |
7 |
|
Meat Markets |
2 |
| Medical Laboratories |
2 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
14 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
4 |
|
Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
4 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
8 |
| Museums |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Nail Salons |
8 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
|
New Car Dealers |
6 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
4 |
| Nonferrous Forging |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
5 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
2 |
| Office Administrative Services |
9 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
4 |
|
Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
16 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
20 |
| Offices of Dentists |
59 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
28 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
9 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
3 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
9 |
|
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
4 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
21 |
| Paper Industry Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
2 |
|
Passenger Car Rental |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
4 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
12 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
6 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Portfolio Management |
2 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
3 |
| Private Mail Centers |
7 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
3 |
| Quick Printing |
3 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
15 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
|
Remediation Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
22 |
| Residential Remodelers |
25 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
| Roofing Contractors |
4 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
2 |
| Sales Financing |
3 |
|
Savings Institutions |
5 |
| Securities Brokerage |
4 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
7 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
7 |
| Siding Contractors |
1 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
4 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
11 |
|
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
25 |
| Software Publishers |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
19 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
5 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
12 |
|
Telecommunications Resellers |
3 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
3 |
| Temporary Help Services |
18 |
| Temporary Shelters |
2 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
6 |
| Tire Dealers |
10 |
|
Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading) |
1 |
| Tobacco Stores |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
1 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
1 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
5 |
|
Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
7 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
10 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
11 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
14 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
6 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
|
Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
18 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
6 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
11 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
| Yarn Spinning Mills |
1 |
Should You Buy an Existing Oceanside Business?
An excellent way to get started in business is to Buy a Business in California. Follow that link and you can review several good businesses for sale in Oceanside.
Before buying a business, be sure to read this article: Buying a Business.
Naming the Company
A big decision when starting a company is choosing a company name. Believe it or not, choosing a good company name can be a big contributor to your business success.
Companies like Starbucks, Apple, Target, Microsoft and Intuit all have strong company names that are easy to remember and have become well-loved brands. Wouldn't it be nice if your new company name got on a similar track?
To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Naming a Company.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are starting a business in Oceanside, it's imperative that you check now that no other California company is using the business name you want to use.
Forming a Company in Oceanside, California
It's very important that you are forming a legal entity that operates independently from you. Doing so will protect you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
The entity you form can be a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
Incorporating 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 California, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in California. As it turns out, you are allowed to incorporate wherever you want. For example, it's very popular to incorporate in Delaware, and incorporating in Nevada has become very trendy as well. Don't forget, though, that you will have to register as a foreign entity in all states that you do business in.
There are many nuances to forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Subchapter S Corporations. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Oceanside, California, our information on Incorporating in California may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in California.
Advancing Your Entrepreneurial Skills
Good entrepreneurs recognize that they need to continually improve.
Given that you are starting a business in Oceanside, California, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby California universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any networking groups or organizations in which Oceanside entrepreneurs get together to network and trade their business experiences.
Next Steps
Most new Oceanside businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Oceanside and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Oceanside 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 Oceanside, California
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Oceanside.
- Resources for Oceanside, California Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Oceanside entrepreneurs.
- California Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in California.
- Fresno, California Small Business Development Center - The UC Merced SBDC Regional Network assists Central California entrepreneurs and small business owners through counseling, training and business information.
- Los Angeles, California Small Business Development Center - The Los Angeles Regional Small Business Development Center Network (LA SBDC Network) is part of the national, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) effort to provide free one-on-one customized consulting services and low-cost training workshops to growing businesses and start-up businesses.
- Sacramento, California Small Business Development Center - As Northern California continues to grow demographically and economically, the Northeastern California Small Business Development Center (NECSBDC) at CSU, Chico is committed to helping communities prepare and plan for future growth.
- San Diego, California Small Business Development Center - The Small Business Development & International Trade Center (SBDITC) at Southwestern College is part of the California SBDC San Diego and Imperial Regional Network. The SBDITC provides no-cost business assistance to start-up & existing businesses.
- San Francisco, California Small Business Development Center - The Northern California Network of Small Business Development Centers helps individuals start, manage and grow their businesses.
- Santa Ana, California Small Business Development Center - The Tri-County Lead Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in the Santa Ana District provides oversight and support for SBDCs located in the Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The Santa Ana SBDC Network is a leader in providing consulting, training, and technical assistance to the small business community.
- Oceanside, California Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Oceanside, California newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Oceanside area.
- Oceanside, California Payroll Services - This list includes Oceanside, California payroll services, national payroll services for Oceanside, and helpful information on choosing a Oceanside payroll service.
- Oceanside, California Businesses for Sale - This list includes resources for buying a business in Oceanside, California, such as business brokers in Oceanside and other helpful information on how to buy a Oceanside business.
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