Florida Business Startup Guides

Start a Business in Orlando, Florida

Are you starting a business in Orlando, Florida? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Orlando.

Will You Be a Successful Entrepreneur?

Most new companies don't make it, in part because the founder did not have the perseverance and abilities that are necessary to succeed. So, before you start your business, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.

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 Orlando. They are usually very willing to share their insights on the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur.
  • We recommend reading Why Small Businesses Fail. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
  • Get feedback from somebody whom you trust. Others sometimes know you better than you know yourself.

Choosing the Right Company to Start

There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? You might get some good ideas about what kind of business to start by reading Good Business Ideas.

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 Collectible & Vintage Clothing Retail Business guide or our How to Start a Petroleum Oils Retail Business guide.

Always keep in mind that you are starting a business in Orlando. The business you want to start may already be well-represented in Orlando. A critical consideration is whether Orlando demographics mesh well with your startup concept.

Orlando, Florida Demographic Information

Orlando has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.

To give you a better feel for Orlando demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Orlando.

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
78616
5-9 Employees
23400
10-19 Employees
16584
20-49 Employees
12300
50-99 Employees
5298
100-249 Employees
3228
250-499 Employees
888
500-999 Employees
480
1000+ Employees
288
All Orlando Businesses
141082

As a new Orlando entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Orlando 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
52
Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting)
2
Ambulance Services
4
Amusement and Theme Parks
14
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
1
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
15
Apprenticeship Training
5
Architectural Services
90
Armored Car Services
5
Art Dealers
19
Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing
1
Automobile Driving Schools
4
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
7
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
13
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
94
Automotive Transmission Repair
17
Baked Goods Stores
7
Barber Shops
10
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns
4
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
2
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
64
Blind and Shade Manufacturing
3
Blood and Organ Banks
7
Boat Building
5
Boat Dealers
14
Book Stores
30
Bowling Centers
7
Building Inspection Services
22
Business and Secretarial Schools
1
Business Associations
35
Business to Business Electronic Markets
3
Cable and Other Program Distribution
8
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
14
Canvas and Related Product Mills
4
Car Washes
48
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
29
Caterers
23
Cement Manufacturing
1
Cemeteries and Crematories
5
Cheese Manufacturing
1
Child and Youth Services
13
Child Day Care Services
191
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
26
Civic and Social Organizations
74
Claims Adjusting
19
Clothing Accessories Stores
40
Collection Agencies
8
Commercial Bakeries
12
Commercial Flexographic Printing
2
Commercial Gravure Printing
2
Commercial Lithographic Printing
33
Commercial Photography
26
Commercial Screen Printing
17
Community Food Services
5
Computer and Software Stores
34
Computer Facilities Management Services
14
Computer Systems Design Services
132
Computer Training
11
Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing
7
Concrete Pipe Manufacturing
1
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
7
Construction Machinery Manufacturing
2
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
1
Consumer Lending
25
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
6
Convenience Stores
111
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
50
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
2
Couriers
45
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
32
Credit Bureaus
2
Credit Card Issuing
5
Credit Unions
49
Curtain and Drapery Mills
6
Custom Computer Programming Services
158
Dance Companies
4
Deep Sea Passenger Transportation
1
Dental Laboratories
24
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
17
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
15
Digital Printing
7
Direct Mail Advertising
9
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
35
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
3
Discount Department Stores
8
Display Advertising
12
Document Preparation Services
16
Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing
1
Drilling Oil and Gas Wells
2
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
92
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
158
Educational Support Services
22
Electric Power Distribution
4
Electrical Contractors
187
Electronic Computer Manufacturing
1
Elementary and Secondary Schools
41
Emergency and Other Relief Services
3
Employment Placement Agencies
32
Engineering Services
252
Envelope Manufacturing
1
Environmental Consulting Services
20
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
19
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
55
Facilities Support Services
15
Family Clothing Stores
144
Family Planning Centers
5
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
7
Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing
2
Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing
1
Finish Carpentry Contractors
142
Fish and Seafood Markets
4
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers
4
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
62
Flight Training
4
Floor Covering Stores
27
Flooring Contractors
87
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
1
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
40
Food Service Contractors
62
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
5
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers
5
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
7
Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation
3
Freight Transportation Arrangement
67
Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing
1
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
10
Full-Service Restaurants
651
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
14
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
16
Furniture Stores
90
General Freight Trucking, Local
88
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
9
General Rental Centers
19
General Warehousing and Storage
38
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
147
Glass and Glazing Contractors
23
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
16
Graphic Design Services
78
Gypsum Product Manufacturing
2
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
2
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
23
Hardware Stores
18
Hazardous Waste Collection
1
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
1
HMO Medical Centers
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
39
Home Centers
11
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
51
Home Health Care Services
36
Home Health Equipment Rental
10
Homes for the Elderly
27
Human Rights Organizations
9
Hunting and Trapping
1
Industrial Design Services
10
Industrial Gas Manufacturing
3
Industrial Launderers
8
Industrial Mold Manufacturing
1
Inland Water Passenger Transportation
1
Interior Design Services
89
International Trade Financing
1
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
7
Internet Service Providers
26
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
2
Investigation Services
21
Investment Advice
95
Iron Foundries
1
Janitorial Services
269
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
1
Jewelry Stores
139
Kidney Dialysis Centers
11
Land Subdivision
61
Landscape Architectural Services
26
Language Schools
4
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
20
Libraries and Archives
2
Limited-Service Restaurants
593
Limousine Service
27
Linen Supply
1
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
28
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
18
Machine Shops
17
Mail-Order Houses
26
Manifold Business Forms Printing
2
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
5
Marinas
2
Marketing Consulting Services
131
Masonry Contractors
112
Materials Recovery Facilities
2
Mattress Manufacturing
5
Meat Markets
10
Media Buying Agencies
2
Media Representatives
16
Medical Laboratories
18
Metal Stamping
3
Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
2
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
5
Mineral Wool Manufacturing
1
Miscellaneous Intermediation
18
Mobile Food Services
10
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
95
Motion Picture and Video Production
61
Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing
2
Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping
1
Motor Vehicle Towing
32
Motorcycle Dealers
16
Museums
10
Music Publishers
3
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
8
Musical Instrument Manufacturing
1
Nail Salons
30
Natural Gas Distribution
1
Natural Gas Liquid Extraction
1
Navigational Services to Shipping
1
New Car Dealers
61
News Dealers and Newsstands
1
News Syndicates
4
Newspaper Publishers
15
Nonresidential Property Managers
41
Nursing Care Facilities
22
Office Administrative Services
113
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
33
Offices of Bank Holding Companies
3
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
166
Offices of Chiropractors
90
Offices of Dentists
231
Offices of Lawyers
787
Offices of Optometrists
49
Offices of Other Holding Companies
21
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
64
One-Hour Photofinishing
8
Open-End Investment Funds
1
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
1
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
7
Optical Goods Stores
56
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
5
Packing and Crating
7
Paging
2
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
6
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
22
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
172
Parking Lots and Garages
38
Passenger Car Leasing
6
Payroll Services
13
Periodical Publishers
24
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
25
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
26
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
5
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
111
Photography Studios, Portrait
42
Plastics Bag Manufacturing
2
Plastics Bottle Manufacturing
4
Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
2
Political Organizations
15
Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing
1
Portfolio Management
26
Power-Driven Handtool Manufacturing
1
Prepress Services
7
Private Mail Centers
22
Professional Employer Organizations
20
Professional Organizations
22
Public Relations Agencies
19
Quick Printing
22
Racetracks
1
Radio Stations
21
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
13
Real Estate Credit
125
Real Estate Investment Trusts
25
Record Production
2
Recreational Goods Rental
2
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
4
Reinsurance Carriers
2
Remediation Services
1
Repossession Services
3
Residential Property Managers
169
Residential Remodelers
159
Retail Bakeries
15
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
12
Rooming and Boarding Houses
3
Sales Financing
20
Satellite Telecommunications
3
Savings Institutions
26
Sawmills
2
Scheduled Freight Air Transportation
4
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
27
Secondary Market Financing
1
Securities and Commodity Exchanges
2
Securities Brokerage
59
Security Guards and Patrol Services
26
Septic Tank and Related Services
8
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
13
Shoe Stores
157
Sign Manufacturing
22
Site Preparation Contractors
70
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
111
Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing
2
Soft Drink Manufacturing
2
Software Publishers
33
Software Reproducing
1
Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators
1
Solid Waste Landfill
1
Sound Recording Studios
7
Special Needs Transportation
7
Sporting Goods Stores
57
Sports and Recreation Instruction
40
Sports Teams and Clubs
2
Support Activities for Forestry
1
Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing
1
Tax Preparation Services
71
Taxi Service
12
Telecommunications Resellers
12
Telemarketing Bureaus
17
Telephone Answering Services
9
Temporary Help Services
110
Temporary Shelters
9
Testing Laboratories
19
Textile Machinery Manufacturing
1
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
19
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
101
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
6
Tire Retreading
3
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
60
Tobacco Stores
10
Tour Operators
66
Tradebinding and Related Work
6
Translation and Interpretation Services
11
Travel Agencies
82
Truss Manufacturing
2
Used Car Dealers
119
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
44
Used Merchandise Stores
39
Vending Machine Operators
19
Veterinary Services
52
Video Tape and Disc Rental
36
Voluntary Health Organizations
13
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
12
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
2
Web Search Portals
4
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
191
Window Treatment Stores
1
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
94
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
3
Wood Preservation
1

Have You Considered Buying an Existing Orlando Business?

If you have some capital to play with, you may want to Buy a Business in Florida. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Orlando.

Before buying a business, be sure to read this article: Buying a Business.

Forming a Company in Orlando, Florida

It's essential 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. A key decision is whether to form and S-Corp or a C-Corp, and you also must decide in which state you will incorporate. If you are starting a business in Florida, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Florida. In fact, you can incorporate wherever you want. 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. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Piercing the Corporate Veil. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Orlando, Florida, our information on Incorporating in Florida may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Florida.

The Role of the Business Plan

Having a business plan is critical in laying a solid foundation for your business success. In effect, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Starting a business without a business plan makes you more prone to becoming a business failure statistic.

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 Florida.

Ramping Up Sales

Mastering the art of selling is a must if you want your new Orlando business to do well.

Not knowing how to sell can result in lost customers and minimal market share. Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.

Cold Call Selling offers some helpful tips on how to sell. It's one of several good articles on our site regarding Entrepreneurial Selling.

Orlando Entrepreneur Interviews

Enjoy these interviews we've had with Orlando entrepreneurs.

What's Next?

Most new Orlando businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.

From this point on, you control your own destiny.

We are here to help Orlando businesses to be successful. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Orlando, neighborhood development and overall economic health.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Orlando, Florida

Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Orlando.

  • Resources for Orlando, Florida Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Orlando entrepreneurs.
  • Florida Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Florida.
  • Florida Small Business Development Center - The Florida Small Business Development Center Network (FSBDCN) is a statewide economic development partnership between higher education and other stakeholder organizations dedicated to providing entrepreneurs and established businesses with the assistance needed to start, grow and succeed, contributing to the Florida economy.

More Business Startup Guides for Florida

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Starting a Business in Oviedo

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