Thinking about starting a business in Paramus, New Jersey? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Paramus.
Is Becoming an Entrepreneur Right for You?
Being an entrepreneur is difficult, much harder than working as an employee. Are you sure you want to go into business for yourself?
Because entrepreneurship is not for everyone, we recommend you do the following to help you assess whether you should move forward with starting a business:
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Paramus. Get their take on what it's really like to be an entrepreneur.
- 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. That's the best way to get a truly objective assessment as to whether others think you have what it takes.
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 Free 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 How to Start an Embroidery & Needlework Materials & Supplies Retail Business guide or our How to Start an Endocrinology & Metabolism Physicians & Surgeons Business guide.
Don't forget that you are starting a business in Paramus. Some businesses will do better in Paramus than others. Make sure you fully understand Paramus demographics before you lock in on your business idea.
Paramus, New Jersey Demographic Information
Paramus has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Paramus demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Paramus.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
2928 |
| 5-9 Employees |
1125 |
| 10-19 Employees |
876 |
| 20-49 Employees |
708 |
| 50-99 Employees |
270 |
| 100-249 Employees |
186 |
| 250-499 Employees |
39 |
| 500-999 Employees |
12 |
| 1000+ Employees |
9 |
| All Paramus Businesses |
6153 |
As a new Paramus entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Paramus 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 |
1 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
5 |
| Art Dealers |
3 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
1 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
1 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
2 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
13 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
2 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
9 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
3 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Car Washes |
1 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
2 |
| Caterers |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
2 |
| Child Day Care Services |
10 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
14 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
3 |
| Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
13 |
| Collection Agencies |
2 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
12 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
14 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
4 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
5 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
4 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
3 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
7 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
21 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
4 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
9 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
3 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
4 |
| Educational Support Services |
1 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
14 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
9 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
7 |
| Engineering Services |
14 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
1 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
4 |
| Facilities Support Services |
2 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
37 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
9 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
9 |
| Flooring Contractors |
1 |
| Florists |
4 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
6 |
| Food Service Contractors |
10 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
1 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
5 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
29 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
2 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Furniture Stores |
42 |
| General Automotive Repair |
9 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
3 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
17 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
2 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
4 |
| Graphic Design Services |
6 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Hardware Stores |
1 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
11 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Home Health Care Services |
4 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
2 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
3 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
29 |
| Interior Design Services |
3 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
1 |
| Investment Advice |
8 |
| Janitorial Services |
5 |
| Jewelry Stores |
53 |
| Junior Colleges |
2 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
2 |
| Landscaping Services |
31 |
| Language Schools |
2 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
53 |
| Limousine Service |
4 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
3 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
8 |
| Machine Shops |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
3 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
9 |
| Masonry Contractors |
4 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
2 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
12 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
2 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
3 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
7 |
| Nail Salons |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
12 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
4 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
4 |
| Office Administrative Services |
7 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
4 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
30 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
10 |
| Offices of Dentists |
21 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
37 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
16 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
3 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
2 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
19 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
10 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
2 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
4 |
| Payroll Services |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
6 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
1 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
6 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
7 |
| Portfolio Management |
6 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
2 |
| Professional Organizations |
1 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
3 |
| Real Estate Credit |
18 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
7 |
| Residential Remodelers |
12 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Sales Financing |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
9 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
16 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
2 |
| Shoe Stores |
50 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
4 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
15 |
| Software Publishers |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
17 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
5 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
3 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
27 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
1 |
| Tobacco Stores |
3 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
6 |
| Veterinary Services |
3 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
1 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
16 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
7 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
62 |
Is Franchising a Better Option?
As you drive around Paramus, it's apparent that franchising has become a very popular way to start a business. But is franchising the right option for you?
We advise the entrepreneurs we work with to consider franchising as an option. To help you learn more about franchising, we've gathered a ton of articles on franchising, including Franchising My Business. 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 Krystal Company and Retro Fitness. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Car Wash Franchises and Moving Franchises.
Note on Paramus Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Paramus.
Forming a Company in Paramus, New Jersey
It's very important that you choose the right legal structure for your new entity. Without a legal structure for the business, you can be held personally liable for the actions, debts and obligations of your company.
The entity you form can be a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporation 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. If you are starting a business in New Jersey, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in New Jersey. 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 LLC Advantages. You may also want to seek the advice of an lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Paramus, New Jersey, our information on Incorporating in New Jersey may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in New Jersey.
Selling Tips
Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Paramus business, you need to focus on sales.
Good selling involves demonstrating that your wares meet your customer's needs. Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
Landing Big Customers is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.
Moving Forward
As an entrepreneur in Paramus, 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.
We are here to help Paramus businesses to be successful. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Paramus 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 Paramus, New Jersey
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Paramus.
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