Thinking about starting a business in Rockville, Maryland? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Rockville.
There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? We recommend that you read Finding Your Niche in Life.
Remember that starting a business in Rockville has some implications. Some businesses will do better in Rockville than others. A critical consideration is whether Rockville demographics mesh well with your startup concept.
Rockville has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Rockville demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Rockville.
As a new Rockville entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Rockville 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 |
4 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
4 |
| Architectural Services |
24 |
| Art Dealers |
6 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
|
Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
2 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
6 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
15 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
2 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
5 |
| Barber Shops |
5 |
| Beauty Salons |
56 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
17 |
|
Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
3 |
| Book Stores |
3 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
3 |
| Business Associations |
15 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
2 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
4 |
|
Cafeterias |
5 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Car Washes |
5 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
13 |
| Caterers |
17 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
3 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
5 |
|
Child Day Care Services |
36 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
11 |
| Claims Adjusting |
2 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
3 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
3 |
| Collection Agencies |
4 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
|
Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
12 |
| Commercial Photography |
3 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
3 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
2 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
11 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
21 |
|
Computer Systems Design Services |
125 |
| Computer Training |
5 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
2 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
3 |
| Convenience Stores |
20 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
10 |
|
Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
2 |
| Couriers |
2 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
3 |
| Credit Unions |
7 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
79 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
6 |
|
Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
11 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
5 |
| Digital Printing |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
7 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
4 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
12 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
1 |
|
Distilleries |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
8 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
4 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
9 |
| Educational Support Services |
13 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
43 |
|
Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
6 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
13 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
8 |
| Engineering Services |
73 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
7 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
8 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
4 |
|
Facilities Support Services |
8 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
7 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
9 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
16 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
24 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
23 |
|
Flooring Contractors |
11 |
| Florists |
9 |
| Flour Milling |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
3 |
| Food Service Contractors |
15 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
4 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
6 |
|
Freight Transportation Arrangement |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
108 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
4 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Furniture Stores |
42 |
| General Automotive Repair |
79 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
5 |
|
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
3 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
6 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
3 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
6 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
13 |
| Graphic Design Services |
15 |
|
Hardware Stores |
2 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
6 |
| Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
9 |
| Home Health Care Services |
7 |
|
Homes for the Elderly |
13 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
5 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
2 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
96 |
| Interior Design Services |
9 |
| International Trade Financing |
1 |
|
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
1 |
| Internet Service Providers |
5 |
| Investigation Services |
3 |
| Investment Advice |
23 |
| Janitorial Services |
64 |
| Jewelry Stores |
15 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
3 |
| Land Subdivision |
6 |
|
Landscape Architectural Services |
4 |
| Landscaping Services |
39 |
| Language Schools |
5 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
3 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
159 |
| Limousine Service |
6 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
4 |
|
Locksmiths |
5 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Luggage Manufacturing |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
5 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
6 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
30 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Masonry Contractors |
9 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
7 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
3 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
35 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
1 |
|
Motion Picture and Video Production |
6 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
3 |
| Museums |
4 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
17 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
11 |
|
New Housing Operative Builders |
11 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
10 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
24 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
6 |
| Office Administrative Services |
39 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
9 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
7 |
|
Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
101 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
17 |
| Offices of Dentists |
138 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
291 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
9 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
10 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
13 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
12 |
|
One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
14 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
5 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
44 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
30 |
|
Passenger Car Rental |
5 |
| Payroll Services |
9 |
| Periodical Publishers |
11 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
6 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
16 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
7 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
1 |
|
Political Organizations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
14 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
4 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
5 |
| Professional Organizations |
14 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
8 |
|
Quick Printing |
5 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
13 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
3 |
| Real Estate Credit |
38 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
11 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
4 |
|
Remediation Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
27 |
| Residential Remodelers |
83 |
| Retail Bakeries |
4 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
7 |
| Roofing Contractors |
11 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
1 |
| Sales Financing |
6 |
|
Satellite Telecommunications |
4 |
| Savings Institutions |
14 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
1 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
15 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
4 |
| Shoe Stores |
3 |
| Siding Contractors |
10 |
|
Sign Manufacturing |
6 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
7 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
17 |
| Software Publishers |
14 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
16 |
|
Sports and Recreation Instruction |
16 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
11 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
4 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
2 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
2 |
| Temporary Help Services |
39 |
| Temporary Shelters |
5 |
| Testing Laboratories |
3 |
|
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
10 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
8 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
45 |
| Tobacco Stores |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
1 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
|
Translation and Interpretation Services |
5 |
| Travel Agencies |
29 |
| Used Car Dealers |
2 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
15 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
11 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
7 |
| Veterinary Services |
9 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
9 |
|
Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
9 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
5 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
18 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
14 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
9 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
2 |
As you drive around Rockville, it becomes clear that purchasing a franchise is a common way to get started as an entrepreneur. But is franchising the right option for you?
Most business experts recommend that you investigate buying a franchise. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as Before Buying a Franchise. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.
For anybody who wants to buy a business, we recommend reading this useful article: How to Buy a Business.
It's very important 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 Maryland, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Maryland. As it turns out, you are allowed to 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'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 Why Incorporate in Delaware. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Rockville, Maryland, our information on Incorporating in Maryland may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Maryland.
Getting your Rockville business the capital it needs to succeed is a difficult chore. In fact, financing your new business may be the hardest challenge you ever face.
To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as Getting a Small Business Loan.
Most new Rockville businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
We are here to help Rockville businesses to be successful. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Rockville entrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Rockville.
