Thinking about starting a business in Salinas, California? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Salinas.
Choosing a business that is right for you is very important. To help you decide on a business type, we encourage you to read Business Ideas That Don't Make Sense.
Always keep in mind that you are opening your new business in Salinas. Think about what needs are currently being underserved in Salinas. Don't forget to review Salinas demographics to see if there's a market for what you want to sell.
Salinas has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Salinas demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Salinas.
As a new Salinas entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Salinas 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 |
| Air Traffic Control |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
6 |
|
Art Dealers |
3 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
4 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
3 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
2 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
29 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
5 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
12 |
|
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
13 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
3 |
| Bottled Water Manufacturing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
|
Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
7 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
3 |
| Cafeterias |
1 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
5 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
1 |
|
Caterers |
3 |
| Cement Manufacturing |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
6 |
| Child Day Care Services |
25 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
17 |
| Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
6 |
|
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
7 |
| Collection Agencies |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
6 |
| Commercial Photography |
2 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
3 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
2 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
2 |
|
Computer Systems Design Services |
7 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
4 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
7 |
| Convenience Stores |
20 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
2 |
|
Couriers |
7 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
2 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
5 |
| Crop Harvesting, Primarily by Machine |
6 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
12 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
1 |
|
Dental Laboratories |
4 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
7 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
2 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
5 |
| Discount Department Stores |
3 |
|
Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
2 |
| Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
8 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
10 |
| Educational Support Services |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
32 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
6 |
|
Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
20 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
1 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
8 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
13 |
|
Family Planning Centers |
3 |
| Farm Labor Contractors and Crew Leaders |
9 |
| Farm Management Services |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
18 |
| Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
3 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
9 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
11 |
|
Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
10 |
| Flooring Contractors |
14 |
| Florists |
7 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
4 |
| Food Service Contractors |
4 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
2 |
|
Framing Contractors |
4 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
11 |
| Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
7 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
96 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
3 |
| Furniture Stores |
14 |
|
General Automotive Repair |
45 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
25 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
6 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
11 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
2 |
|
Grantmaking Foundations |
5 |
| Graphic Design Services |
1 |
| Gypsum Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Hardware Stores |
8 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
6 |
|
Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
10 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
12 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
4 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
|
Industrial Launderers |
2 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
50 |
| Interior Design Services |
3 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
5 |
| Investment Advice |
8 |
| Janitorial Services |
32 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Jewelry Stores |
17 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
38 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
11 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
104 |
|
Linen Supply |
2 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
2 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
12 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
2 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
3 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
5 |
|
Masonry Contractors |
10 |
| Meat Markets |
3 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
2 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Miscellaneous Intermediation |
3 |
| Mobile Food Services |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
10 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
9 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
4 |
| Museums |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
|
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
7 |
| New Car Dealers |
15 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
3 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
3 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
6 |
|
Office Administrative Services |
15 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
3 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
32 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
19 |
| Offices of Dentists |
82 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
78 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
15 |
|
Offices of Podiatrists |
4 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
4 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
5 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Paging |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
5 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
22 |
|
Passenger Car Rental |
3 |
| Payroll Services |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
1 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
8 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
2 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
4 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
19 |
|
Photography Studios, Portrait |
8 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
2 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
4 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
4 |
|
Racetracks |
1 |
| Radio Networks |
2 |
| Radio Stations |
11 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
22 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
8 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
3 |
|
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
6 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
10 |
| Residential Remodelers |
28 |
| Retail Bakeries |
11 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
15 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
2 |
|
Sales Financing |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
4 |
| Saw Blade and Handsaw Manufacturing |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
8 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
13 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
6 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
2 |
| Ship Building and Repairing |
1 |
|
Shoe Stores |
18 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
4 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
7 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
31 |
| Software Publishers |
2 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
|
Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
13 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
5 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
11 |
| Taxi Service |
2 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
2 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
|
Temporary Help Services |
13 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
12 |
| Tire Dealers |
10 |
| Tobacco Stores |
1 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
2 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
2 |
|
Travel Agencies |
11 |
| Used Car Dealers |
16 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
11 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
5 |
| Veterinary Services |
12 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
11 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
8 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
3 |
|
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
7 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
26 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
| Wineries |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
10 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
9 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
3 |
|
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
As you drive around Salinas, you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. Should you be giving franchising serious consideration?
We advise the entrepreneurs we work with to look into purchasing a franchise. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchising and Veterans. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
It's very important that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. The primary advantage of forming your new business as a legal entity is that it separates your business liabilities from your personal liabilities.
When forming a company, you will pick from many company types, such as a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporating is a very popular way to form a business. 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 California, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in California. In fact, you can incorporate in any state you would like to. 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. To learn the basics of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Why Incorporate in Delaware. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Salinas, California, our web page covering Incorporating in California may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in California.
The best business owners recognize that they need to continually improve.
As an entrepreneur who lives in Salinas, California, you should get information on some of the learning programs at local California educational institutions. Another way to keep up on your learning is to investigate networking organizations for Salinas entrepreneurs.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Salinas. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Salinas and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Salinas, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Salinas.
