Contemplating starting a business in San Diego, California? We walk you through the process of opening a business in San Diego.
Running your own business is hard work, much harder than working as an employee. Are you certain you have the stamina and skills to succeed on your own?
With so much at stake when you start a business, we strongly recommend you do the following before you proceed:
There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? To help you decide on a business type, we encourage you to read Good Business Ideas.
Always keep in mind that you are opening your new business in San Diego. The business you want to start may already be well-represented in San Diego. Make sure you fully understand San Diego demographics before you lock in on your business idea.
San Diego has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for San Diego demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in San Diego.
As a new San Diego entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in San Diego 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 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
3 |
| Advertising Agencies |
103 |
| Air Traffic Control |
1 |
| Aircraft Manufacturing |
3 |
| Ambulance Services |
12 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
3 |
| Amusement Arcades |
8 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
13 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
7 |
| Architectural Services |
213 |
| Armored Car Services |
5 |
| Art Dealers |
26 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
5 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
4 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
11 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
23 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
133 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
22 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
29 |
| Barber Shops |
5 |
| Beauty Salons |
275 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
8 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
122 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
4 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
6 |
| Boat Building |
2 |
| Boat Dealers |
39 |
| Book Publishers |
19 |
| Book Stores |
44 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Bottled Water Manufacturing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Breweries |
3 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
4 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
21 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
2 |
| Business Associations |
68 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
8 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
11 |
| Cafeterias |
29 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
11 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
11 |
| Car Washes |
63 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
49 |
| Caterers |
41 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
7 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
7 |
| Child and Youth Services |
59 |
| Child Day Care Services |
331 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
23 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
88 |
| Claims Adjusting |
31 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
31 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
39 |
| Collection Agencies |
32 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
23 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
4 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
5 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
69 |
| Commercial Photography |
26 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
27 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
4 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
4 |
| Community Food Services |
11 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
79 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
31 |
| Computer Storage Device Manufacturing |
3 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
328 |
| Computer Training |
29 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
3 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
23 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
5 |
| Consumer Lending |
46 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
9 |
| Convenience Stores |
97 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
49 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
8 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
3 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Copper Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
4 |
| Couriers |
46 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
24 |
| Credit Bureaus |
9 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
77 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
5 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
447 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
1 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
1 |
| Dance Companies |
10 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
3 |
| Dental Laboratories |
31 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
33 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
10 |
| Digital Printing |
13 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
48 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
24 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
45 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
13 |
| Discount Department Stores |
14 |
| Display Advertising |
17 |
| Document Preparation Services |
30 |
| Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Doll and Stuffed Toy Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
8 |
| Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
189 |
| Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters |
1 |
| Dry Pasta Manufacturing |
2 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
35 |
| Educational Support Services |
58 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
15 |
| Electrical Contractors |
212 |
| Electron Tube Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Auctions |
3 |
| Electronic Capacitor Manufacturing |
5 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
7 |
| Electronic Connector Manufacturing |
3 |
| Electronic Shopping |
70 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
65 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
14 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
47 |
| Engineering Services |
528 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
51 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
33 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
35 |
| Facilities Support Services |
20 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
93 |
| Family Planning Centers |
11 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
10 |
| Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
32 |
| Finfish Fishing |
17 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
68 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
5 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
9 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
145 |
| Flight Training |
7 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
52 |
| Flooring Contractors |
60 |
| Florists |
66 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
37 |
| Food Service Contractors |
91 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
7 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
12 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
7 |
| Framing Contractors |
15 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
136 |
| Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing |
1 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
3 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
12 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
979 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
18 |
| Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
43 |
| Furniture Stores |
122 |
| General Automotive Repair |
288 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
83 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
10 |
| General Rental Centers |
16 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
36 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
167 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
20 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
18 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
36 |
| Graphic Design Services |
116 |
| Gypsum Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
4 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
31 |
| Hardware Stores |
26 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
3 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
3 |
| Historical Sites |
4 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
4 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
40 |
| Home Centers |
16 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
40 |
| Home Health Care Services |
59 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
5 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
71 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
30 |
| Household Vacuum Cleaner Manufacturing |
1 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
14 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
4 |
| Industrial Design Services |
12 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
13 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
5 |
| Inland Water Passenger Transportation |
2 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
2 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
539 |
| Interior Design Services |
88 |
| International Trade Financing |
3 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
32 |
| Internet Service Providers |
57 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
2 |
| Investigation Services |
29 |
| Investment Advice |
204 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Iron Foundries |
2 |
| Janitorial Services |
201 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
8 |
| Jewelry Stores |
111 |
| Junior Colleges |
7 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
12 |
| Land Subdivision |
55 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
57 |
| Landscaping Services |
224 |
| Language Schools |
16 |
| Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing |
3 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
33 |
| Libraries and Archives |
11 |
| Lime Manufacturing |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
976 |
| Limousine Service |
24 |
| Linen Supply |
4 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
29 |
| Locksmiths |
18 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
12 |
| Luggage Manufacturing |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
61 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
43 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
3 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
2 |
| Marinas |
30 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
196 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
4 |
| Masonry Contractors |
25 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
6 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
16 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
7 |
| Media Representatives |
14 |
| Medical Laboratories |
54 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
2 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
29 |
| Metal Can Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
2 |
| Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing |
2 |
| Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
2 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Mineral Wool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
48 |
| Mobile Food Services |
16 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
247 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
54 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
35 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
16 |
| Museums |
24 |
| Music Publishers |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
17 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
17 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
102 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
17 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
79 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
20 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
4 |
| News Syndicates |
9 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
21 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
143 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
30 |
| Office Administrative Services |
196 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
52 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
40 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
335 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
189 |
| Offices of Dentists |
636 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
1,437 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
83 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
25 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
12 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
76 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
11 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
2 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
9 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
10 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
39 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
4 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
3 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
3 |
| Paging |
5 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
4 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
25 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
135 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
222 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
5 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
64 |
| Payroll Services |
17 |
| Pen and Mechanical Pencil Manufacturing |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
61 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
4 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
40 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
28 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
10 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
111 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
48 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil |
1 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
3 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
2 |
| Political Organizations |
13 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
101 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
5 |
| Prepress Services |
9 |
| Private Mail Centers |
42 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
31 |
| Professional Organizations |
35 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
60 |
| Quick Printing |
35 |
| Radio Networks |
4 |
| Radio Stations |
31 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
10 |
| Real Estate Credit |
290 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
25 |
| Record Production |
1 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
12 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
8 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
5 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
2 |
| Remediation Services |
14 |
| Repossession Services |
6 |
| Residential Property Managers |
321 |
| Residential Remodelers |
237 |
| Retail Bakeries |
26 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
16 |
| Roofing Contractors |
31 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
15 |
| Sales Financing |
29 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
5 |
| Savings Institutions |
64 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
21 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
2 |
| Seafood Canning |
1 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
7 |
| Securities and Commodity Exchanges |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
132 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
73 |
| Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Sheer Hosiery Mills |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
12 |
| Shellfish Fishing |
1 |
| Ship Building and Repairing |
9 |
| Shoe Stores |
96 |
| Siding Contractors |
7 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
29 |
| Silverware and Hollowware Manufacturing |
2 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
42 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
306 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
3 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
2 |
| Software Publishers |
96 |
| Software Reproducing |
4 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
7 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
8 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
3 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
129 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
63 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
3 |
| Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply |
1 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
1 |
| Storage Battery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
115 |
| Taxi Service |
8 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
26 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
21 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
14 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
5 |
| Television Broadcasting |
10 |
| Temporary Help Services |
195 |
| Temporary Shelters |
10 |
| Testing Laboratories |
38 |
| Textile Bag Mills |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
16 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
51 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Tire Dealers |
53 |
| Tire Retreading |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
22 |
| Tobacco Stores |
20 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
3 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
7 |
| Tour Operators |
23 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
11 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
25 |
| Travel Agencies |
113 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
79 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
49 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
69 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
12 |
| Veterinary Services |
86 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
61 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
43 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
19 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
6 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
6 |
| Web Search Portals |
6 |
| Wet Corn Milling |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
218 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
12 |
| Wineries |
3 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
142 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
118 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
3 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
4 |
| Yarn Spinning Mills |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
3 |
A good company name can give a big boost to a new startup. It might seem like an easy thing to do, but there are many things to consider when naming a business.
Before you decide on a company name, run it by some prospective customers and see what they think. If they don't like it, it's probably a good idea to go back to the drawing board.
To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Naming a Business.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are planning on starting a business in San Diego, it's critical that you ensure that no California company has already registered the company name you have selected.
It's essential that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. The principal 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 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. In fact, you are allowed to incorporate in the state of your choosing. 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. To learn the fundamentals of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Incorporation Advice. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in San Diego, California, our web page covering Incorporating in California may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in California.
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. Failure to write a business plan makes you more prone to becoming a business failure statistic.
Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new San Diego business, you need to focus on sales.
Why should customers buy from you instead of buying from competitors? Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
As an entrepreneur in San Diego, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in San Diego and elsewhere to achieve real success. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in San Diego, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in San Diego.
