Are you starting a business in San Francisco, California? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in San Francisco.
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. We recommend that you read How to Evaluate a Business Idea.
Don't forget that starting a business in San Francisco has some implications. Some businesses will do better in San Francisco than others. Study San Francisco demographics and do a competitive analysis as part of your startup planning process.
San Francisco has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for San Francisco demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in San Francisco.
As a new San Francisco entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in San Francisco 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 |
165 |
| Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
4 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
3 |
| Amusement Arcades |
4 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
3 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
5 |
| Architectural Services |
379 |
| Art Dealers |
102 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
15 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
3 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
9 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
33 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
2 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
33 |
| Barber Shops |
15 |
| Beauty Salons |
274 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
22 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
7 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
103 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
3 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
3 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Publishers |
39 |
| Book Stores |
57 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Breweries |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
6 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
2 |
| Business Associations |
55 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
7 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
12 |
| Cafeterias |
35 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
36 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
2 |
| Car Washes |
11 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
6 |
| Casino Hotels |
1 |
| Caterers |
36 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
7 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
10 |
| Child and Youth Services |
87 |
| Child Day Care Services |
253 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
21 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
169 |
| Claims Adjusting |
14 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
49 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
2 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
41 |
| Collection Agencies |
6 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
17 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
70 |
| Commercial Photography |
68 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
11 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
4 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
14 |
| Community Food Services |
18 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
33 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
20 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
298 |
| Computer Training |
15 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
37 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
9 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
18 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
15 |
| Convenience Stores |
46 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
45 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
4 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
2 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
5 |
| Couriers |
28 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
21 |
| Credit Bureaus |
8 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
31 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
8 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
433 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
1 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
1 |
| Dance Companies |
15 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
4 |
| Deep Sea Passenger Transportation |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
28 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
24 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
7 |
| Digital Printing |
14 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
38 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
24 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
36 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
8 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Display Advertising |
14 |
| Distilleries |
2 |
| Document Preparation Services |
24 |
| Drafting Services |
3 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
337 |
| Dry Pasta Manufacturing |
3 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
23 |
| Educational Support Services |
55 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
5 |
| Electrical Contractors |
171 |
| Electronic Auctions |
2 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
2 |
| Electronic Shopping |
55 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
71 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
9 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
78 |
| Engineering Services |
262 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
1 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
42 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
50 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
8 |
| Facilities Support Services |
13 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
118 |
| Family Planning Centers |
10 |
| Farm Labor Contractors and Crew Leaders |
1 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
7 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
53 |
| Finfish Fishing |
2 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
57 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
14 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
27 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
108 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
41 |
| Flooring Contractors |
34 |
| Florists |
80 |
| Flour Milling |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
48 |
| Food Service Contractors |
76 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
9 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
9 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
6 |
| Framing Contractors |
14 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
47 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
39 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
1,523 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
17 |
| Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing |
5 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
53 |
| Furniture Stores |
126 |
| General Automotive Repair |
197 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
41 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
13 |
| General Rental Centers |
7 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
13 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
218 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
19 |
| Gold Ore Mining |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
4 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
119 |
| Graphic Design Services |
203 |
| Greeting Card Publishers |
1 |
| Gypsum Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
15 |
| Hardware Stores |
36 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
1 |
| Historical Sites |
6 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
6 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
23 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
56 |
| Home Health Care Services |
35 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
63 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
22 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
40 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
31 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
7 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
2 |
| Inland Water Passenger Transportation |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
4 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
341 |
| Interior Design Services |
151 |
| International Trade Financing |
8 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
40 |
| Internet Service Providers |
52 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
2 |
| Investigation Services |
37 |
| Investment Advice |
209 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Iron Foundries |
1 |
| Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
119 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
10 |
| Jewelry Stores |
170 |
| Junior Colleges |
4 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
5 |
| Land Subdivision |
41 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
49 |
| Landscaping Services |
64 |
| Language Schools |
26 |
| Lead Pencil and Art Good Manufacturing |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
19 |
| Libraries and Archives |
10 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
729 |
| Limousine Service |
24 |
| Linen Supply |
2 |
| Livestock Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
20 |
| Locksmiths |
15 |
| Logging |
2 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
20 |
| Luggage Manufacturing |
7 |
| Machine Shops |
9 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
42 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
3 |
| Marinas |
4 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
162 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
17 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
2 |
| Meat Markets |
44 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
7 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
14 |
| Media Representatives |
33 |
| Medical Laboratories |
10 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
49 |
| Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
3 |
| Mineral Wool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
75 |
| Mobile Food Services |
8 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
60 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
4 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
99 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
16 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
11 |
| Museums |
41 |
| Music Publishers |
4 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
39 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
16 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
5 |
| Nail Salons |
116 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
5 |
| New Car Dealers |
16 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
17 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
13 |
| News Syndicates |
8 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
34 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
120 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
21 |
| Office Administrative Services |
147 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
33 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
38 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
275 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
107 |
| Offices of Dentists |
623 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
1,318 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
80 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
41 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
26 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
30 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
9 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
5 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
45 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
2 |
| Outerwear Knitting Mills |
3 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
2 |
| Packing and Crating |
6 |
| Paging |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
20 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
130 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
289 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
48 |
| Payroll Services |
18 |
| Periodical Publishers |
67 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
7 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
29 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
18 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
6 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
118 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
38 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
19 |
| Portfolio Management |
240 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Prepress Services |
16 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
17 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
15 |
| Professional Organizations |
48 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
109 |
| Quick Printing |
42 |
| Radio Networks |
2 |
| Radio Stations |
57 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
3 |
| Real Estate Credit |
64 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
23 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
6 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
3 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
14 |
| Remediation Services |
3 |
| Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
194 |
| Residential Remodelers |
257 |
| Retail Bakeries |
51 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
27 |
| Rice Milling |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
68 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
17 |
| Sales Financing |
30 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
5 |
| Savings Institutions |
80 |
| Saw Blade and Handsaw Manufacturing |
1 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
7 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
42 |
| Schiffli Machine Embroidery |
1 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
2 |
| Securities and Commodity Exchanges |
2 |
| Securities Brokerage |
236 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
62 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
5 |
| Ship Building and Repairing |
4 |
| Shoe Stores |
99 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
7 |
| Silverware and Hollowware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
13 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
325 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
2 |
| Software Publishers |
109 |
| Software Reproducing |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
7 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
2 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
17 |
| Soybean Processing |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
6 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
54 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
31 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
5 |
| Steel Foundries (except Investment) |
1 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
1 |
| Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
86 |
| Taxi Service |
25 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
12 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
13 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
13 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
3 |
| Television Broadcasting |
16 |
| Temporary Help Services |
143 |
| Temporary Shelters |
40 |
| Testing Laboratories |
12 |
| Textile Bag Mills |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
44 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
25 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
18 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
12 |
| Tobacco Stores |
12 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
39 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
7 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
22 |
| Travel Agencies |
204 |
| Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
10 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
34 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
104 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
6 |
| Veterinary Services |
25 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
47 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
56 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
43 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Web Search Portals |
13 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
171 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
11 |
| Wineries |
8 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
97 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
182 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
4 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
6 |
| Yarn Spinning Mills |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
3 |
A business plan is critical in laying a solid foundation for your business success. Indeed, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. Not having a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
Getting your San Francisco business the capital it needs to succeed will be harder than you might expect. To obtain business financing, you will need to hear a lot of rejections before you finally find a funding solution that works for you.
To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as Getting a Small Business Loan.
To grow your San Francisco business, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.
We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Business Logo Design is an article that will stimulate a few thoughts on your marketing plan. That's just a taste of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new San Francisco 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.
As an entrepreneur in San Francisco, 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.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in San Francisco and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in San Francisco, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in San Francisco.
