Contemplating starting a business in Silver Spring, Maryland? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Silver Spring.
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 How to Evaluate a Business Idea.
Always keep in mind that your new startup will be located in Silver Spring. Think about what needs are currently being underserved in Silver Spring. Only by spending some time analyzing Silver Spring demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.
Silver Spring has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Silver Spring demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Silver Spring.
As a new Silver Spring entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Silver Spring 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 |
7 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
5 |
| Architectural Services |
26 |
| Art Dealers |
5 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
7 |
| Automobile Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
3 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
9 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
5 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
6 |
| Barber Shops |
9 |
| Beauty Salons |
73 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
31 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
9 |
| Book Stores |
7 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
9 |
| Business Associations |
21 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
3 |
| Cafeterias |
4 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Car Washes |
7 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
5 |
| Caterers |
11 |
| Cement Manufacturing |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
8 |
| Child Day Care Services |
64 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
26 |
| Claims Adjusting |
2 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
4 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
7 |
| Collection Agencies |
4 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
3 |
| Commercial Photography |
5 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
4 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
13 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
111 |
| Computer Training |
4 |
| Consumer Lending |
4 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
5 |
| Convenience Stores |
41 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
4 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
4 |
| Couriers |
4 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
6 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
66 |
| Dental Laboratories |
12 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
6 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
1 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
7 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
4 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
4 |
| Document Preparation Services |
4 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
3 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
9 |
| Educational Support Services |
9 |
| Electrical Contractors |
50 |
| Electronic Shopping |
6 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
28 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
6 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
12 |
| Engineering Services |
41 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
6 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
11 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
9 |
| Facilities Support Services |
6 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
18 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
12 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
24 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
4 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
38 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
11 |
| Flooring Contractors |
22 |
| Florists |
12 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
10 |
| Food Service Contractors |
13 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
2 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
2 |
| Framing Contractors |
12 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
7 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
131 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
4 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
16 |
| General Automotive Repair |
49 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
7 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
3 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
4 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
15 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
4 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
2 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
12 |
| Graphic Design Services |
38 |
| Gypsum Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Hardware Stores |
4 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
5 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Home Health Care Services |
20 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
12 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
2 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
7 |
| Hunting and Trapping |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
3 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Inland Water Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
72 |
| Interior Design Services |
6 |
| International Trade Financing |
4 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
4 |
| Internet Service Providers |
5 |
| Investigation Services |
5 |
| Investment Advice |
6 |
| Janitorial Services |
92 |
| Jewelry Stores |
29 |
| Junior Colleges |
2 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
3 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
9 |
| Landscaping Services |
95 |
| Language Schools |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
181 |
| Limousine Service |
3 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
7 |
| Locksmiths |
4 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
5 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
19 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
32 |
| Meat Markets |
4 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
2 |
| Medical Laboratories |
3 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
3 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
32 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
1 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
20 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
10 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
1 |
| Museums |
3 |
| Music Publishers |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
5 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Nail Salons |
19 |
| New Car Dealers |
18 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
4 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
4 |
| News Syndicates |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
4 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
15 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
16 |
| Office Administrative Services |
25 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
9 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
89 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
18 |
| Offices of Dentists |
169 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
130 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
9 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
14 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
8 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
14 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paging |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
5 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
91 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
16 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
4 |
| Payroll Services |
10 |
| Periodical Publishers |
10 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
5 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
24 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
14 |
| Political Organizations |
5 |
| Port and Harbor Operations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
7 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
16 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
9 |
| Quick Printing |
5 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
8 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
31 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
7 |
| Residential Property Managers |
66 |
| Residential Remodelers |
134 |
| Retail Bakeries |
7 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
4 |
| Roofing Contractors |
12 |
| Sales Financing |
1 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
17 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
8 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
15 |
| Shoe Stores |
32 |
| Siding Contractors |
10 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
2 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
6 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
29 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
8 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
3 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
7 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
20 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
26 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
26 |
| Temporary Shelters |
2 |
| Testing Laboratories |
2 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
7 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
5 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
20 |
| Tour Operators |
3 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
7 |
| Travel Agencies |
19 |
| Used Car Dealers |
1 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
4 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
10 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
16 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
15 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
4 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
6 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
12 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
32 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
21 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
As you drive around Silver Spring, 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?
We highly recommend you investigate buying a franchise. To help you learn more about franchising, we've gathered a ton of articles on franchising, including Protecting Your Franchise Territory. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
Finding the funds to fuel the growth of your Silver Spring business is not an easy task. 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 How Equity Dilution Works.
To grow your Silver Spring business, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your succeeding.
We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Radio Ads discusses marketing strategy and tactical marketing in a way that should get you thinking about how to creatively promote your business. That's just one of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Mastering the art of selling is a must if you want your new Silver Spring business to do well.
Not knowing how to sell can result in lost customers and minimal market share. Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
Most new Silver Spring businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
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 Silver Spring and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Silver Spring, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Silver Spring.
