Ohio Business Startup Guides

Open a Business in Toledo, Ohio

Need help starting a business in Toledo, Ohio? We've got the information you need to open a business in Toledo.

Are You Sure You Want to Do This?

Before quitting your day job, consider your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.

While entrepreneurship has become a popular career choice, we recommend you do the following before you take the plunge:

  • Talk to other entrepreneurs in Toledo. Ask them candidly what it's like to run a business.
  • We recommend reading Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
  • Seek the advice of somebody who knows you well. The people who know you best are often in the best position to tell you bluntly whether you will be a good entrepreneur.

Toledo, Ohio Demographic Information

Toledo has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.

To give you a better feel for Toledo demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Toledo.

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
47985
5-9 Employees
23320
10-19 Employees
15885
20-49 Employees
11985
50-99 Employees
3900
100-249 Employees
2160
250-499 Employees
570
500-999 Employees
165
1000+ Employees
135
All Toledo Businesses
106105

As a new Toledo entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Toledo 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
2
Advertising Agencies
11
Ambulance Services
6
Amusement Arcades
2
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
4
Apprenticeship Training
2
Architectural Services
15
Art Dealers
4
Automobile Driving Schools
2
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
13
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
5
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
50
Automotive Transmission Repair
6
Baked Goods Stores
4
Barber Shops
5
Beauty Salons
63
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns
1
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
1
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
20
Blood and Organ Banks
3
Boat Dealers
4
Bowling Centers
13
Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing
1
Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing
1
Building Inspection Services
4
Business and Secretarial Schools
1
Business Associations
16
Cable and Other Program Distribution
1
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
1
Canvas and Related Product Mills
5
Car Washes
26
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
12
Caterers
9
Cemeteries and Crematories
6
Charter Bus Industry
1
Child and Youth Services
17
Child Day Care Services
73
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
4
Civic and Social Organizations
34
Claims Adjusting
3
Clothing Accessories Stores
8
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
14
Commercial Bakeries
3
Commercial Flexographic Printing
1
Commercial Lithographic Printing
14
Commercial Photography
7
Commercial Screen Printing
3
Community Food Services
1
Computer and Software Stores
11
Computer Training
1
Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing
1
Confectionery and Nut Stores
3
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
3
Consumer Lending
7
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
4
Convenience Stores
84
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
2
Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting)
1
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
2
Couriers
11
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
6
Credit Bureaus
1
Credit Unions
33
Custom Computer Programming Services
22
Dental Laboratories
6
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
10
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
4
Digital Printing
1
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
7
Direct Mail Advertising
5
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
2
Discount Department Stores
11
Display Advertising
2
Document Preparation Services
4
Drafting Services
1
Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing
1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
137
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
11
Educational Support Services
7
Electric Power Distribution
4
Electrical Contractors
54
Electronic Capacitor Manufacturing
1
Electronic Shopping
3
Elementary and Secondary Schools
38
Employment Placement Agencies
10
Engineering Services
46
Environmental Consulting Services
6
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
5
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
7
Fabric Coating Mills
1
Facilities Support Services
3
Family Planning Centers
2
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
6
Fine Arts Schools
12
Finish Carpentry Contractors
15
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
34
Floor Covering Stores
14
Flooring Contractors
10
Flour Milling
2
Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing
1
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
6
Food Product Machinery Manufacturing
1
Food Service Contractors
7
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
3
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
5
Freight Transportation Arrangement
12
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
5
Full-Service Restaurants
213
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
27
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
1
Furniture Stores
32
General Automotive Repair
100
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
4
General Rental Centers
7
General Warehousing and Storage
16
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
24
Glass and Glazing Contractors
4
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
10
Grantmaking Foundations
10
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
5
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
7
Hardware Stores
16
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
3
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
14
Home Centers
8
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
4
Home Health Equipment Rental
2
Homes for the Elderly
10
Household Appliance Stores
9
Human Rights Organizations
2
Industrial Building Construction
4
Industrial Design Services
3
Industrial Launderers
5
Industrial Pattern Manufacturing
3
Inland Water Passenger Transportation
1
Institutional Furniture Manufacturing
2
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
181
Interior Design Services
5
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
2
Internet Service Providers
4
Investment Advice
19
Iron and Steel Forging
2
Iron and Steel Mills
2
Iron Foundries
1
Janitorial Services
58
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
2
Jewelry Stores
42
Kidney Dialysis Centers
6
Land Subdivision
4
Landscape Architectural Services
3
Landscaping Services
60
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
7
Limited-Service Restaurants
244
Limousine Service
5
Locksmiths
2
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
1
Machine Shops
33
Mail-Order Houses
8
Manifold Business Forms Printing
1
Marinas
7
Marine Cargo Handling
3
Masonry Contractors
15
Materials Recovery Facilities
2
Mattress Manufacturing
3
Meat Markets
7
Medical Laboratories
6
Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing
1
Men's Clothing Stores
17
Metal Stamping
6
Miscellaneous Intermediation
4
Mobile Food Services
1
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
19
Motion Picture and Video Production
3
Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing
1
Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping
4
Motorcycle Dealers
1
Museums
2
Music Publishers
1
Musical Groups and Artists
3
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
7
Nail Salons
3
Navigational Services to Shipping
1
New Housing Operative Builders
7
Newspaper Publishers
7
Nonclay Refractory Manufacturing
1
Nonresidential Property Managers
12
Nonwoven Fabric Mills
1
Nursing Care Facilities
26
Office Administrative Services
19
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
12
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
55
Offices of Chiropractors
38
Offices of Dentists
121
Offices of Lawyers
194
Offices of Optometrists
12
Offices of Other Holding Companies
7
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
10
One-Hour Photofinishing
4
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
2
Optical Goods Stores
18
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
4
Packaging and Labeling Services
3
Packaging Machinery Manufacturing
2
Paging
1
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
2
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
12
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
39
Paper Industry Machinery Manufacturing
1
Parking Lots and Garages
12
Passenger Car Leasing
1
Payroll Services
8
Periodical Publishers
9
Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing
1
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
11
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
9
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
2
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
42
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
1
Plastics Bag Manufacturing
1
Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
1
Political Organizations
1
Portfolio Management
11
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
7
Prepress Services
1
Professional Employer Organizations
8
Professional Organizations
9
Public Relations Agencies
2
Quick Printing
7
Racetracks
2
Radio Networks
1
Radio Stations
4
Real Estate Credit
21
Real Estate Investment Trusts
3
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
2
Reinsurance Carriers
2
Remediation Services
2
Repossession Services
1
Residential Property Managers
33
Retail Bakeries
6
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
6
Roofing Contractors
27
Rooming and Boarding Houses
2
Sales Financing
3
Savings Institutions
7
School and Employee Bus Transportation
1
Security Guards and Patrol Services
13
Sewage Treatment Facilities
1
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
6
Ship Building and Repairing
1
Shoe Stores
34
Siding Contractors
8
Sign Manufacturing
12
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
43
Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing
1
Soft Drink Manufacturing
1
Software Publishers
3
Solid Waste Collection
2
Solid Waste Landfill
1
Special Needs Transportation
2
Sports and Recreation Instruction
9
Sports Teams and Clubs
2
Steel Wire Drawing
1
Sugarcane Mills
1
Surface Active Agent Manufacturing
1
Tax Preparation Services
25
Taxi Service
2
Telephone Answering Services
1
Television Broadcasting
5
Temporary Help Services
42
Temporary Shelters
6
Testing Laboratories
6
Textile Machinery Manufacturing
1
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
4
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
4
Tire Dealers
13
Tire Retreading
1
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
7
Tobacco Stores
7
Tortilla Manufacturing
2
Tour Operators
3
Translation and Interpretation Services
1
Travel Agencies
13
Truck Trailer Manufacturing
1
Used Car Dealers
30
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
4
Used Merchandise Stores
21
Vending Machine Operators
8
Video Tape and Disc Rental
26
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
12
Voluntary Health Organizations
11
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
2
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
33
Window Treatment Stores
1
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
22
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
5
Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing
1
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
1
Zoos and Botanical Gardens
2

Is Franchising a Better Option?

Visit the business district of Toledo and you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. But is franchising the right option for you?

We advise the entrepreneurs we work with to investigate buying a franchise. To help you learn more about franchising, we've gathered a ton of articles on franchising, including The Disadvantages of Franchise Ownership. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.

You can review hundreds of franchise opportunities by browing our Franchise Directory.

Sample franchise opportunities include Wheelchair Getaways and Stuft Pizza. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Telecommunications Franchises and IT Training Franchises.

Note on Toledo Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Toledo.

What About Buying an Existing Toledo Business?

We've created a helpful website page for those who want to Buy a Business in Ohio. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Toledo.

For anybody who wants to buy a business, we recommend reading this useful article: Hold Harmless Agreements When Buying Businesses.

Naming the Company

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.

Company names need to be easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and easy to remember.

For other considerations regarding naming a company, we recommend this article: Naming a Business.

As a final piece of advice, remember that because you are starting a business in Toledo, it's very important that you make sure no other Ohio company is using the business name you want to use.

Forming a Company in Toledo, Ohio

A critical step is ensuring that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will shield 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.

Incorporation 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 Ohio, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Ohio. As it turns out, you are allowed to incorporate in the state of your choosing. 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. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Corporate Formalities. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Toledo, Ohio, our information on Incorporating in Ohio may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Ohio.

Don't Skip the Business Plan

Having a business plan is essential 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. Not having a business plan makes you more prone to becoming a business failure statistic.

If you want more information on writing business plans, we recommend reading Business Plan Contests. You can also get face-to-face free consulting available from your local SCORE chapter in Ohio.

Next Steps

You have a dream -- starting a business in Toledo. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.

From this point on, you control your own destiny.

Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Toledo and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Toledo entrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Toledo, Ohio

Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Toledo.

  • Resources for Toledo, Ohio Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Toledo entrepreneurs.
  • Ohio Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Ohio.
  • Ohio Small Business Development Center - Whether you're starting your business, expanding your business, or just looking to stay in business, the Small Business Development Centers of Ohio (SBDCs of Ohio) can help with professional guidance by connecting you with research, financing sources, and training opportunities.

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