Virginia Business Startup Guides

Starting a Business in Virginia Beach, Virginia

Thinking about starting a business in Virginia Beach, Virginia? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Virginia Beach.

Virginia Beach, Virginia Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
17584
5-9 Employees
6406
10-19 Employees
4554
20-49 Employees
3117
50-99 Employees
969
100-249 Employees
510
250-499 Employees
111
500-999 Employees
39
1000+ Employees
21
All Virginia Beach Businesses
33311

As a new Virginia Beach entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Virginia Beach 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
Abrasive Product Manufacturing
1
Advertising Agencies
26
Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing
1
Ambulance Services
4
Amusement and Theme Parks
3
Amusement Arcades
6
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
13
Architectural Services
36
Art Dealers
11
Automobile Driving Schools
3
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
12
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
20
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
42
Automotive Transmission Repair
12
Barber Shops
8
Beauty Salons
186
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
1
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
19
Blood and Organ Banks
1
Boat Building
2
Boat Dealers
11
Book Stores
16
Books Printing
1
Bottled Water Manufacturing
1
Bowling Centers
3
Breweries
1
Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills
1
Building Inspection Services
14
Business Associations
9
Business to Business Electronic Markets
2
Cable and Other Program Distribution
3
Cafeterias
16
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
6
Canvas and Related Product Mills
5
Car Washes
22
Caterers
20
Cemeteries and Crematories
4
Charter Bus Industry
1
Child and Youth Services
9
Child Day Care Services
105
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
9
Civic and Social Organizations
23
Clothing Accessories Stores
14
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
13
Collection Agencies
10
Commercial Bakeries
3
Commercial Flexographic Printing
1
Commercial Lithographic Printing
18
Commercial Photography
4
Commodity Contracts Dealing
1
Community Food Services
1
Computer and Software Stores
17
Computer Facilities Management Services
8
Computer Systems Design Services
61
Computer Training
12
Confectionery and Nut Stores
9
Construction Machinery Manufacturing
1
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
1
Consumer Lending
15
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
3
Convenience Stores
68
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
3
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
3
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
6
Credit Bureaus
1
Credit Card Issuing
1
Credit Unions
29
Curtain and Drapery Mills
7
Custom Computer Programming Services
55
Deep Sea Freight Transportation
1
Dental Laboratories
15
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
5
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
5
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
10
Direct Mail Advertising
10
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
36
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
3
Display Advertising
4
Document Preparation Services
7
Drafting Services
5
Drilling Oil and Gas Wells
1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
29
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
40
Educational Support Services
4
Electrical Contractors
126
Electronic Auctions
1
Electronic Shopping
12
Elementary and Secondary Schools
18
Emergency and Other Relief Services
2
Employment Placement Agencies
12
Engineering Services
121
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
8
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
28
Facilities Support Services
3
Family Clothing Stores
39
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
2
Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing
1
Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing
2
Finfish Fishing
3
Finish Carpentry Contractors
76
Fish and Seafood Markets
10
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers
6
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
56
Flight Training
1
Floor Covering Stores
20
Florists
28
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
15
Food Service Contractors
23
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
2
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
6
Framing Contractors
57
Freight Transportation Arrangement
29
Fruit and Vegetable Canning
2
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
2
Full-Service Restaurants
434
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
13
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
12
Furniture Stores
51
General Automotive Repair
111
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
2
General Rental Centers
7
General Warehousing and Storage
14
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
67
Glass and Glazing Contractors
6
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
11
Grantmaking Foundations
7
Hardware Manufacturing
1
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
7
Hardware Stores
13
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
1
Heating Oil Dealers
1
Historical Sites
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
26
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
6
Home Health Care Services
11
Home Health Equipment Rental
2
Homes for the Elderly
11
Household Appliance Stores
19
Human Rights Organizations
4
Hunting and Trapping
1
Industrial Launderers
3
Industrial Valve Manufacturing
1
Inland Water Freight Transportation
1
Inland Water Passenger Transportation
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
242
Interior Design Services
23
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
1
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
1
Investigation Services
14
Investment Advice
35
Janitorial Services
132
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
1
Jewelry Stores
58
Junior Colleges
5
Land Subdivision
16
Landscape Architectural Services
10
Landscaping Services
188
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
10
Limited-Service Restaurants
376
Limousine Service
7
Linen Supply
1
Locksmiths
7
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
2
Luggage Manufacturing
1
Machine Shops
4
Mail-Order Houses
12
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
1
Marinas
10
Marketing Consulting Services
46
Masonry Contractors
65
Meat Markets
6
Media Buying Agencies
3
Media Representatives
5
Medical Laboratories
4
Men's Clothing Stores
17
Miscellaneous Intermediation
4
Mobile Food Services
3
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
40
Motion Picture and Video Production
15
Motor Vehicle Towing
13
Motorcycle Dealers
6
Museums
3
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
13
Musical Instrument Manufacturing
1
Nail Salons
54
Natural Gas Distribution
1
Navigational Services to Shipping
8
New Car Dealers
24
New Housing Operative Builders
20
News Syndicates
2
Newspaper Publishers
4
Nonresidential Property Managers
21
Nursing Care Facilities
10
Office Administrative Services
31
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
11
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
13
Offices of Chiropractors
50
Offices of Dentists
197
Offices of Lawyers
208
Offices of Optometrists
29
Offices of Other Holding Companies
4
Offices of Podiatrists
9
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
35
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
3
Optical Goods Stores
14
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
5
Packaging and Labeling Services
3
Packing and Crating
4
Paging
2
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
1
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
104
Parking Lots and Garages
8
Passenger Car Rental
7
Payroll Services
8
Periodical Publishers
41
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
12
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
16
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
38
Photography Studios, Portrait
32
Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
1
Political Organizations
8
Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing
1
Portfolio Management
12
Poultry Processing
1
Private Mail Centers
13
Professional Employer Organizations
3
Professional Organizations
9
Public Relations Agencies
4
Quick Printing
3
Radio Networks
2
Radio Stations
3
Real Estate Credit
62
Real Estate Investment Trusts
12
Recreational Goods Rental
7
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
1
Reinsurance Carriers
2
Remediation Services
6
Repossession Services
3
Residential Remodelers
202
Retail Bakeries
8
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
5
Roofing Contractors
34
Sales Financing
10
Satellite Telecommunications
1
Savings Institutions
3
Securities Brokerage
31
Security Guards and Patrol Services
13
Septic Tank and Related Services
1
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
3
Shellfish Fishing
1
Ship Building and Repairing
2
Shoe Stores
42
Sign Manufacturing
10
Site Preparation Contractors
27
Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturing
1
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
61
Software Publishers
5
Solid Waste Collection
3
Solid Waste Landfill
1
Special Needs Transportation
6
Spice and Extract Manufacturing
1
Sporting Goods Stores
48
Sports and Recreation Instruction
35
Sports Teams and Clubs
2
Steel Foundries (except Investment)
1
Support Activities for Forestry
1
Taxi Service
4
Telecommunications Resellers
5
Telemarketing Bureaus
9
Telephone Answering Services
3
Television Broadcasting
3
Temporary Help Services
40
Temporary Shelters
2
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
4
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
23
Tire Dealers
20
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
30
Tobacco Stores
8
Tortilla Manufacturing
1
Tour Operators
4
Travel Agencies
22
Used Car Dealers
48
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
16
Used Merchandise Stores
32
Vending Machine Operators
5
Veterinary Services
39
Video Tape and Disc Rental
29
Voluntary Health Organizations
3
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
6
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
58
Window Treatment Stores
2
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
39
Women's Clothing Stores
66
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
1

Choosing a Company Name

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 should be fun to say, and they should help people to understand what you do and how you differentiate yourself in the market.

To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Naming a Business.

As a final piece of advice, remember that because you are opening a business in Virginia Beach, it's imperative that you check now that no other Virginia company is using the business name you want to use.

Company Formation in Virginia Beach, Virginia

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

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. Just because you are starting a business in Virginia, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Virginia. In fact, 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's a lot to know about forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Company Formation. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Virginia Beach, Virginia, our information on Incorporating in Virginia may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Virginia.

Don't Forget to Create a Business Plan

A business plan is essential in laying a solid foundation for your business success. In effect, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Starting a business without a business plan is a recipe for disaster.

If you want more information on writing business plans, we recommend reading Business Plan Contests. A great resource for business planning assistance is the face-to-face free consulting available from your local SCORE chapter in Virginia.

Where to Get Money to Start a Company

Getting your Virginia Beach business the capital it needs to succeed requires strong organization skills and perseverance. The reality is that there is very little funding available for new small businesses, and you have to explore every possible alternative.

The good news is this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled Getting a Small Business Loan.

For Virginia Beach entrepreneurs in need of startup financing, check out our List of Virginia Angel Investors and our List of Virginia Venture Capital Firms.

Learning More About Entrepreneurship

Successful entrepreneurs know that they need to continually improve.

With your business being located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Virginia universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also wise to see if there are any networking groups or organizations in which Virginia Beach entrepreneurs get together to network and trade their business experiences.

What's Next?

Most new Virginia Beach 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.

This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Virginia Beach and elsewhere to achieve real success. We have a wealth of experience in business start-ups, financing, marketing, sales and more...and we've made all of our knowledge available to you.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Virginia Beach, Virginia

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

Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in Virginia

Starting a Business in Vinton
Starting a Business in Wakefield

Browse All Business Startup Guides for Virginia
Starting a Business Guides for Other States

 

 

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