Florida Business Startup Guides

Open a Business in West Palm Beach, Florida

Need help starting a business in West Palm Beach, Florida? We've got the information you need to open a business in West Palm Beach.

Are You Ready for Life as an Owner?

Most startup businesses fail, in part because the entrepreneur did not have the perseverance and abilities that are necessary to succeed. So, before jumping into the world of entrepreneurship, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.

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

  • Talk to other entrepreneurs in West Palm Beach. Listen closely to their experiences and see if you think you too can be successful.
  • We recommend reading Should You Become an Entrepreneur?. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
  • Have a candid conversation with friends and family. Ask them directly: Do I have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Listen carefully to their answer, as they presumably know your strengths and weaknesses.

West Palm Beach, Florida Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
22184
5-9 Employees
6043
10-19 Employees
3828
20-49 Employees
2766
50-99 Employees
999
100-249 Employees
591
250-499 Employees
93
500-999 Employees
45
1000+ Employees
21
All West Palm Beach Businesses
36570

As a new West Palm Beach entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in West Palm 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
Adhesive Manufacturing
2
Advertising Agencies
33
Ambulance Services
2
Amusement and Theme Parks
1
Amusement Arcades
8
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
20
Apprenticeship Training
6
Architectural Services
55
Armored Car Services
4
Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing
1
Automobile Driving Schools
2
Automobile Manufacturing
1
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
4
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
12
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
52
Automotive Transmission Repair
13
Barber Shops
6
Beauty Salons
113
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns
2
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
2
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
24
Blind and Shade Manufacturing
1
Blood and Organ Banks
1
Boat Dealers
24
Book Publishers
6
Book Stores
11
Books Printing
1
Bowling Centers
2
Building Inspection Services
16
Business Associations
16
Cable and Other Program Distribution
10
Cafeterias
11
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
3
Canvas and Related Product Mills
8
Car Washes
24
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
18
Casinos (except Casino Hotels)
4
Cemeteries and Crematories
4
Charter Bus Industry
2
Child and Youth Services
11
Child Day Care Services
75
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
10
Civic and Social Organizations
28
Claims Adjusting
10
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
17
Collection Agencies
4
Commercial Bakeries
5
Commercial Flexographic Printing
1
Commercial Lithographic Printing
13
Commercial Photography
7
Commercial Screen Printing
8
Commodity Contracts Dealing
4
Community Food Services
1
Computer and Software Stores
16
Computer Facilities Management Services
2
Computer Systems Design Services
46
Computer Training
2
Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing
3
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
2
Construction Machinery Manufacturing
2
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
1
Consumer Lending
21
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
9
Convenience Stores
48
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
6
Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing
1
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
6
Couriers
15
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
29
Credit Unions
9
Curtain and Drapery Mills
7
Custom Computer Programming Services
50
Deep Sea Freight Transportation
3
Deep Sea Passenger Transportation
2
Dental Laboratories
18
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
18
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
6
Digital Printing
3
Dimension Stone Mining and Quarrying
1
Direct Mail Advertising
3
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
20
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
2
Discount Department Stores
8
Display Advertising
4
Document Preparation Services
16
Drafting Services
6
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
40
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
47
Educational Support Services
10
Electric Power Distribution
1
Electrical Contractors
138
Electronic Auctions
1
Electronic Computer Manufacturing
2
Electronic Shopping
20
Elementary and Secondary Schools
32
Emergency and Other Relief Services
1
Employment Placement Agencies
10
Engineering Services
110
Environmental Consulting Services
10
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
8
Family Clothing Stores
42
Family Planning Centers
8
Farm Labor Contractors and Crew Leaders
1
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
6
Fats and Oils Refining and Blending
1
Fine Arts Schools
15
Finfish Fishing
3
Fish and Seafood Markets
2
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers
2
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
51
Flat Glass Manufacturing
1
Flight Training
5
Floor Covering Stores
28
Flooring Contractors
29
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
18
Food Service Contractors
24
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
3
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers
2
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
4
Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation
1
Framing Contractors
16
Fruit and Vegetable Canning
1
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
10
Full-Service Restaurants
279
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
12
Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing
1
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
9
Furniture Stores
64
General Freight Trucking, Local
32
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
4
General Rental Centers
10
General Warehousing and Storage
18
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
35
Glass and Glazing Contractors
13
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
13
Graphic Design Services
24
Greeting Card Publishers
1
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
2
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
12
Hardware Stores
13
Hazardous Waste Collection
1
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
18
Home Centers
7
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
10
Home Health Care Services
38
Home Health Equipment Rental
6
Homes for the Elderly
15
Household Appliance Stores
11
Ice Manufacturing
2
Industrial Building Construction
1
Industrial Design Services
8
Industrial Launderers
5
Industrial Mold Manufacturing
1
Inland Water Passenger Transportation
1
Institutional Furniture Manufacturing
1
Interior Design Services
63
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
2
Internet Service Providers
12
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
1
Investigation Services
10
Investment Advice
40
Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing
1
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
4
Jewelry Stores
48
Junior Colleges
2
Kidney Dialysis Centers
5
Land Subdivision
30
Landscape Architectural Services
26
Landscaping Services
210
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
13
Libraries and Archives
1
Limited-Service Restaurants
243
Limousine Service
6
Linen Supply
2
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
13
Locksmiths
16
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
2
Machine Shops
12
Mail-Order Houses
14
Marinas
13
Marine Cargo Handling
3
Marketing Consulting Services
53
Marking Device Manufacturing
1
Materials Recovery Facilities
1
Mattress Manufacturing
2
Meat Markets
6
Media Buying Agencies
2
Media Representatives
5
Medical Laboratories
11
Men's Clothing Stores
8
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
6
Miscellaneous Intermediation
14
Mobile Food Services
4
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank
1
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
56
Motion Picture and Video Production
21
Motor and Generator Manufacturing
1
Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing
1
Motor Vehicle Towing
19
Motorcycle Dealers
5
Museums
6
Music Publishers
1
Musical Groups and Artists
7
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
13
Natural Gas Distribution
2
Navigational Services to Shipping
3
New Car Dealers
52
New Housing Operative Builders
18
News Dealers and Newsstands
1
News Syndicates
1
Newspaper Publishers
11
Nursing Care Facilities
23
Office Administrative Services
72
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
11
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
15
Offices of Bank Holding Companies
1
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
110
Offices of Chiropractors
75
Offices of Lawyers
610
Offices of Optometrists
22
Offices of Other Holding Companies
16
Offices of Podiatrists
14
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
32
One-Hour Photofinishing
2
Open-End Investment Funds
1
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
2
Optical Goods Stores
27
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
4
Packaging and Labeling Services
3
Packing and Crating
3
Paging
1
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
1
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
90
Parking Lots and Garages
24
Passenger Car Rental
18
Payroll Services
13
Periodical Publishers
15
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
10
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
26
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
40
Photography Studios, Portrait
22
Plate Work Manufacturing
1
Political Organizations
3
Port and Harbor Operations
1
Portfolio Management
16
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
1
Private Mail Centers
19
Professional Employer Organizations
9
Professional Organizations
11
Public Relations Agencies
12
Quick Printing
16
Racetracks
2
Radio Stations
18
Real Estate Credit
60
Real Estate Investment Trusts
5
Record Production
1
Recreational Goods Rental
5
Remediation Services
1
Repossession Services
2
Residential Property Managers
54
Retail Bakeries
8
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
18
Roofing Contractors
31
Sales Financing
13
Satellite Telecommunications
2
Savings Institutions
41
Scheduled Freight Air Transportation
1
School and Employee Bus Transportation
1
Securities Brokerage
41
Security Guards and Patrol Services
24
Septic Tank and Related Services
2
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
10
Ship Building and Repairing
4
Shoe Stores
52
Sign Manufacturing
12
Site Preparation Contractors
47
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
54
Soft Drink Manufacturing
1
Software Publishers
4
Solid Waste Collection
7
Solid Waste Landfill
1
Special Needs Transportation
4
Spice and Extract Manufacturing
1
Sporting Goods Stores
31
Sports and Recreation Instruction
25
Sports Teams and Clubs
3
Tax Preparation Services
31
Taxi Service
5
Telemarketing Bureaus
3
Telephone Answering Services
3
Television Broadcasting
10
Temporary Help Services
41
Temporary Shelters
3
Testing Laboratories
7
Textile Bag Mills
1
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
37
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
5
Tire Dealers
28
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
23
Tobacco Stores
7
Toilet Preparation Manufacturing
2
Tour Operators
1
Translation and Interpretation Services
5
Travel Agencies
20
Truss Manufacturing
3
Used Car Dealers
33
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
18
Used Merchandise Stores
44
Vending Machine Operators
4
Video Tape and Disc Rental
16
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
15
Voluntary Health Organizations
12
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
4
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
93
Window Treatment Stores
13
Women's Clothing Stores
55
Women's Handbag and Purse Manufacturing
2
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
3
Zoos and Botanical Gardens
4

Should You Buy an Existing West Palm Beach Business?

An excellent way to get started in business is to Buy a Business in Florida. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in West Palm Beach.

If you are intent on buying a business, you may want to read this article: Hold Harmless Agreements When Buying Businesses.

Picking a Company Name

A big decision when starting a company is choosing a company name. Believe it or not, choosing a good company name can be a big contributor to your business success.

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 Company.

As a final piece of advice, remember that because you are planning on starting a business in West Palm Beach, it's imperative that you check now that your company name has not already been claimed by another Florida business.

Raising Money for Your New Venture

Raising money to fund your new West Palm Beach business is not an easy task. Bootstrapping, which means growing the business without outside funding, is the best alternative, but that's not a viable option for many startup plans.

The good news is this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled 504 Loans.

For West Palm Beach entrepreneurs on the hunt for startup funding, we have assembled a List of Florida Angel Investors and our List of Florida Venture Capital Firms.

The Art of Selling

Mastering the art of selling is essential if you want your new West Palm Beach business to do well.

Good selling involves demonstrating that your wares meet your customer's needs. Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.

Effective Sales Presentations is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.

Learning More About Entrepreneurship

Successful business owners recognize that they don't know everything.

As an entrepreneur who lives in West Palm Beach, Florida, you should check out some of the learning programs at local Florida educational institutions. You should also check if there are any networking organizations for West Palm Beach entrepreneurs.

Never Give Up

Most new West Palm Beach businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.

Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.

Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in West Palm Beach and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in West Palm Beach, neighborhood development and overall economic health.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in West Palm Beach, Florida

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

  • Resources for West Palm Beach, Florida Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist West Palm Beach entrepreneurs.
  • Florida Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Florida.
  • Florida Small Business Development Center - The Florida Small Business Development Center Network (FSBDCN) is a statewide economic development partnership between higher education and other stakeholder organizations dedicated to providing entrepreneurs and established businesses with the assistance needed to start, grow and succeed, contributing to the Florida economy.

More Startup Articles for Florida Cities

Starting a Business in Wellington
Starting a Business in Weston

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

 

 

Share this article


Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs

Lists of Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms

Franchise Opportunities

Contributors

Business Glossary