New York Business Startup Guides

Open a Business in Catskill, New York

Need help starting a business in Catskill, New York? We've got the information you need to open a business in Catskill.

What Business to Start

Choosing a business that is right for you is very important. You might get some good ideas about what kind of business to start by reading Business Ideas That Don't Make Sense.

For in-depth how-to guides on how to start specific businesses, browse our Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our Starting a Desktop Publishing Employment Agencies Business guide or our Starting a Telecommunications Equipment & Systems Business guide.

Remember that you are starting a business in Catskill. The business you want to start may already be well-represented in Catskill. Study Catskill demographics and do a competitive analysis as part of your startup planning process.

Catskill, New York Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
555
5-9 Employees
198
10-19 Employees
114
20-49 Employees
96
50-99 Employees
3
100-249 Employees
15
250-499 Employees
0
500-999 Employees
0
1000+ Employees
0
All Catskill Businesses
981

As a new Catskill entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Catskill 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
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
3
Automotive Transmission Repair
1
Beauty Salons
5
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
2
Bowling Centers
1
Business Associations
1
Cable and Other Program Distribution
1
Cement Manufacturing
2
Cemeteries and Crematories
1
Child Day Care Services
2
Civic and Social Organizations
2
Claims Adjusting
1
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
1
Computer and Software Stores
1
Computer Training
1
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
1
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
2
Educational Support Services
1
Electric Power Distribution
1
Electrical Contractors
1
Elementary and Secondary Schools
1
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
1
Finish Carpentry Contractors
4
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
1
Flooring Contractors
1
Florists
1
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
2
Full-Service Restaurants
15
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
2
General Automotive Repair
6
General Freight Trucking, Local
1
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
2
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
1
Hardware Stores
1
Home Centers
1
Home Health Care Services
3
Homes for the Elderly
1
Household Appliance Stores
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
6
Interior Design Services
1
Investigation Services
1
Janitorial Services
4
Land Subdivision
1
Libraries and Archives
1
Limited-Service Restaurants
8
Machine Shops
1
Mail-Order Houses
1
Marinas
2
Medical Laboratories
2
Men's Clothing Stores
1
Motion Picture and Video Production
1
Motor Vehicle Towing
2
Motorcycle Dealers
1
Musical Groups and Artists
1
New Car Dealers
5
Nursing Care Facilities
2
Office Administrative Services
1
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
1
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
3
Offices of Chiropractors
1
Offices of Dentists
3
Offices of Lawyers
10
Offices of Podiatrists
2
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
1
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
1
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
1
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
4
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
1
Residential Property Managers
3
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
3
Savings Institutions
8
School and Employee Bus Transportation
1
Site Preparation Contractors
2
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
3
Solid Waste Collection
3
Tax Preparation Services
1
Temporary Shelters
1
Tire Dealers
1
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
1
Tobacco Stores
1
Travel Agencies
1
Used Car Dealers
2
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
1
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
2
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
1
Zoos and Botanical Gardens
1

Is Franchising a Better Option?

As you drive around Catskill, 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?

Our recommendation is that you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Opportunities in International Franchising. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.

To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.

Sample franchise opportunities include Gumball Gourmet and Gymboree Play & Music. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Home Furnishings Franchises and Automotive Services Franchises.

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

Choosing 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.

We strongly advocate that you make sure the ".com" domain name is available for your company name. Every business needs a strong Web presence these days, and having a non ".com" domain means somebody else may outrank you in the search results for your own company name.

Numerous company naming issues are discussed in more detail in this article: Naming a Company.

There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are starting a business in Catskill, it's imperative that you check now that no other New York company is using the business name you want to use.

Make Sure You Have a Business Plan

A business plan is critical to the health of your new business. Indeed, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. Starting a business without a business plan is a recipe for disaster.

To learn more about business plans, read Business Presentations. A great resource for business planning assistance is the face-to-face free consulting available from your local SCORE chapter in New York.

Letting the World Know You Exist

To rise above the crowd in Catskill and grow your business, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.

You can learn all about marketing on our site. Advertising in the Yellow Pages discusses marketing strategy and tactical marketing in a way that should get you thinking about how to creatively promote your business. That's just a taste of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.

How to Sell

Mastering the art of selling is a must if you want your new Catskill 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.

Selling Products on eBay is worth reading, as it may give you some good ideas on how to sell your products or services. We have many more good articles on selling that you may enjoy reading.

Now It's Up To You

Most new Catskill businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.

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

We are here to help Catskill businesses to be successful. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Catskill, neighborhood development and overall economic health.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Catskill, New York

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

Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in New York

Starting a Business in Carthage
Starting a Business in Cazenovia

Browse All Business Startup Guides for New York
Starting a Business Guides for Other States

 

 

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