South Carolina Business Startup Guides

Open a Business in Charleston, South Carolina

Need help starting a business in Charleston, South Carolina? We've got the information you need to open a business in Charleston.

Do You Have What It Takes?

Before you get too far along in the process, assess your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.

With so much at stake when you start a business, we strongly recommend you do the following before you proceed:

  • Talk to other entrepreneurs in Charleston. Get their candid feedback on what it takes to start a successful business.
  • 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. A support network of family and friends can be a great sounding board for good advice before you decide for sure to go into business.

Choosing the Right Company to Start

An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. To stir your creative juices on what kind of business to start, take a look at How to Evaluate a Business Idea.

If you still are not sure what type of business to start, peruse the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our Starting a Horse Shows Business guide or our How to Start a Snowmobile Trails & Facilities Business guide.

Don't forget that starting a business in Charleston has some implications. Think about what needs are currently being underserved in Charleston. A critical consideration is whether Charleston demographics mesh well with your startup concept.

Charleston, South Carolina Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
77984
5-9 Employees
30424
10-19 Employees
21816
20-49 Employees
15360
50-99 Employees
5496
100-249 Employees
2832
250-499 Employees
408
500-999 Employees
288
1000+ Employees
144
All Charleston Businesses
154752

As a new Charleston entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Charleston 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
Ambulance Services
2
Amusement Arcades
3
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
5
Architectural Services
43
Armored Car Services
1
Art Dealers
35
Automobile Driving Schools
2
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
3
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
26
Automotive Transmission Repair
5
Baked Goods Stores
3
Barber Shops
3
Beauty Salons
73
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns
24
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
15
Blood and Organ Banks
3
Boat Building
1
Boat Dealers
18
Book Publishers
1
Book Stores
15
Bottled Water Manufacturing
1
Breweries
1
Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills
1
Building Inspection Services
7
Business and Secretarial Schools
1
Business Associations
9
Cafeterias
7
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
3
Car Washes
9
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
6
Caterers
16
Cemeteries and Crematories
1
Child and Youth Services
5
Child Day Care Services
46
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
11
Claims Adjusting
12
Clothing Accessories Stores
15
Coffee and Tea Manufacturing
1
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
2
Collection Agencies
3
Commercial Bakeries
1
Commercial Lithographic Printing
9
Commercial Screen Printing
6
Community Food Services
1
Computer and Software Stores
17
Computer Facilities Management Services
4
Computer Systems Design Services
37
Computer Training
3
Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing
1
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
1
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
1
Consumer Lending
29
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
3
Convenience Stores
12
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
1
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
3
Couriers
7
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
4
Credit Unions
14
Curtain and Drapery Mills
1
Custom Computer Programming Services
18
Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing
1
Dance Companies
2
Dental Laboratories
8
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
6
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
2
Digital Printing
1
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
13
Direct Mail Advertising
1
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
1
Discount Department Stores
5
Display Advertising
1
Document Preparation Services
3
Drafting Services
4
Drilling Oil and Gas Wells
1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
40
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
7
Electric Power Distribution
5
Electrical Contractors
63
Electronic Shopping
6
Elementary and Secondary Schools
21
Emergency and Other Relief Services
2
Employment Placement Agencies
7
Engineering Services
59
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
7
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
29
Facilities Support Services
4
Family Clothing Stores
41
Farm Management Services
1
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
5
Fine Arts Schools
12
Finish Carpentry Contractors
36
Fish and Seafood Markets
5
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
33
Flight Training
1
Floor Covering Stores
16
Flooring Contractors
22
Florists
23
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
8
Food Service Contractors
11
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
2
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
5
Framing Contractors
12
Freight Transportation Arrangement
38
Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing
1
Full-Service Restaurants
231
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
10
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
1
Furniture Stores
43
General Automotive Repair
41
General Freight Trucking, Local
9
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
8
General Warehousing and Storage
14
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
55
Glass and Glazing Contractors
3
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
6
Grantmaking Foundations
8
Graphic Design Services
7
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
1
Historical Sites
4
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
9
Home Centers
6
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
11
Home Health Care Services
13
Home Health Equipment Rental
3
Homes for the Elderly
9
Human Rights Organizations
2
Ice Manufacturing
1
Industrial Building Construction
4
Industrial Launderers
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
91
Interior Design Services
16
Internet Service Providers
4
Janitorial Services
50
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
1
Jewelry Stores
54
Junior Colleges
1
Kidney Dialysis Centers
6
Land Subdivision
17
Landscape Architectural Services
6
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
8
Libraries and Archives
3
Limited-Service Restaurants
158
Limousine Service
3
Linen Supply
1
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
1
Locksmiths
3
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
4
Machine Shops
3
Mail-Order Houses
8
Manifold Business Forms Printing
1
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
6
Marinas
7
Marine Cargo Handling
4
Masonry Contractors
16
Meat Markets
5
Media Representatives
3
Medical Laboratories
4
Men's Clothing Stores
15
Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing
1
Miscellaneous Intermediation
4
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank
1
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
25
Motion Picture and Video Production
5
Motor and Generator Manufacturing
1
Motor Vehicle Towing
4
Motorcycle Dealers
3
Museums
13
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
5
Nail Salons
14
Navigational Services to Shipping
4
New Car Dealers
26
New Housing Operative Builders
14
News Dealers and Newsstands
1
Newspaper Publishers
4
Nursing Care Facilities
6
Office Administrative Services
27
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
7
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
9
Offices of Bank Holding Companies
2
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
53
Offices of Chiropractors
46
Offices of Lawyers
287
Offices of Optometrists
19
Offices of Other Holding Companies
9
Offices of Podiatrists
6
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
25
One-Hour Photofinishing
3
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
1
Optical Goods Stores
21
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
1
Packaging and Labeling Services
1
Packing and Crating
2
Paging
1
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
14
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
30
Paperboard Mills
1
Parking Lots and Garages
20
Passenger Car Leasing
1
Passenger Car Rental
6
Payroll Services
2
Periodical Publishers
2
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
8
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
1
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
32
Photography Studios, Portrait
18
Plastics Bottle Manufacturing
2
Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
1
Political Organizations
3
Portfolio Management
10
Professional Employer Organizations
2
Professional Organizations
4
Public Relations Agencies
5
Quick Printing
6
Radio Stations
2
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
2
Real Estate Credit
27
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
2
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage
1
Remediation Services
1
Repossession Services
1
Residential Property Managers
43
Residential Remodelers
55
Retail Bakeries
2
Roofing Contractors
8
Rooming and Boarding Houses
1
Sales Financing
2
Savings Institutions
14
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
3
School and Employee Bus Transportation
2
Securities Brokerage
31
Septic Tank and Related Services
5
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
3
Shellfish Fishing
2
Shoe Stores
46
Siding Contractors
9
Sign Manufacturing
6
Site Preparation Contractors
12
Software Publishers
11
Solid Waste Collection
2
Sound Recording Studios
1
Sporting Goods Stores
24
Sports and Recreation Instruction
11
Sports Teams and Clubs
2
Support Activities for Forestry
1
Tax Preparation Services
21
Taxi Service
2
Telemarketing Bureaus
4
Telephone Answering Services
1
Television Broadcasting
1
Temporary Help Services
55
Temporary Shelters
3
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
5
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
5
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
1
Tire Dealers
17
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
2
Tobacco Stores
8
Toilet Preparation Manufacturing
1
Translation and Interpretation Services
1
Travel Agencies
6
Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing
1
Used Car Dealers
19
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
6
Used Merchandise Stores
41
Vending Machine Operators
2
Video Tape and Disc Rental
16
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
5
Voluntary Health Organizations
8
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
3
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
13
Window Treatment Stores
3
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
16
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
1
Zoos and Botanical Gardens
2

Is a Franchise Opportunity Right For You?

As you drive around Charleston, you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. But is franchising the right option for you?

Our advice is to consider franchising as an option. To help you learn more about franchising, we've gathered a ton of articles on franchising, including Franchise Marketing Support. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.

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

Representative franchise opportunities include Your Dollar Store with More and Seekers Coffee House & Cafe. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Rental Franchises and Dating Service Franchises.

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

Forming a Company in Charleston, South Carolina

It's very important that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will protect you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.

The entity you form can be a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.

Incorporating is a very popular way to form a business. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. If you are starting a business in South Carolina, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in South Carolina. As it turns out, you can incorporate wherever you want. For example, it's very popular to incorporate in Delaware, and incorporating in Nevada has become very trendy as well. Don't forget, though, that you will have to register as a foreign entity in all states that you do business in.

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 LLC Advantages. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Charleston, South Carolina, our information on Incorporating in South Carolina may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in South Carolina.

Where to Get Money to Start a Company

Getting your Charleston business the capital it needs to succeed 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.

To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as 504 Loans.

For Charleston entrepreneurs with great ambition but a shortage of investment capital, check out our List of South Carolina Angel Investors and our List of South Carolina Venture Capital Firms.

Marketing Your New Venture

Whether your goal is to attract Charleston customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you need a solid marketing plan.

There are myriad resources on this site to help you with your marketing plan. Technology Marketing is a good read to get your marketing juices flowing. That's just a taste of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.

Interviews With Charleston Entrepreneurs

We're compiling a number of interviews with Charleston entrepreneurs. Enjoy!

Now It's Up To You

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

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 Charleston and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Charleston 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 Charleston, South Carolina

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

More Business Startup Guides for South Carolina

Starting a Business in Camden
Starting a Business in Charleston AFB

Browse All Business Startup Guides for South Carolina
Starting a Business Guides for Other States

 

 

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Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs

Lists of Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms

Franchise Opportunities

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