Ohio Business Startup Guides

Starting a Business in Coldwater, Ohio

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

Are You Sure You Want to Do This?

Running your own business is difficult, much more arduous than working as an employee. Are you sure you want to go into business for yourself?

Because entrepreneurship is not for everyone, we recommend you do the following to help you assess whether you should move forward with starting a business:

  • Grab a meal or cofee with other entrepreneurs in Coldwater. Ask them candidly what it's like to run a business.
  • Take a look at Starting a Company. It's a short article but it's a good reality check for those are about to jump into the world of entrepreneurship.
  • Talk it over with a close friend or partner. The people who know you best are often in the best position to tell you bluntly whether you will be a good entrepreneur.

Coldwater, Ohio Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
840
5-9 Employees
540
10-19 Employees
324
20-49 Employees
156
50-99 Employees
108
100-249 Employees
12
250-499 Employees
24
500-999 Employees
0
1000+ Employees
0
All Coldwater Businesses
2004

As a new Coldwater entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Coldwater 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
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
1
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
1
Beauty Salons
2
Bowling Centers
1
Cable and Other Program Distribution
1
Child Day Care Services
2
Civic and Social Organizations
3
Consumer Lending
1
Convenience Stores
1
Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing
1
Credit Unions
1
Electrical Contractors
3
Electronic Shopping
1
Emergency and Other Relief Services
1
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
1
Florists
1
Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation
1
Framing Contractors
1
Full-Service Restaurants
4
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
1
General Automotive Repair
4
Graphic Design Services
1
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
1
Hardware Stores
1
Homes for the Elderly
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
3
Investment Advice
1
Janitorial Services
1
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
1
Limited-Service Restaurants
6
Livestock Merchant Wholesalers
3
Machine Shops
1
Men's Clothing Stores
1
Metal Stamping
2
Motorcycle Dealers
1
Newspaper Publishers
1
Nursing Care Facilities
1
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
1
Offices of Chiropractors
1
Offices of Dentists
2
Offices of Lawyers
3
Offices of Optometrists
1
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
1
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
1
Private Mail Centers
1
Residential Remodelers
1
Savings Institutions
1
Securities Brokerage
1
Septic Tank and Related Services
1
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
2
Solid Waste Collection
1
Sporting Goods Stores
1
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
1
Used Car Dealers
1
Veterinary Services
2
Video Tape and Disc Rental
1

What About Franchising Opportunities?

As you drive around Coldwater, it's apparent that franchising has become a very popular way to start a business. Evidently, there must be some significant advantages to purchasing a franchise.

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 Gloria Jean's Coffees and Homewood Suites by Hilton. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Restaurant Services Franchises and Florist Franchises.

Note on Coldwater Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Coldwater, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.

Naming the Company

Making the right decision when choosing a company name is very important. There are many decisions you'll make now that you can change later, but changing a company name years down the road is not very easy. So, choose a good company name at the outset.

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.

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

There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are starting a business in Coldwater, it's critical that you ensure that your company name has not already been claimed by another Ohio business.

Forming a Company in Coldwater, Ohio

It's essential that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Among other things, forming a legal entity for the business limits your liabilities.

When forming a company, you will choose from many company types, such as a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.

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 Ohio, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Ohio. In fact, you can incorporate wherever you want. 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. To learn the fundamentals of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as How to Incorporate. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Coldwater, Ohio, our web page covering Incorporating in Ohio may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Ohio.

Building Up Your Sales

Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Coldwater business, you need to focus on sales.

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.

Writing Great Proposals is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.

Next Steps

As an entrepreneur in Coldwater, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.

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 Coldwater and throughout the United States . 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 Coldwater, Ohio

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

  • Resources for Coldwater, Ohio Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Coldwater 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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