California Business Startup Guides

Open a Business in Costa Mesa, California

Need help starting a business in Costa Mesa, California? We've got the information you need to open a business in Costa Mesa.

Costa Mesa, California Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
7213
5-9 Employees
2696
10-19 Employees
1896
20-49 Employees
1457
50-99 Employees
549
100-249 Employees
318
250-499 Employees
63
500-999 Employees
24
1000+ Employees
18
All Costa Mesa Businesses
14234

As a new Costa Mesa entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Costa Mesa 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
Advertising Agencies
18
Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing
2
Ambulance Services
3
Amusement and Theme Parks
1
Amusement Arcades
2
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
4
Architectural Services
40
Art Dealers
4
Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing
2
Automobile Driving Schools
1
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
2
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
22
Automotive Transmission Repair
5
Baked Goods Stores
3
Beauty Salons
45
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns
4
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
1
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
15
Blind and Shade Manufacturing
1
Blood and Organ Banks
1
Boat Building
3
Book Publishers
3
Book Stores
16
Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills
1
Building Inspection Services
5
Business Associations
6
Business to Business Electronic Markets
4
Cable and Other Program Distribution
1
Canvas and Related Product Mills
4
Car Washes
6
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
9
Caterers
7
Child and Youth Services
9
Child Day Care Services
29
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
11
Claims Adjusting
1
Clothing Accessories Stores
11
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
1
Collection Agencies
1
Commercial Bakeries
1
Commercial Flexographic Printing
3
Commercial Lithographic Printing
14
Commercial Screen Printing
4
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
2
Commodity Contracts Dealing
1
Community Food Services
3
Computer and Software Stores
7
Computer Facilities Management Services
4
Computer Storage Device Manufacturing
1
Confectionery and Nut Stores
5
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
1
Consumer Lending
5
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
1
Convenience Stores
9
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
4
Copper Wire (except Mechanical) Drawing
1
Couriers
3
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
4
Credit Bureaus
3
Credit Unions
4
Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins
1
Custom Computer Programming Services
34
Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing
1
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
5
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
3
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
3
Direct Mail Advertising
4
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
5
Discount Department Stores
2
Display Advertising
2
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
24
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
9
Educational Support Services
6
Electrical Contractors
47
Electronic Auctions
1
Electronic Computer Manufacturing
1
Electronic Connector Manufacturing
1
Elementary and Secondary Schools
15
Employment Placement Agencies
9
Engineering Services
57
Environmental Consulting Services
11
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
4
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
5
Facilities Support Services
2
Family Planning Centers
1
Fine Arts Schools
6
Finish Carpentry Contractors
30
Fish and Seafood Markets
3
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
21
Flight Training
1
Floor Covering Stores
16
Florists
9
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
5
Food Service Contractors
14
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
2
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers
1
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
4
Framing Contractors
7
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
1
Full-Service Restaurants
122
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
3
Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing
1
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
11
Furniture Stores
25
General Automotive Repair
73
General Rental Centers
2
General Warehousing and Storage
1
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
21
Glass and Glazing Contractors
9
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
3
Grantmaking Foundations
4
Graphic Design Services
11
Hardware Manufacturing
4
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
5
Hardware Stores
2
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
6
Home Centers
1
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
6
Home Health Care Services
6
Homes for the Elderly
11
Household Appliance Stores
3
Human Rights Organizations
2
Hydroelectric Power Generation
1
Industrial Design Services
2
Industrial Launderers
2
Industrial Valve Manufacturing
2
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
55
Interior Design Services
24
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
4
Internet Service Providers
5
Investigation Services
1
Investment Advice
28
Iron Foundries
1
Jewelry Stores
26
Junior Colleges
1
Kidney Dialysis Centers
2
Land Subdivision
14
Landscape Architectural Services
13
Landscaping Services
49
Language Schools
1
Libraries and Archives
1
Limited-Service Restaurants
134
Limousine Service
3
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
3
Locksmiths
3
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
6
Machine Shops
11
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
1
Marinas
1
Marketing Consulting Services
26
Marking Device Manufacturing
1
Masonry Contractors
12
Meat Markets
1
Media Buying Agencies
2
Medical Laboratories
1
Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing
1
Men's Clothing Stores
11
Metal Stamping
1
Miscellaneous Intermediation
6
Mobile Food Services
2
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
23
Motor Vehicle Towing
6
Motorcycle Dealers
3
Museums
1
Music Publishers
1
Musical Groups and Artists
2
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
2
Nail Salons
13
New Housing Operative Builders
4
News Dealers and Newsstands
2
Newspaper Publishers
2
Nonresidential Property Managers
25
Nursing Care Facilities
5
Office Administrative Services
28
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
9
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
8
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
46
Offices of Chiropractors
37
Offices of Dentists
61
Offices of Lawyers
145
Offices of Optometrists
12
Offices of Other Holding Companies
3
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
6
One-Hour Photofinishing
2
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
3
Optical Goods Stores
9
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
1
Packaging and Labeling Services
3
Packing and Crating
2
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
5
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
17
Parking Lots and Garages
18
Passenger Car Leasing
2
Passenger Car Rental
4
Payroll Services
3
Pen and Mechanical Pencil Manufacturing
1
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
5
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
4
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
2
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
18
Photography Studios, Portrait
9
Political Organizations
3
Portfolio Management
9
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
1
Prepress Services
3
Private Mail Centers
2
Professional Employer Organizations
2
Professional Organizations
2
Public Relations Agencies
12
Quick Printing
5
Radio Stations
1
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
1
Real Estate Credit
53
Real Estate Investment Trusts
4
Recreational Goods Rental
1
Remediation Services
1
Residential Property Managers
45
Retail Bakeries
5
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
15
Roofing Contractors
17
Sales Financing
8
Savings Institutions
18
Securities Brokerage
13
Security Guards and Patrol Services
5
Ship Building and Repairing
1
Shoe Stores
35
Siding Contractors
1
Sign Manufacturing
8
Site Preparation Contractors
7
Small Arms Manufacturing
1
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
48
Software Reproducing
1
Solid Waste Collection
1
Sound Recording Studios
2
Sporting Goods Stores
21
Sports and Recreation Instruction
3
Sports Teams and Clubs
2
Steel Foundries (except Investment)
1
Telecommunications Resellers
4
Telemarketing Bureaus
1
Telephone Answering Services
1
Television Broadcasting
2
Temporary Help Services
25
Temporary Shelters
4
Testing Laboratories
1
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
2
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
6
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
1
Tire Dealers
11
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
6
Tobacco Stores
4
Tour Operators
4
Travel Agencies
10
Used Car Dealers
12
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
4
Used Merchandise Stores
10
Veterinary Services
9
Video Tape and Disc Rental
5
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
2
Watch, Clock, and Part Manufacturing
1
Web Search Portals
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
48
Window Treatment Stores
4
Wineries
1
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
4
Women's Clothing Stores
49
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
1
Yarn Spinning Mills
1

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.

Before you decide on a company name, run it by some prospective customers and see what they think. If they don't like it, it's probably a good idea to go back to the drawing board.

Numerous company naming issues are discussed in more detail in this article: Branding Advice.

As a final piece of advice, remember that because you are opening a business in Costa Mesa, it's critical that you ensure that no California company has already registered the company name you have selected.

Company Formation in Costa Mesa, California

It's very important that you form your business as a legal structure. Among other things, forming a legal entity for the business limits your liabilities.

When forming a company, you will pick from many company types, such as a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.

Incorporating is a very common way to legally create a business entity. 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 California, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in California. In fact, you are allowed to incorporate in any state you would like to. 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's a lot to know about forming a company. To learn the fundamentals of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Offshore Company Formation. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Costa Mesa, California, our web page covering Incorporating in California may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in California.

Make Sure You Have a Business Plan

Creating a business plan is essential to the health of your new business. In effect, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Starting a business without a business plan

If you want more information on writing business plans, we recommend reading Business Plan Software. You should also take advantage of free business counselors available to you through your local SCORE chapter in California.

Building Up Your Sales

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

So what does it take to bring in more prospects and close more business? Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.

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

How to Improve Your Entrepreneurial Abilities

The best entrepreneurs know that they need to continually improve.

Given that you are starting a business in Costa Mesa, California, you should check out some of the learning programs at local California educational institutions. Another way to keep up on your learning is to investigate networking organizations for Costa Mesa entrepreneurs.

Now It's Up To You

As an entrepreneur in Costa Mesa, 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.

This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Costa Mesa and elsewhere to achieve real success. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Costa Mesa 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 Costa Mesa, California

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

More Business Startup Guides for California

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