Start a Business in Dayton, Ohio

Are you starting a business in Dayton, Ohio? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Dayton.

Dayton, Ohio Demographic Information

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

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

As a new Dayton entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Dayton 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.

Is Franchising a Better Option?

As you drive around Dayton, it's apparent that franchising has become a very popular way to start a business. But is franchising the right option for you?

We highly recommend you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Questions to Ask Franchisors. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.

A comprehensive list of franchisors is available via our List of Franchise Opportunities.

Sample franchise opportunities include Small Business Financial Management Group and Jamaica Blue. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Car Wash Franchises and Healthy Alternative Foods Franchises.

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

Is Buying an Existing Dayton Business a Good Strategy?

If you have some capital to play with, you may want to Buy a Business in Ohio. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Dayton.

Before buying a business, be sure to read this article: Hold Harmless Agreements When Buying Businesses.

Naming the Company

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 need to be easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and easy to remember.

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

As a final piece of advice, remember that because you are planning on starting a business in Dayton, it's critical that you ensure that no other Ohio company is using the business name you want to use.

Don't Forget to Create a Business Plan

A business plan is vital to the health of your new business. In effect, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Failure to write a business plan is a recipe for disaster.

To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Contests. You should also take advantage of face-to-face free consulting available from your local SCORE chapter in Ohio.

Marketing Your New Venture

To grow your Dayton business, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your succeeding.

We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Typical Direct Mail Response Rates is an article that will stimulate a few thoughts on your marketing plan. That's just one of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.

Now It's Up To You

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

From this point on, you control your own destiny.

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

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Dayton, Ohio

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

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