California Business Startup Guides

Start a Business in Fresno, California

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

Is Becoming an Entrepreneur Right for You?

Most new companies fail, in part because the business owner did not have the perseverance and abilities that are necessary to succeed. So, before you open a business, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.

Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.

  • Speak with other entrepreneurs in Fresno. Get their take on what it's really like to be an entrepreneur.
  • You should read Starting a Company. It's a good read for those who are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur.
  • Talk it over with a close friend or partner. That's the best way to get a truly objective assessment as to whether others think you have what it takes.

What Type of Business Should You Start?

There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? You might get some good ideas about what kind of business to start by reading Finding Your Niche in Life.

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 How to Start an Auto & Truck Wrecking Business guide or our How to Start a Women's Crisis Intervention Services Business guide.

Always keep in mind that starting a business in Fresno has some implications. Think about what needs are currently being underserved in Fresno. Study Fresno demographics and do a competitive analysis as part of your startup planning process.

Fresno, California Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
33974
5-9 Employees
13192
10-19 Employees
10062
20-49 Employees
7818
50-99 Employees
2514
100-249 Employees
1116
250-499 Employees
264
500-999 Employees
108
1000+ Employees
42
All Fresno Businesses
69090

As a new Fresno entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Fresno 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
23
Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing
1
Air Traffic Control
1
Ambulance Services
3
Amusement and Theme Parks
1
Amusement Arcades
3
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
5
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
9
Apprenticeship Training
3
Architectural Services
50
Art Dealers
5
Automatic Vending Machine Manufacturing
1
Automobile Driving Schools
6
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
11
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
9
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
103
Automotive Transmission Repair
13
Beauty Salons
73
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
2
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
53
Blind and Shade Manufacturing
2
Blood and Organ Banks
3
Boat Building
3
Boat Dealers
3
Book Stores
19
Bottled Water Manufacturing
1
Bowling Centers
1
Building Inspection Services
4
Business and Secretarial Schools
3
Business Associations
24
Business to Business Electronic Markets
1
Cafeterias
11
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
1
Canvas and Related Product Mills
3
Car Washes
29
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
18
Casino Hotels
1
Caterers
14
Charter Bus Industry
3
Cheese Manufacturing
1
Child and Youth Services
26
Child Day Care Services
102
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
10
Civic and Social Organizations
46
Claims Adjusting
19
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
3
Collection Agencies
8
Commercial Bakeries
7
Commercial Flexographic Printing
3
Commercial Gravure Printing
1
Commercial Lithographic Printing
19
Commercial Photography
2
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
2
Community Food Services
4
Computer and Software Stores
15
Computer Facilities Management Services
1
Computer Systems Design Services
30
Computer Training
7
Concrete Pipe Manufacturing
1
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
6
Construction Machinery Manufacturing
3
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
2
Consumer Lending
14
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
10
Convenience Stores
69
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
3
Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting)
2
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
8
Cotton Ginning
1
Couriers
19
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
11
Credit Bureaus
3
Credit Unions
29
Curtain and Drapery Mills
3
Custom Computer Programming Services
37
Custom Roll Forming
1
Dance Companies
1
Dental Laboratories
14
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
18
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
5
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
17
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
5
Discount Department Stores
10
Display Advertising
4
Document Preparation Services
4
Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing
1
Drafting Services
4
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
47
Dry Pasta Manufacturing
1
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
36
Educational Support Services
6
Electric Power Distribution
2
Electrical Contractors
83
Electronic Auctions
1
Elementary and Secondary Schools
14
Emergency and Other Relief Services
5
Employment Placement Agencies
9
Engineering Services
80
Environmental Consulting Services
7
Ethyl Alcohol Manufacturing
1
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
11
Facilities Support Services
1
Family Clothing Stores
36
Family Planning Centers
3
Farm Labor Contractors and Crew Leaders
10
Farm Management Services
4
Farm Product Warehousing and Storage
4
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
23
Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing
2
Fine Arts Schools
10
Finish Carpentry Contractors
35
Fish and Seafood Markets
1
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
40
Flat Glass Manufacturing
1
Flight Training
1
Flooring Contractors
35
Florists
24
Flour Milling
2
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
2
Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing
1
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
13
Food Product Machinery Manufacturing
2
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
2
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
8
Framing Contractors
21
Freight Transportation Arrangement
25
Fruit and Vegetable Canning
2
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
7
Full-Service Restaurants
328
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
10
Furniture Stores
61
General Automotive Repair
159
General Freight Trucking, Local
69
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
5
General Rental Centers
7
General Warehousing and Storage
26
Glass and Glazing Contractors
9
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
9
Grantmaking Foundations
11
Graphic Design Services
13
Gypsum Product Manufacturing
2
Hardware Manufacturing
1
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
9
Hazardous Waste Collection
3
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
1
Heating Oil Dealers
1
HMO Medical Centers
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
10
Home Centers
4
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
9
Home Health Equipment Rental
4
Homes for the Elderly
36
Household Appliance Stores
19
Household Vacuum Cleaner Manufacturing
1
Human Rights Organizations
5
Hunting and Trapping
1
Hydroelectric Power Generation
1
Industrial Building Construction
6
Industrial Design Services
2
Industrial Gas Manufacturing
1
Industrial Launderers
6
Industrial Pattern Manufacturing
1
Industrial Valve Manufacturing
1
Inland Water Passenger Transportation
1
Institutional Furniture Manufacturing
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
247
Interior Design Services
12
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
3
Internet Service Providers
7
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
1
Investigation Services
19
Iron and Steel Mills
1
Iron Foundries
1
Janitorial Services
78
Jewelry Stores
44
Junior Colleges
4
Kidney Dialysis Centers
4
Land Subdivision
15
Landscaping Services
117
Language Schools
1
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
12
Limited-Service Restaurants
352
Limousine Service
5
Linen Supply
4
Livestock Merchant Wholesalers
4
Locksmiths
4
Logging
1
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
1
Luggage Manufacturing
2
Machine Shops
19
Mail-Order Houses
6
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
1
Marking Device Manufacturing
1
Masonry Contractors
24
Materials Recovery Facilities
4
Mattress Manufacturing
2
Meat Markets
12
Meat Processed from Carcasses
4
Media Representatives
1
Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing
1
Men's Clothing Stores
13
Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing
1
Metal Stamping
3
Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
1
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
3
Mineral Wool Manufacturing
2
Mobile Food Services
9
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
49
Motion Picture and Video Production
8
Motor and Generator Manufacturing
1
Motor Home Manufacturing
1
Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing
2
Motor Vehicle Towing
27
Museums
3
Musical Groups and Artists
5
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
8
Nail Salons
9
New Car Dealers
43
New Housing Operative Builders
20
News Dealers and Newsstands
3
Newspaper Publishers
3
Nonresidential Property Managers
31
Nonwoven Fabric Mills
1
Nursing Care Facilities
31
Office Administrative Services
31
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
15
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
17
Offices of Chiropractors
78
Offices of Dentists
287
Offices of Lawyers
380
Offices of Optometrists
27
Offices of Other Holding Companies
4
Offices of Podiatrists
15
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
27
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
1
Optical Goods Stores
8
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
8
Packaging and Labeling Services
1
Packaging Machinery Manufacturing
2
Packing and Crating
1
Paging
2
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
9
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
57
Paper (except Newsprint) Mills
1
Paperboard Mills
1
Parking Lots and Garages
9
Passenger Car Rental
13
Payroll Services
11
Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing
4
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
7
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
4
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
7
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
73
Photography Studios, Portrait
27
Plastics Bag Manufacturing
2
Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing
2
Portfolio Management
11
Poultry Processing
3
Prepress Services
1
Private Mail Centers
11
Professional Employer Organizations
3
Professional Organizations
11
Quick Printing
8
Radio Networks
5
Radio Stations
27
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
6
Real Estate Credit
67
Real Estate Investment Trusts
2
Recreational Goods Rental
1
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage
4
Remediation Services
5
Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing
1
Repossession Services
3
Residential Property Managers
54
Residential Remodelers
64
Retail Bakeries
19
Roofing Contractors
37
Rooming and Boarding Houses
6
Sales Financing
16
Savings Institutions
21
Sawmills
1
Scheduled Freight Air Transportation
1
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
6
Secondary Market Financing
1
Securities Brokerage
37
Security Guards and Patrol Services
29
Septic Tank and Related Services
4
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
7
Shoe Stores
33
Siding Contractors
5
Site Preparation Contractors
28
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
86
Soft Drink Manufacturing
2
Software Publishers
5
Solid Waste Collection
7
Solid Waste Landfill
5
Sound Recording Studios
2
Sporting Goods Stores
26
Sports and Recreation Instruction
14
Sports Teams and Clubs
2
Tax Preparation Services
34
Taxi Service
1
Telecommunications Resellers
2
Telemarketing Bureaus
3
Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing
1
Television Broadcasting
9
Temporary Help Services
50
Temporary Shelters
6
Testing Laboratories
16
Textile Bag Mills
1
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
7
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
6
Tire Dealers
23
Tire Retreading
2
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
7
Tobacco Stores
13
Toilet Preparation Manufacturing
2
Tortilla Manufacturing
2
Tradebinding and Related Work
3
Translation and Interpretation Services
11
Travel Agencies
17
Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing
2
Truck Trailer Manufacturing
3
Truss Manufacturing
1
Used Car Dealers
51
Used Merchandise Stores
25
Vending Machine Operators
5
Veterinary Services
26
Video Tape and Disc Rental
27
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
26
Voluntary Health Organizations
6
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
3
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
55
Window Treatment Stores
5
Wineries
5
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
32
Women's Clothing Stores
43
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
9
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
4

Should You Franchise?

Visit the business district of Fresno and you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. Should you be giving franchising serious consideration?

We advise the entrepreneurs we work with to consider franchising as an option. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as How Franchises Work. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.

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

Sample franchise opportunities include Restyle and Disaster Kleenup. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Children's Franchises and Pest Control Franchises.

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

Naming the Company

A good company name can give a big boost to a new startup. It might seem like an easy thing to do, but there are many things to consider when naming a business.

Even if the name doesn't do it by itself, many naming experts believe there should be a story behind the name that ties into your company mission.

To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Naming a Business.

On a final note, given that you are starting a business in Fresno, it's imperative that you check now that no other California company is using the business name you want to use.

Marketing Your New Company

To grow your Fresno business, you need a excellent marketing plan.

We have some excellent resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Media Kits discusses marketing strategy and tactical marketing in a way that should get you thinking about how to creatively promote your business. That's just one of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.

Interviews With Fresno Entrepreneurs

Here, we'll keep a running list of interviews we've had with Fresno entrepreneurs.

Moving Forward

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

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

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

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

More Startup Articles for California Cities

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Starting a Business in Fullerton

Browse All Business Startup Guides for California
Starting a Business Guides for Other States

 

 

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