North Carolina Business Startup Guides

Open a Business in Greensboro, North Carolina

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

Will You Be a Good Entrepreneur?

Most new ventures do not succeed, in part because the business owner did not have the entrepreneurial skills and traits needed to succeed. So, before jumping into the world of entrepreneurship, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.

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:

  • Speak with other entrepreneurs in Greensboro. They are usually very willing to share their insights on the ups and downs of being 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. Others sometimes know you better than you know yourself.

Greensboro, North Carolina Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
92778
5-9 Employees
38066
10-19 Employees
28336
20-49 Employees
20496
50-99 Employees
8085
100-249 Employees
4620
250-499 Employees
1344
500-999 Employees
462
1000+ Employees
315
All Greensboro Businesses
194502

As a new Greensboro entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Greensboro 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
Adhesive Manufacturing
1
Advertising Agencies
20
Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing
1
Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting)
1
Amusement and Theme Parks
1
Amusement Arcades
4
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
1
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
6
Architectural Services
30
Art Dealers
8
Automobile Driving Schools
3
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
10
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
52
Automotive Transmission Repair
8
Baked Goods Stores
2
Barber Shops
5
Beauty Salons
71
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns
1
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
16
Blood and Organ Banks
1
Boat Dealers
3
Book Publishers
8
Book Stores
14
Books Printing
2
Bottled Water Manufacturing
1
Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills
4
Broadwoven Fabric Mills
3
Building Inspection Services
4
Business and Secretarial Schools
2
Business Associations
24
Business to Business Electronic Markets
1
Cable and Other Program Distribution
3
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
4
Canvas and Related Product Mills
2
Car Washes
23
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
12
Caterers
24
Cemeteries and Crematories
6
Charter Bus Industry
2
Child Day Care Services
110
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
13
Cigarette Manufacturing
1
Civic and Social Organizations
28
Claims Adjusting
12
Clay Refractory Manufacturing
1
Clothing Accessories Stores
6
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
13
Collection Agencies
6
Commercial Bakeries
3
Commercial Flexographic Printing
1
Commercial Gravure Printing
1
Commercial Lithographic Printing
31
Commercial Photography
19
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
2
Community Food Services
1
Computer and Software Stores
15
Computer Facilities Management Services
4
Computer Systems Design Services
58
Computer Training
4
Confectionery and Nut Stores
2
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
2
Consumer Lending
17
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
10
Convenience Stores
37
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
8
Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting)
1
Copper Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding
1
Couriers
18
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
3
Credit Bureaus
2
Credit Card Issuing
1
Credit Unions
16
Curtain and Drapery Mills
5
Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins
1
Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing
2
Dance Companies
1
Dental Laboratories
9
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
13
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
4
Digital Printing
3
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
21
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
5
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
3
Discount Department Stores
5
Display Advertising
7
Document Preparation Services
12
Drafting Services
4
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
36
Educational Support Services
5
Electric Power Distribution
2
Electrical Contractors
80
Electronic Connector Manufacturing
2
Electronic Shopping
9
Elementary and Secondary Schools
22
Emergency and Other Relief Services
2
Engineering Services
66
Environmental Consulting Services
6
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
8
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
11
Fabric Coating Mills
1
Facilities Support Services
4
Family Clothing Stores
38
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
3
Fine Arts Schools
20
Finish Carpentry Contractors
21
Fish and Seafood Markets
3
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
47
Floor Covering Stores
13
Flooring Contractors
16
Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing
2
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
16
Food Service Contractors
42
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
2
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers
2
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
2
Framing Contractors
8
Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing
1
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
2
Full-Service Restaurants
271
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
13
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
26
Furniture Stores
44
General Automotive Repair
84
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
2
General Rental Centers
7
General Warehousing and Storage
25
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
38
Glass and Glazing Contractors
7
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
8
Grantmaking Foundations
12
Greeting Card Publishers
1
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
4
Hardware Manufacturing
1
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
16
Hardware Stores
9
Hazardous Waste Collection
1
Heating Oil Dealers
2
Historical Sites
1
HMO Medical Centers
2
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
13
Home Centers
7
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
18
Home Health Care Services
28
Home Health Equipment Rental
4
Household Appliance Stores
6
Human Rights Organizations
7
Ice Manufacturing
1
Industrial Building Construction
3
Industrial Design Services
7
Industrial Launderers
5
Industrial Mold Manufacturing
2
Institutional Furniture Manufacturing
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
201
Interior Design Services
33
Internet Service Providers
4
Investigation Services
5
Investment Advice
27
Iron and Steel Mills
1
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
1
Jewelry Stores
44
Junior Colleges
1
Kidney Dialysis Centers
2
Land Subdivision
7
Landscape Architectural Services
6
Landscaping Services
88
Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing
1
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
8
Limited-Service Restaurants
249
Limousine Service
1
Linen Supply
1
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
11
Locksmiths
4
Machine Shops
15
Mail-Order Houses
13
Manifold Business Forms Printing
2
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
9
Marine Cargo Handling
1
Marketing Consulting Services
39
Marking Device Manufacturing
2
Mattress Manufacturing
2
Meat Markets
5
Meat Processed from Carcasses
2
Media Buying Agencies
1
Media Representatives
1
Medical Laboratories
10
Men's Clothing Stores
19
Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
3
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
1
Miscellaneous Intermediation
5
Mobile Food Services
4
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
25
Motion Picture and Video Production
8
Motor and Generator Manufacturing
1
Motor Vehicle Towing
13
Motorcycle Dealers
8
Museums
5
Music Publishers
1
Musical Groups and Artists
6
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
9
Musical Instrument Manufacturing
1
Natural Gas Distribution
3
New Car Dealers
31
New Housing Operative Builders
20
News Dealers and Newsstands
1
Newspaper Publishers
6
Nonresidential Property Managers
18
Nursing Care Facilities
20
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
26
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
13
Offices of Bank Holding Companies
1
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
97
Offices of Chiropractors
23
Offices of Dentists
128
Offices of Lawyers
191
Offices of Other Holding Companies
14
Offices of Podiatrists
7
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
29
One-Hour Photofinishing
2
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
4
Optical Goods Stores
13
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
5
Packaging Machinery Manufacturing
1
Packing and Crating
2
Paging
3
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
5
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
13
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
44
Parking Lots and Garages
2
Payroll Services
1
Pen and Mechanical Pencil Manufacturing
1
Periodical Publishers
18
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
10
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
8
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
4
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
44
Plastics Bag Manufacturing
1
Plastics Bottle Manufacturing
1
Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
1
Plate Work Manufacturing
2
Political Organizations
3
Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing
1
Portfolio Management
16
Prepress Services
4
Printing Ink Manufacturing
3
Private Mail Centers
5
Professional Employer Organizations
6
Professional Organizations
10
Public Relations Agencies
1
Quick Printing
11
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
5
Real Estate Credit
56
Real Estate Investment Trusts
9
Recreational Goods Rental
1
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage
3
Reinsurance Carriers
1
Remediation Services
2
Residential Property Managers
52
Residential Remodelers
63
Retail Bakeries
4
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
7
Roofing Contractors
21
Rooming and Boarding Houses
3
Sales Financing
15
Sawmills
2
Scheduled Freight Air Transportation
2
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
6
School and Employee Bus Transportation
2
Securities Brokerage
49
Security Guards and Patrol Services
14
Septic Tank and Related Services
1
Shoe Stores
40
Siding Contractors
10
Sign Manufacturing
7
Site Preparation Contractors
17
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
36
Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing
1
Software Publishers
11
Sound Recording Studios
1
Spice and Extract Manufacturing
1
Sporting Goods Stores
23
Sports and Recreation Instruction
8
Sports Teams and Clubs
3
Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing
2
Support Activities for Forestry
1
Tax Preparation Services
39
Taxi Service
6
Telecommunications Resellers
5
Telemarketing Bureaus
3
Telephone Answering Services
3
Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing
1
Television Broadcasting
5
Temporary Shelters
2
Testing Laboratories
6
Textile Bag Mills
1
Textile Machinery Manufacturing
2
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
7
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
13
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
3
Tire Retreading
1
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
2
Tobacco Stores
5
Tour Operators
1
Tradebinding and Related Work
3
Translation and Interpretation Services
2
Travel Agencies
22
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
11
Used Merchandise Stores
34
Vending Machine Operators
11
Veterinary Services
43
Video Tape and Disc Rental
18
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
5
Voluntary Health Organizations
4
Web Search Portals
1
Weft Knit Fabric Mills
2
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
110
Window Treatment Stores
7
Wineries
1
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
41
Women's Clothing Stores
54
Wood Preservation
1
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
1
Yarn Spinning Mills
1

Company Formation in Greensboro, North Carolina

It's essential that you choose the right legal structure for your new entity. 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 traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.

Incorporating is a very popular way to form a business. 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 North Carolina, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in North Carolina. 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's a lot to know about forming a company. To learn the fundamentals of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Where 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 Greensboro, North Carolina, our web page covering Incorporating in North Carolina may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in North Carolina.

Don't Forget to Create a Business Plan

Writing a business plan is critical in maximizing the prospects of your new company. Indeed, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Starting a business without a business plan will greatly reduce your chances of business success.

Before you start writing a business plan, we suggest you skim Business Plan Software. A great resource for business planning assistance is the free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in North Carolina.

Where to Get Money to Start a Company

Obtaining startup financing for your Greensboro business is very difficult due to the ongoing business credit crunch. If you don't have a rich uncle to fund you, you'll need to be creative in how you approach your fundraising efforts.

Fortunately, this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled Bank Credit Lines.

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

Bring in Revenues

Mastering the art of selling is priority one if you want your new Greensboro business to do well.

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.

Hiring Good Sales People offers some helpful tips on how to sell. It's one of several good articles on our site regarding Entrepreneurial Selling.

How to Improve Your Entrepreneurial Abilities

The best entrepreneurs know that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.

As an entrepreneur who lives in Greensboro, North Carolina, you should get information on some of the learning programs at local North Carolina educational institutions. Another way to keep up on your learning is to investigate Greensboro networking organizations.

What's Next?

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

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 Greensboro 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 Greensboro, North Carolina

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

More Business Startup Guides for North Carolina

Starting a Business in Graham
Starting a Business in Greenville

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

 

 

Share this article


Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs

Lists of Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms

Franchise Opportunities

Contributors

Business Glossary