Need help starting a business in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania? We've got the information you need to open a business in Harrisburg.
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. To stir your creative juices on what kind of business to start, take a look at Evaluating Your Idea.
Remember that your new startup will be located in Harrisburg. Some businesses will do better in Harrisburg than others. Make sure you fully understand Harrisburg demographics before you lock in on your business idea.
Harrisburg has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Harrisburg demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Harrisburg.
As a new Harrisburg entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Harrisburg 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
|
8 |
Ambulance Services
|
6 |
Amusement Arcades
|
2 |
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
|
2 |
Apprenticeship Training
|
5 |
Architectural Services
|
15 |
Art Dealers
|
1 |
Automobile Driving Schools
|
4 |
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
|
1 |
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
|
4 |
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
|
24 |
Automotive Transmission Repair
|
5 |
Baked Goods Stores
|
4 |
Barber Shops
|
3 |
Beauty Salons
|
70 |
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
|
2 |
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
|
25 |
Blood and Organ Banks
|
1 |
Boat Dealers
|
2 |
Book Publishers
|
1 |
Book Stores
|
8 |
Bowling Centers
|
3 |
Breweries
|
1 |
Building Inspection Services
|
3 |
Business Associations
|
56 |
Cable and Other Program Distribution
|
6 |
Cafeterias
|
6 |
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
|
4 |
Car Washes
|
7 |
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
|
1 |
Caterers
|
10 |
Cemeteries and Crematories
|
10 |
Child and Youth Services
|
16 |
Child Day Care Services
|
54 |
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
|
5 |
Civic and Social Organizations
|
52 |
Claims Adjusting
|
7 |
Clothing Accessories Stores
|
4 |
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
|
5 |
Collection Agencies
|
10 |
Commercial Bakeries
|
1 |
Commercial Lithographic Printing
|
14 |
Commercial Screen Printing
|
2 |
Community Food Services
|
1 |
Computer and Software Stores
|
9 |
Computer Facilities Management Services
|
3 |
Computer Systems Design Services
|
21 |
Computer Training
|
1 |
Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing
|
1 |
Confectionery and Nut Stores
|
5 |
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
|
4 |
Consumer Lending
|
5 |
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
|
5 |
Convenience Stores
|
14 |
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
|
7 |
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
|
1 |
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
|
1 |
Couriers
|
17 |
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
|
4 |
Credit Unions
|
17 |
Curtain and Drapery Mills
|
1 |
Custom Computer Programming Services
|
26 |
Dental Laboratories
|
6 |
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
|
5 |
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
|
3 |
Digital Printing
|
1 |
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
|
6 |
Direct Mail Advertising
|
3 |
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
|
3 |
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
|
1 |
Discount Department Stores
|
4 |
Display Advertising
|
2 |
Document Preparation Services
|
2 |
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
|
41 |
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
|
8 |
Educational Support Services
|
6 |
Electric Power Distribution
|
2 |
Electrical Contractors
|
34 |
Electronic Computer Manufacturing
|
1 |
Electronic Connector Manufacturing
|
1 |
Electronic Shopping
|
3 |
Elementary and Secondary Schools
|
12 |
Emergency and Other Relief Services
|
1 |
Employment Placement Agencies
|
1 |
Engineering Services
|
43 |
Environmental Consulting Services
|
7 |
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
|
3 |
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
|
5 |
Facilities Support Services
|
2 |
Family Clothing Stores
|
20 |
Family Planning Centers
|
5 |
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
|
3 |
Fine Arts Schools
|
9 |
Finish Carpentry Contractors
|
10 |
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
|
31 |
Floor Covering Stores
|
14 |
Flooring Contractors
|
19 |
Florists
|
8 |
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
|
1 |
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
|
8 |
Food Service Contractors
|
25 |
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers
|
1 |
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
|
3 |
Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation
|
1 |
Framing Contractors
|
4 |
Freight Transportation Arrangement
|
5 |
Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing
|
1 |
Fruit and Vegetable Canning
|
1 |
Full-Service Restaurants
|
141 |
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
|
13 |
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
|
2 |
Furniture Stores
|
23 |
General Automotive Repair
|
53 |
General Freight Trucking, Local
|
13 |
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
|
4 |
General Rental Centers
|
3 |
General Warehousing and Storage
|
10 |
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
|
18 |
Glass and Glazing Contractors
|
2 |
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
|
4 |
Grantmaking Foundations
|
10 |
Graphic Design Services
|
4 |
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
|
1 |
Hardware Stores
|
7 |
Heating Oil Dealers
|
7 |
Historical Sites
|
2 |
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
|
11 |
Home Centers
|
3 |
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
|
1 |
Home Health Care Services
|
11 |
Home Health Equipment Rental
|
1 |
Homes for the Elderly
|
3 |
Household Appliance Stores
|
5 |
Human Rights Organizations
|
9 |
Industrial Building Construction
|
1 |
Industrial Design Services
|
1 |
Industrial Gas Manufacturing
|
2 |
Industrial Launderers
|
3 |
Industrial Mold Manufacturing
|
1 |
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
|
76 |
Interior Design Services
|
4 |
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
|
1 |
Internet Service Providers
|
2 |
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
|
1 |
Investigation Services
|
6 |
Investment Advice
|
9 |
Iron and Steel Forging
|
1 |
Iron and Steel Mills
|
1 |
Janitorial Services
|
51 |
Jewelry Stores
|
24 |
Junior Colleges
|
2 |
Kidney Dialysis Centers
|
4 |
Land Subdivision
|
7 |
Landscape Architectural Services
|
2 |
Landscaping Services
|
35 |
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
|
2 |
Libraries and Archives
|
5 |
Limited-Service Restaurants
|
144 |
Limousine Service
|
1 |
Linen Supply
|
1 |
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
|
2 |
Locksmiths
|
3 |
Machine Shops
|
3 |
Mail-Order Houses
|
6 |
Malt Manufacturing
|
1 |
Manifold Business Forms Printing
|
2 |
Marketing Consulting Services
|
13 |
Marking Device Manufacturing
|
1 |
Masonry Contractors
|
7 |
Meat Processed from Carcasses
|
1 |
Media Representatives
|
3 |
Medical Laboratories
|
1 |
Men's Clothing Stores
|
8 |
Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
|
1 |
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
|
1 |
Miscellaneous Intermediation
|
1 |
Mobile Food Services
|
1 |
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
|
6 |
Motion Picture and Video Production
|
3 |
Motor Vehicle Towing
|
3 |
Motorcycle Dealers
|
3 |
Museums
|
4 |
Musical Groups and Artists
|
3 |
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
|
2 |
Nail Salons
|
9 |
Natural Gas Distribution
|
1 |
New Car Dealers
|
21 |
New Housing Operative Builders
|
7 |
News Dealers and Newsstands
|
3 |
News Syndicates
|
1 |
Newspaper Publishers
|
3 |
Nonresidential Property Managers
|
4 |
Nursing Care Facilities
|
10 |
Office Administrative Services
|
14 |
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
|
18 |
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
|
6 |
Offices of Bank Holding Companies
|
1 |
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
|
35 |
Offices of Chiropractors
|
22 |
Offices of Dentists
|
68 |
Offices of Lawyers
|
186 |
Offices of Optometrists
|
16 |
Offices of Other Holding Companies
|
2 |
Offices of Podiatrists
|
6 |
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
|
3 |
One-Hour Photofinishing
|
1 |
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
|
1 |
Optical Goods Stores
|
11 |
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
|
3 |
Packaging and Labeling Services
|
2 |
Packing and Crating
|
2 |
Paging
|
2 |
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
|
1 |
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
|
5 |
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
|
14 |
Parking Lots and Garages
|
5 |
Passenger Car Leasing
|
1 |
Passenger Car Rental
|
2 |
Payroll Services
|
2 |
Periodical Publishers
|
3 |
Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing
|
1 |
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
|
5 |
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
|
1 |
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
|
1 |
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
|
24 |
Photography Studios, Portrait
|
3 |
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas
|
1 |
Political Organizations
|
15 |
Portfolio Management
|
7 |
Prepress Services
|
3 |
Printing Ink Manufacturing
|
2 |
Private Mail Centers
|
2 |
Professional Employer Organizations
|
3 |
Professional Organizations
|
43 |
Public Relations Agencies
|
24 |
Quick Printing
|
5 |
Radio Networks
|
2 |
Radio Stations
|
10 |
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
|
1 |
Real Estate Credit
|
18 |
Real Estate Investment Trusts
|
1 |
Remediation Services
|
1 |
Repossession Services
|
1 |
Residential Property Managers
|
17 |
Residential Remodelers
|
41 |
Retail Bakeries
|
1 |
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
|
1 |
Roofing Contractors
|
10 |
Rooming and Boarding Houses
|
1 |
Sales Financing
|
3 |
Savings Institutions
|
15 |
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
|
1 |
School and Employee Bus Transportation
|
2 |
Securities Brokerage
|
19 |
Security Guards and Patrol Services
|
2 |
Septic Tank and Related Services
|
1 |
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
|
1 |
Shoe Stores
|
24 |
Siding Contractors
|
5 |
Sign Manufacturing
|
4 |
Site Preparation Contractors
|
14 |
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
|
24 |
Software Publishers
|
6 |
Solid Waste Collection
|
1 |
Sporting Goods Stores
|
14 |
Sports and Recreation Instruction
|
4 |
Sports Teams and Clubs
|
3 |
Spring (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
|
1 |
Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing
|
1 |
Tax Preparation Services
|
9 |
Taxi Service
|
3 |
Telecommunications Resellers
|
2 |
Telemarketing Bureaus
|
2 |
Telephone Answering Services
|
3 |
Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing
|
1 |
Television Broadcasting
|
3 |
Temporary Help Services
|
25 |
Temporary Shelters
|
2 |
Testing Laboratories
|
7 |
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
|
4 |
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
|
3 |
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
|
5 |
Tire Dealers
|
12 |
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
|
12 |
Tobacco Stores
|
4 |
Travel Agencies
|
10 |
Used Car Dealers
|
17 |
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
|
3 |
Used Merchandise Stores
|
8 |
Vending Machine Operators
|
4 |
Veterinary Services
|
6 |
Video Tape and Disc Rental
|
8 |
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
|
9 |
Voluntary Health Organizations
|
12 |
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
|
3 |
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
|
2 |
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
|
12 |
Wineries
|
1 |
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
|
32 |
Women's Clothing Stores
|
31 |
Writing a business plan is vital in maximizing the prospects of your new company. In effect, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Not having a business plan will greatly reduce your chances of business success.
Getting your Harrisburg business the capital it needs to succeed is not an easy task. Bootstrapping, which means growing the business without outside funding, is the best alternative, but that's not a viable option for many startup plans.
To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as Bank Credit Lines.
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Harrisburg or are selling to customers throughout Pennsylvania, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
Not knowing how to sell can result in lost customers and minimal market share. Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
Good entrepreneurs recognize that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.
Given that you are starting a business in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Pennsylvania universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also beneficial to see if there are any Harrisburg networking organizations.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Harrisburg. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Harrisburg and elsewhere to achieve real success. 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.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Harrisburg.