Florida Business Startup Guides

Opening a Business in Hollywood, Florida

Contemplating starting a business in Hollywood, Florida? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Hollywood.

Are You Ready for the Challenges of Being an Entrepreneur?

Before you get too far along in the process, consider your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.

To determine whether you have what it takes to run a business, we recommend these three steps to help you decide:

  • Talk to other entrepreneurs in Hollywood. Listen closely to their experiences and see if you think you too can be successful.
  • We recommend reading Should You Become an Entrepreneur?. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
  • Have a candid conversation with friends and family. Ask them directly: Do I have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Listen carefully to their answer, as they presumably know your strengths and weaknesses.

What Business to Start

There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? To stir your creative juices on what kind of business to start, take a look at Free Business Ideas.

To view an extensive list of business types, complete with startup instructions, spend some time in the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our How to Start a Diving Equipment & Supplies Business guide or our How to Start a Food & Beverage Consultants Business guide.

Always keep in mind that you are starting a business in Hollywood. Some businesses will do better in Hollywood than others. Study Hollywood demographics and do a competitive analysis as part of your startup planning process.

Hollywood, Florida Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
103925
5-9 Employees
21160
10-19 Employees
13860
20-49 Employees
8325
50-99 Employees
3030
100-249 Employees
1890
250-499 Employees
555
500-999 Employees
150
1000+ Employees
45
All Hollywood Businesses
152940

As a new Hollywood entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Hollywood 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
Air Traffic Control
1
Aircraft Manufacturing
1
Amusement Arcades
5
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
16
Apprenticeship Training
1
Architectural Services
39
Art Dealers
7
Automobile Driving Schools
3
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
4
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
10
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
38
Automotive Transmission Repair
10
Baked Goods Stores
5
Barber Shops
6
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
2
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
23
Blind and Shade Manufacturing
1
Blood and Organ Banks
1
Boat Building
5
Boat Dealers
12
Book Publishers
5
Bowling Centers
2
Building Inspection Services
14
Business and Secretarial Schools
1
Business Associations
10
Business to Business Electronic Markets
4
Cable and Other Program Distribution
14
Cafeterias
9
Canvas and Related Product Mills
1
Car Washes
17
Carpet and Rug Mills
1
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
23
Casinos (except Casino Hotels)
1
Caterers
17
Cemeteries and Crematories
2
Child and Youth Services
4
Child Day Care Services
73
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
7
Civic and Social Organizations
17
Claims Adjusting
19
Clothing Accessories Stores
11
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
22
Commercial Bakeries
3
Commercial Flexographic Printing
1
Commercial Lithographic Printing
13
Commercial Photography
12
Commercial Screen Printing
6
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
3
Commodity Contracts Dealing
11
Computer and Software Stores
18
Computer Facilities Management Services
6
Computer Systems Design Services
78
Computer Training
5
Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing
2
Confectionery and Nut Stores
3
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
5
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
4
Convenience Stores
55
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
15
Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing
1
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
3
Couriers
18
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
24
Credit Unions
13
Curtain and Drapery Mills
1
Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins
1
Custom Computer Programming Services
84
Deep Sea Freight Transportation
1
Deep Sea Passenger Transportation
1
Dental Laboratories
14
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
7
Digital Printing
1
Dimension Stone Mining and Quarrying
1
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
6
Direct Mail Advertising
6
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
13
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
1
Display Advertising
4
Document Preparation Services
13
Drafting Services
6
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
39
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
26
Educational Support Services
5
Electrical Contractors
80
Elementary and Secondary Schools
23
Employment Placement Agencies
11
Engineering Services
41
Environmental Consulting Services
8
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
12
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
23
Facilities Support Services
6
Family Planning Centers
1
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
1
Fine Arts Schools
22
Finish Carpentry Contractors
54
Fish and Seafood Markets
3
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers
4
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
42
Floor Covering Stores
11
Flooring Contractors
26
Florists
14
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
18
Food Service Contractors
10
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
1
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers
7
Framing Contractors
8
Freight Transportation Arrangement
23
Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing
1
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
4
Full-Service Restaurants
266
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
8
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
16
General Automotive Repair
88
General Freight Trucking, Local
22
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
5
General Rental Centers
4
General Warehousing and Storage
7
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
32
Glass and Glazing Contractors
8
Grantmaking Foundations
8
Graphic Design Services
39
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
1
Hardware Manufacturing
1
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
7
Hardware Stores
7
Hazardous Waste Collection
3
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
9
Home Centers
7
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
19
Home Health Care Services
38
Home Health Equipment Rental
2
Homes for the Elderly
17
Household Appliance Stores
6
Industrial Design Services
4
Industrial Launderers
1
Industrial Mold Manufacturing
2
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
215
Interior Design Services
25
International Trade Financing
1
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
4
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
1
Investigation Services
18
Investment Advice
56
Janitorial Services
96
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
4
Jewelry Stores
50
Junior Colleges
1
Land Subdivision
11
Landscape Architectural Services
4
Landscaping Services
104
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
16
Libraries and Archives
3
Limited-Service Restaurants
229
Limousine Service
7
Livestock Merchant Wholesalers
1
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
7
Locksmiths
6
Machine Shops
2
Mail-Order Houses
11
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
2
Marinas
5
Marketing Consulting Services
59
Masonry Contractors
12
Meat Markets
6
Meat Processed from Carcasses
2
Media Buying Agencies
3
Media Representatives
15
Medical Laboratories
10
Metal Stamping
1
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
2
Mineral Wool Manufacturing
1
Miscellaneous Intermediation
9
Mixed Mode Transit Systems
1
Mobile Food Services
6
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
80
Motion Picture and Video Production
29
Motor Vehicle Towing
16
Motorcycle Dealers
4
Museums
2
Music Publishers
1
Musical Groups and Artists
9
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
1
Narrow Fabric Mills
1
New Car Dealers
27
New Housing Operative Builders
11
News Dealers and Newsstands
1
News Syndicates
2
Newspaper Publishers
5
Nonresidential Property Managers
21
Office Administrative Services
64
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
11
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
14
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
159
Offices of Chiropractors
63
Offices of Dentists
183
Offices of Lawyers
337
Offices of Other Holding Companies
7
Offices of Podiatrists
15
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
27
One-Hour Photofinishing
5
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
1
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
4
Optical Goods Stores
22
Packaging and Labeling Services
2
Packing and Crating
1
Paging
1
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
12
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
46
Parking Lots and Garages
15
Passenger Car Leasing
1
Payroll Services
8
Pen and Mechanical Pencil Manufacturing
2
Periodical Publishers
16
Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing
1
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
20
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
10
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
57
Plastics Bottle Manufacturing
1
Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
1
Political Organizations
3
Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing
1
Portfolio Management
14
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
1
Prepress Services
6
Professional Employer Organizations
3
Professional Organizations
7
Public Relations Agencies
6
Quick Printing
11
Radio Stations
28
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
4
Real Estate Credit
70
Record Production
1
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
1
Reinsurance Carriers
2
Remediation Services
1
Residential Property Managers
34
Residential Remodelers
70
Retail Bakeries
12
Roofing Contractors
20
Rooming and Boarding Houses
1
Sales Financing
9
Satellite Telecommunications
2
Savings Institutions
19
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
1
School and Employee Bus Transportation
3
Securities Brokerage
16
Security Guards and Patrol Services
17
Septic Tank and Related Services
1
Sheer Hosiery Mills
1
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
2
Shellfish Fishing
1
Ship Building and Repairing
3
Siding Contractors
3
Sign Manufacturing
6
Site Preparation Contractors
9
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
45
Soft Drink Manufacturing
3
Software Publishers
4
Solid Waste Collection
5
Sound Recording Studios
2
Special Needs Transportation
4
Specialty Canning
1
Spice and Extract Manufacturing
1
Sporting Goods Stores
16
Sports and Recreation Instruction
15
Tax Preparation Services
35
Telecommunications Resellers
14
Telemarketing Bureaus
7
Telephone Answering Services
6
Television Broadcasting
6
Temporary Help Services
31
Temporary Shelters
1
Testing Laboratories
6
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
20
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
6
Tire Dealers
29
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
31
Tobacco Stores
7
Tour Operators
10
Translation and Interpretation Services
5
Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing
1
Truss Manufacturing
1
Used Car Dealers
35
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
20
Used Merchandise Stores
22
Vending Machine Operators
7
Veterinary Services
36
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
4
Voluntary Health Organizations
4
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
4
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
3
Web Search Portals
2
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
108
Window Treatment Stores
4
Women's Clothing Stores
43
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
1
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
2

Have You Considered Buying an Existing Hollywood Business?

If you have some capital to play with, you may want to Buy a Business in Florida. Follow that link and you can assess several good businesses for sale in Hollywood.

For anybody who wants to buy a business, we recommend reading this useful article: Hold Harmless Agreements When Buying Businesses.

Naming the Business

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.

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

There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are planning on starting a business in Hollywood, it's very important that you make sure no other Florida company is using the business name you want to use.

Marketing Your New Startup

Whether your goal is to attract Hollywood customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your beating the competition.

You can learn quite a bit about marketing on our site. Point-of-Sale Displays is a good read to get your marketing juices flowing. That's just one of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.

How to Improve Your Entrepreneurial Abilities

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

With your business being located in Hollywood, Florida, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Florida universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also wise to see if there are any networking organizations for Hollywood entrepreneurs.

Never Give Up

You have a dream -- starting a business in Hollywood. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.

From this point on, you control your own destiny.

We are here to help Hollywood businesses to be successful. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Hollywood, neighborhood development and overall economic health.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Hollywood, Florida

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

  • Resources for Hollywood, Florida Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Hollywood entrepreneurs.
  • Florida Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Florida.
  • Florida Small Business Development Center - The Florida Small Business Development Center Network (FSBDCN) is a statewide economic development partnership between higher education and other stakeholder organizations dedicated to providing entrepreneurs and established businesses with the assistance needed to start, grow and succeed, contributing to the Florida economy.

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