California Business Startup Guides

Opening a Business in Lancaster, California

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

Will You Be a Good Entrepreneur?

Most new companies 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.

Before you move forward with starting a business, be sure to do these three things:

  • Grab a meal or cofee with other entrepreneurs in Lancaster. They are usually very willing to share their insights on the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur.
  • Take a look at Business Failure. It's a short article but it's a good reality check for those are about to jump into the world of entrepreneurship.
  • Involve a spouse, family member or trusted friend in the decision. Others sometimes know you better than you know yourself.

Lancaster, California Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
40308
5-9 Employees
17352
10-19 Employees
10788
20-49 Employees
8280
50-99 Employees
2592
100-249 Employees
1440
250-499 Employees
432
500-999 Employees
108
1000+ Employees
36
All Lancaster Businesses
81336

As a new Lancaster entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Lancaster 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
Ambulance Services
3
Amusement Arcades
1
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
2
Apprenticeship Training
1
Architectural Services
2
Armored Car Services
1
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
2
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
4
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
20
Automotive Transmission Repair
6
Baked Goods Stores
3
Beauty Salons
17
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
2
Book Stores
3
Bowling Centers
1
Broadwoven Fabric Mills
1
Building Inspection Services
2
Business Associations
4
Cafeterias
3
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
1
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
5
Caterers
3
Cemeteries and Crematories
1
Charter Bus Industry
1
Child and Youth Services
7
Child Day Care Services
25
Civic and Social Organizations
8
Clothing Accessories Stores
3
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
2
Collection Agencies
3
Commercial Lithographic Printing
3
Commercial Photography
1
Community Food Services
1
Computer and Software Stores
6
Computer Training
2
Confectionery and Nut Stores
3
Consumer Lending
2
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
3
Convenience Stores
7
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
1
Couriers
3
Custom Computer Programming Services
1
Dental Laboratories
1
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
4
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
1
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
4
Discount Department Stores
4
Display Advertising
1
Drafting Services
1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
10
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
10
Educational Support Services
1
Electric Power Distribution
2
Electrical Contractors
25
Electronic Connector Manufacturing
1
Elementary and Secondary Schools
6
Employment Placement Agencies
1
Engineering Services
15
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
10
Facilities Support Services
2
Family Clothing Stores
6
Fine Arts Schools
6
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
8
Flight Training
1
Floor Covering Stores
5
Flooring Contractors
2
Florists
5
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
3
Food Service Contractors
5
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers
1
Framing Contractors
2
Freight Transportation Arrangement
2
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
2
Full-Service Restaurants
66
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
3
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
1
General Automotive Repair
46
General Freight Trucking, Local
8
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
3
General Rental Centers
1
General Warehousing and Storage
3
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
4
Glass and Glazing Contractors
2
Graphic Design Services
4
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
2
Hardware Manufacturing
1
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
2
Hardware Stores
4
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
5
Home Centers
2
Home Health Equipment Rental
3
Homes for the Elderly
10
Household Appliance Stores
2
Human Rights Organizations
1
Industrial Building Construction
2
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
40
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
1
Investigation Services
1
Investment Advice
5
Janitorial Services
10
Jewelry Stores
4
Kidney Dialysis Centers
1
Landscape Architectural Services
1
Landscaping Services
20
Limited-Service Restaurants
94
Linen Supply
2
Livestock Merchant Wholesalers
1
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
1
Locksmiths
2
Machine Shops
2
Mail-Order Houses
2
Marinas
1
Masonry Contractors
14
Meat Markets
1
Medical Laboratories
1
Men's Clothing Stores
1
Metal Stamping
2
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
10
Motor Home Manufacturing
1
Motor Vehicle Towing
4
Motorcycle Dealers
6
Museums
1
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
1
Nail Salons
6
Natural Gas Distribution
2
New Car Dealers
6
New Housing Operative Builders
3
Newspaper Publishers
1
Nonresidential Property Managers
5
Nursing Care Facilities
4
Office Administrative Services
9
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
3
Offices of Chiropractors
25
Offices of Dentists
62
Offices of Lawyers
37
Offices of Optometrists
8
Offices of Podiatrists
3
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
4
One-Hour Photofinishing
2
Paging
1
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
1
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
11
Passenger Car Rental
2
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
5
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
2
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
1
Photography Studios, Portrait
3
Political Organizations
1
Portfolio Management
2
Private Mail Centers
4
Professional Organizations
3
Quick Printing
3
Radio Stations
10
Real Estate Credit
16
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
2
Repossession Services
1
Residential Property Managers
6
Residential Remodelers
17
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
2
Roofing Contractors
10
Savings Institutions
9
Secondary Market Financing
1
Securities Brokerage
6
Security Guards and Patrol Services
2
Septic Tank and Related Services
1
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
2
Shoe Stores
10
Sign Manufacturing
1
Site Preparation Contractors
10
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
15
Software Publishers
1
Sound Recording Studios
1
Special Needs Transportation
2
Sporting Goods Stores
5
Sports Teams and Clubs
1
Tax Preparation Services
11
Telemarketing Bureaus
1
Telephone Answering Services
1
Temporary Help Services
6
Temporary Shelters
1
Testing Laboratories
2
Tire Dealers
11
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
1
Tobacco Stores
7
Travel Agencies
2
Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing
1
Truss Manufacturing
2
Used Car Dealers
15
Used Merchandise Stores
8
Veterinary Services
9
Video Tape and Disc Rental
8
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
4
Voluntary Health Organizations
2
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
1
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
3
Window Treatment Stores
4
Wineries
1
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
5
Women's Clothing Stores
8
Zoos and Botanical Gardens
1

Is a Franchise Opportunity Right For You?

As you drive around Lancaster, it becomes clear that purchasing a franchise is a common way to get started as an entrepreneur. Is it perhaps smarter to franchise a business instead of doing it from scratch.

Our recommendation is that you consider franchising as an option. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as Franchise Law. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.

To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.

Sample franchise opportunities include KFC Corporation and Maid Brigade. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Asian Restaurant Franchises and Environmental Testing Franchises.

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

Have You Considered Buying an Existing Lancaster Business?

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

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

Choosing a Company Name

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.

Companies like Starbucks, Apple, Target, Microsoft and Intuit all have strong company names that are easy to remember and have become well-loved brands. Wouldn't it be nice if your new company name got on a similar track?

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 Lancaster, it's imperative that you check now that your company name has not already been claimed by another California business.

How to Improve Your Entrepreneurial Abilities

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

With your business being located in Lancaster, California, you should investigate some of the many programs available at nearby California universities, colleges and community colleges. You should also check if there are any networking organizations for Lancaster entrepreneurs.

What's Next?

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

From this point on, you control your own destiny.

This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Lancaster and elsewhere to achieve real success. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Lancaster, neighborhood development and overall economic health.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Lancaster, California

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

More Startup Articles for California Cities

Starting a Business in Lamont
Starting a Business in Laytonville

Browse All Business Startup Guides for California
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