Michigan Business Startup Guides

Opening a Business in Livonia, Michigan

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

What Business Are You Starting?

There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? To help you decide on a business type, we encourage you to read Finding Your Niche in Life.

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 Starting a Child Safety Products & Services Business guide or our How to Start a Curios Business guide.

Don't forget that your new startup will be located in Livonia. The business you want to start may already be well-represented in Livonia. Only by spending some time analyzing Livonia demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.

Livonia, Michigan Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
28050
5-9 Employees
11795
10-19 Employees
8740
20-49 Employees
6240
50-99 Employees
2160
100-249 Employees
1605
250-499 Employees
375
500-999 Employees
90
1000+ Employees
105
All Livonia Businesses
59160

As a new Livonia entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Livonia 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
Abrasive Product Manufacturing
1
Advertising Agencies
7
Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing
2
Amusement Arcades
1
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
6
Apprenticeship Training
1
Armored Car Services
1
Art Dealers
1
Automobile Driving Schools
1
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
2
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
6
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
9
Automotive Transmission Repair
3
Barber Shops
2
Beauty Salons
46
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
15
Blind and Shade Manufacturing
2
Boat Dealers
1
Book Stores
9
Books Printing
1
Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing
1
Building Inspection Services
4
Business Associations
8
Cable and Other Program Distribution
3
Cafeterias
4
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
1
Canvas and Related Product Mills
1
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
2
Caterers
10
Cemeteries and Crematories
2
Child Day Care Services
21
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
4
Civic and Social Organizations
9
Claims Adjusting
6
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
6
Commercial Bakeries
6
Commercial Flexographic Printing
1
Commercial Lithographic Printing
12
Commercial Photography
1
Computer and Software Stores
6
Computer Facilities Management Services
4
Computer Training
1
Confectionery and Nut Stores
4
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
1
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
2
Consumer Lending
5
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
2
Convenience Stores
15
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
1
Couriers
5
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
4
Credit Unions
6
Curtain and Drapery Mills
1
Custom Computer Programming Services
30
Deep Sea Freight Transportation
1
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
3
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
4
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
4
Direct Mail Advertising
5
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
10
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
2
Discount Department Stores
5
Document Preparation Services
1
Drafting Services
2
Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing
1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
12
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
10
Educational Support Services
4
Electric Power Distribution
3
Electronic Connector Manufacturing
1
Elementary and Secondary Schools
1
Emergency and Other Relief Services
1
Employment Placement Agencies
5
Engineering Services
54
Environmental Consulting Services
7
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
1
Facilities Support Services
1
Family Clothing Stores
12
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
1
Fats and Oils Refining and Blending
1
Fine Arts Schools
4
Finish Carpentry Contractors
24
Fish and Seafood Markets
1
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
14
Floor Covering Stores
8
Flooring Contractors
10
Florists
9
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
2
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
5
Food Service Contractors
10
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
3
Framing Contractors
8
Freight Transportation Arrangement
7
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
2
Full-Service Restaurants
107
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
5
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
1
General Automotive Repair
25
General Freight Trucking, Local
13
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
1
General Rental Centers
2
General Warehousing and Storage
10
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
20
Glass and Glazing Contractors
3
Grantmaking Foundations
1
Graphic Design Services
2
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
4
Hardware Manufacturing
2
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
16
Hardware Stores
9
Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
5
Home Centers
3
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
3
Home Health Care Services
14
Homes for the Elderly
5
Household Appliance Stores
7
Human Rights Organizations
2
Industrial Design Services
1
Industrial Launderers
3
Industrial Mold Manufacturing
4
Industrial Pattern Manufacturing
3
Industrial Valve Manufacturing
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
71
Interior Design Services
6
Internet Service Providers
3
Investigation Services
7
Investment Advice
12
Iron Foundries
1
Janitorial Services
30
Jewelry Stores
21
Kidney Dialysis Centers
3
Landscape Architectural Services
5
Landscaping Services
46
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
1
Limited-Service Restaurants
79
Limousine Service
1
Linen Supply
1
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
4
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
2
Machine Shops
26
Mail-Order Houses
4
Marinas
1
Marketing Consulting Services
11
Masonry Contractors
15
Meat Markets
4
Men's Clothing Stores
3
Metal Heat Treating
3
Metal Stamping
3
Mineral Wool Manufacturing
1
Mobile Food Services
1
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
23
Motion Picture and Video Production
3
Motor Vehicle Towing
2
Motorcycle Dealers
1
Musical Groups and Artists
1
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
3
Musical Instrument Manufacturing
1
Nail Salons
4
New Car Dealers
7
News Dealers and Newsstands
1
Newspaper Publishers
2
Nonresidential Property Managers
8
Nursing Care Facilities
14
Office Administrative Services
17
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
7
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
6
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
36
Offices of Chiropractors
24
Offices of Dentists
113
Offices of Lawyers
67
Offices of Optometrists
7
Offices of Other Holding Companies
6
Offices of Podiatrists
9
One-Hour Photofinishing
1
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
1
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
2
Optical Goods Stores
10
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
1
Packaging and Labeling Services
6
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
4
Parking Lots and Garages
1
Passenger Car Rental
3
Payroll Services
5
Periodical Publishers
1
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
5
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
5
Petroleum Refineries
1
Photography Studios, Portrait
6
Plate Work Manufacturing
2
Political Organizations
3
Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing
1
Portfolio Management
6
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
7
Printing Ink Manufacturing
1
Professional Employer Organizations
12
Professional Organizations
6
Public Relations Agencies
1
Quick Printing
6
Real Estate Credit
32
Real Estate Investment Trusts
1
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
1
Repossession Services
1
Residential Property Managers
6
Residential Remodelers
45
Retail Bakeries
8
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
3
Rolled Steel Shape Manufacturing
2
Roofing Contractors
4
Savings Institutions
19
Secondary Market Financing
1
Securities Brokerage
15
Security Guards and Patrol Services
5
Septic Tank and Related Services
1
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
3
Shoe Stores
14
Sign Manufacturing
1
Site Preparation Contractors
12
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
23
Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing
1
Software Publishers
7
Special Needs Transportation
2
Sporting Goods Stores
17
Tax Preparation Services
10
Taxi Service
1
Telecommunications Resellers
2
Telemarketing Bureaus
1
Temporary Help Services
39
Testing Laboratories
5
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
2
Tire Dealers
7
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
6
Tobacco Stores
11
Tradebinding and Related Work
3
Translation and Interpretation Services
1
Travel Agencies
8
Used Car Dealers
1
Used Merchandise Stores
5
Vending Machine Operators
3
Veterinary Services
9
Video Tape and Disc Rental
11
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
9
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
3
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
40
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
16
Women's Clothing Stores
14
Women's Handbag and Purse Manufacturing
1
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
2

Should You Buy an Existing Livonia Business?

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

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

Startup Financing Basics

Getting your Livonia business the capital it needs to succeed is very difficult due to the ongoing business credit crunch. To obtain business financing, you will need to hear a lot of rejections before you finally find a funding solution that works for you.

Take advantage of our many articles on finding startup capital, such as Realistic Debt Financing Options.

For Livonia entrepreneurs in need of startup financing, you'll want to take a look at our List of Michigan Angel Investors and our List of Michigan Venture Capital Firms.

Selling Tips

Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Livonia or are selling to customers throughout Michigan, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.

Clever sales techniques can transform any business from good to great. The good news is we can help you to make selling a big competitve advantage for your new firm.

Tips on Customer Referrals is worth reading, as it may give you some good ideas on how to sell your products or services. We have many more good articles on selling that you may enjoy reading.

Advancing Your Entrepreneurial Skills

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

With your business being located in Livonia, Michigan, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Michigan universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any networking groups or organizations in which Livonia entrepreneurs get together to network and trade their business experiences.

Now It's Up To You

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

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 Livonia and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Livonia, neighborhood development and overall economic health.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Livonia, Michigan

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

  • Resources for Livonia, Michigan Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Livonia entrepreneurs.
  • Michigan Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Michigan.
  • Michigan Small Business Development Center - This organization supports 12 regional offices and over 30 satellite offices, each providing counseling and training to Michigan small business owners and entrepreneurs throughout the 83 counties in Michigan. Services to entrepreneurs are offered through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

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