Arizona Business Startup Guides

Opening a Business in Mesa, Arizona

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

Is Becoming a Business Owner Right for You?

Being an entrepreneur is difficult, much more arduous than working as an employee. Are you certain you want to go into business for yourself?

Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.

  • Grab a meal or cofee with other entrepreneurs in Mesa. Get their take on what it's really like to be an entrepreneur.
  • Take a look at The Entrepreneurial Personality. It's a short article but it's a good reality check for those are about to jump into the world of entrepreneurship.
  • Reach out to a trusted acquaintance. That's the best way to get a truly objective assessment as to whether others think you have what it takes.

What Type of Business Should You 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 Finding Your Niche in Life.

For in-depth how-to guides on how to start specific businesses, browse our Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our Opening an Electronic Commerce Business guide or our How to Start a Termite Control Business guide.

Always keep in mind that Mesa is the place where you are starting a business. Some businesses will do better in Mesa than others. Make sure you fully understand Mesa demographics before you lock in on your business idea.

Mesa, Arizona Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
44802
5-9 Employees
15666
10-19 Employees
11457
20-49 Employees
7884
50-99 Employees
2880
100-249 Employees
1269
250-499 Employees
387
500-999 Employees
90
1000+ Employees
54
All Mesa Businesses
84489

As a new Mesa entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Mesa 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
3
Ambulance Services
9
Amusement and Theme Parks
2
Amusement Arcades
2
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
12
Architectural Services
25
Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing
1
Automobile Driving Schools
1
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
9
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
26
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
58
Automotive Transmission Repair
13
Baked Goods Stores
5
Beauty Salons
112
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
1
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
8
Blind and Shade Manufacturing
2
Blood and Organ Banks
3
Boat Dealers
7
Book Publishers
1
Bowling Centers
4
Building Inspection Services
9
Business Associations
5
Business to Business Electronic Markets
4
Cable and Other Program Distribution
4
Cafeterias
14
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
3
Car Washes
28
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
28
Caterers
10
Cemeteries and Crematories
2
Charter Bus Industry
2
Child and Youth Services
8
Child Day Care Services
76
Civic and Social Organizations
13
Claims Adjusting
3
Clothing Accessories Stores
8
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
9
Collection Agencies
4
Commercial Bakeries
5
Commercial Lithographic Printing
18
Commercial Screen Printing
5
Community Food Services
2
Computer and Software Stores
18
Computer Facilities Management Services
1
Computer Systems Design Services
49
Computer Training
1
Confectionery and Nut Stores
4
Construction Machinery Manufacturing
1
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
4
Consumer Lending
9
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
10
Convenience Stores
28
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
2
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
1
Couriers
5
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
5
Credit Bureaus
1
Credit Card Issuing
1
Credit Unions
17
Curtain and Drapery Mills
2
Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins
2
Custom Roll Forming
1
Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing
1
Dental Laboratories
20
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
14
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
4
Digital Printing
2
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
13
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
28
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
2
Discount Department Stores
11
Display Advertising
1
Document Preparation Services
4
Drafting Services
18
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
22
Educational Support Services
3
Electrical Contractors
126
Electronic Shopping
16
Elementary and Secondary Schools
43
Employment Placement Agencies
4
Engineering Services
93
Environmental Consulting Services
14
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
32
Facilities Support Services
6
Family Clothing Stores
40
Family Planning Centers
3
Farm Management Services
1
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
2
Fine Arts Schools
15
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
31
Flight Training
4
Floor Covering Stores
20
Flooring Contractors
38
Florists
25
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
20
Food Service Contractors
14
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers
1
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
7
Framing Contractors
37
Freight Transportation Arrangement
6
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
4
Full-Service Restaurants
241
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
15
Furniture Stores
70
General Automotive Repair
130
General Freight Trucking, Local
22
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
4
General Rental Centers
6
General Warehousing and Storage
5
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
37
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
16
Grantmaking Foundations
4
Graphic Design Services
13
Hardware Manufacturing
2
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
6
Hardware Stores
13
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
21
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
9
Home Health Care Services
22
Home Health Equipment Rental
3
Homes for the Elderly
38
Household Appliance Stores
12
Human Rights Organizations
1
Industrial Building Construction
2
Industrial Mold Manufacturing
2
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
196
Interior Design Services
7
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
4
Internet Service Providers
5
Investigation Services
11
Investment Advice
44
Janitorial Services
92
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
1
Jewelry Stores
53
Junior Colleges
1
Kidney Dialysis Centers
9
Land Subdivision
14
Landscape Architectural Services
4
Language Schools
2
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
43
Limited-Service Restaurants
336
Limousine Service
1
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
2
Locksmiths
5
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
1
Mail-Order Houses
9
Manifold Business Forms Printing
1
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
16
Marinas
1
Marketing Consulting Services
26
Marking Device Manufacturing
1
Masonry Contractors
61
Media Representatives
1
Medical Laboratories
26
Men's Clothing Stores
8
Metal Stamping
1
Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
1
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
3
Miscellaneous Intermediation
5
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
50
Motion Picture and Video Distribution
1
Motion Picture and Video Production
7
Motor Home Manufacturing
1
Motor Vehicle Towing
6
Motorcycle Dealers
14
Museums
5
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
6
Nail Salons
9
Navigational Services to Shipping
1
New Car Dealers
35
New Housing Operative Builders
10
News Dealers and Newsstands
3
News Syndicates
1
Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing
1
Nonresidential Property Managers
31
Nursing Care Facilities
17
Office Administrative Services
41
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
6
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
17
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
99
Offices of Dentists
202
Offices of Lawyers
174
Offices of Optometrists
32
Offices of Other Holding Companies
8
Offices of Podiatrists
10
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
42
One-Hour Photofinishing
1
Optical Goods Stores
27
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
3
Packaging and Labeling Services
3
Packing and Crating
1
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
14
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
57
Passenger Car Leasing
2
Payroll Services
6
Periodical Publishers
5
Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing
2
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
13
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
7
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
1
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
36
Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
2
Political Organizations
1
Portfolio Management
10
Power-Driven Handtool Manufacturing
1
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
5
Prepress Services
1
Printing Ink Manufacturing
1
Professional Employer Organizations
10
Professional Organizations
6
Public Relations Agencies
3
Pulp Mills
1
Quick Printing
7
Radio Stations
2
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
8
Real Estate Investment Trusts
4
Recreational Goods Rental
3
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
17
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage
1
Remediation Services
3
Repossession Services
1
Residential Property Managers
39
Retail Bakeries
1
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
12
Roofing Contractors
24
Rope, Cordage, and Twine Mills
1
Sales Financing
5
Savings Institutions
14
Sawmills
1
Secondary Market Financing
2
Securities and Commodity Exchanges
1
Securities Brokerage
35
Security Guards and Patrol Services
3
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
8
Shoe Stores
48
Siding Contractors
6
Site Preparation Contractors
31
Small Arms Manufacturing
3
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
50
Software Publishers
10
Solid Waste Collection
2
Solid Waste Landfill
1
Sound Recording Studios
1
Spice and Extract Manufacturing
1
Sporting Goods Stores
45
Sports and Recreation Instruction
24
Spring (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
1
Support Activities for Metal Mining
2
Tax Preparation Services
39
Telecommunications Resellers
4
Telephone Answering Services
2
Temporary Help Services
35
Temporary Shelters
3
Testing Laboratories
4
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
3
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
26
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
1
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
11
Tobacco Stores
9
Tortilla Manufacturing
1
Tour Operators
2
Tradebinding and Related Work
1
Translation and Interpretation Services
4
Travel Agencies
13
Used Car Dealers
37
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
7
Used Merchandise Stores
26
Vending Machine Operators
5
Veterinary Services
37
Video Tape and Disc Rental
33
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
2
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
6
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
2
Web Search Portals
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
46
Window Treatment Stores
6
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
19
Women's Clothing Stores
40

Have You Considered Franchising?

As you drive around Mesa, you'll see that franchises make up a large percentage of local businesses. Is it perhaps smarter to franchise a business instead of doing it from scratch.

Our recommendation is that you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Questions to Ask Franchisors. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.

You can review hundreds of franchise opportunities by browing our Franchise Directory.

Representative franchise opportunities include AutoQual USA and American Engine Installation. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Bakery Franchises and Moving Franchises.

Note on Mesa Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Mesa.

What About Buying an Existing Mesa Business?

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

If you are going to be buying a business, you may want to read this article: Hold Harmless Agreements When Buying Businesses.

Company Formation in Mesa, Arizona

It's very important that you form your business as a legal structure. Among other things, forming a legal entity for the business limits your liabilities.

The entity you form can be 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 Arizona, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Arizona. As it turns out, 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 basics of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Registered Agents. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Mesa, Arizona, our information on Incorporating in Arizona may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Arizona.

The Art of Selling

Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Mesa business, you need to focus on sales.

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.

Compensating Sales People is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.

Moving Forward

As an entrepreneur in Mesa, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.

From this point on, you control your own destiny.

Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Mesa and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Mesa, neighborhood development and overall economic health.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Mesa, Arizona

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

  • Resources for Mesa, Arizona Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Mesa entrepreneurs.
  • Arizona Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Arizona.
  • Arizona Small Business Development Center - Arizona�s Small Business Development Center Network is an innovative partnership between the state�s ten community college districts and the U.S. Small Business Administration. The network is the largest and most accessible source of assistance to Arizona businesses with fewer than 200 employees.

More Business Startup Guides for Arizona

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