Alabama Business Startup Guides

Start a Business in Mobile, Alabama

Are you starting a business in Mobile, Alabama? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Mobile.

Mobile, Alabama Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
9991
5-9 Employees
4308
10-19 Employees
3276
20-49 Employees
2319
50-99 Employees
795
100-249 Employees
483
250-499 Employees
72
500-999 Employees
42
1000+ Employees
21
All Mobile Businesses
21307

As a new Mobile entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Mobile 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
Adhesive Manufacturing
1
Advertising Agencies
10
Aircraft Manufacturing
1
Ambulance Services
4
Amusement Arcades
1
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
1
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
4
Architectural Services
21
Armored Car Services
3
Art Dealers
3
Automobile Driving Schools
3
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
6
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
7
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
61
Baked Goods Stores
1
Barber Shops
4
Beauty Salons
60
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
2
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
18
Blood and Organ Banks
2
Boat Building
4
Book Publishers
3
Book Stores
14
Bowling Centers
3
Building Inspection Services
4
Business and Secretarial Schools
1
Business Associations
15
Business to Business Electronic Markets
1
Cafeterias
17
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
4
Canvas and Related Product Mills
3
Car Washes
8
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
5
Caterers
3
Cemeteries and Crematories
6
Child and Youth Services
13
Child Day Care Services
75
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
11
Civic and Social Organizations
39
Claims Adjusting
19
Clothing Accessories Stores
8
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
4
Commercial Bakeries
2
Commercial Lithographic Printing
17
Commercial Photography
1
Commercial Screen Printing
4
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
1
Community Food Services
1
Computer and Software Stores
14
Computer Training
3
Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing
1
Concrete Pipe Manufacturing
1
Confectionery and Nut Stores
5
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
1
Construction Machinery Manufacturing
1
Consumer Lending
29
Convenience Stores
19
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
4
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
2
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
1
Couriers
12
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
8
Credit Unions
28
Dance Companies
1
Deep Sea Freight Transportation
2
Dental Laboratories
10
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
3
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
6
Digital Printing
2
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
12
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
3
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
3
Discount Department Stores
3
Display Advertising
2
Document Preparation Services
1
Drafting Services
6
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
35
Educational Support Services
2
Electric Power Distribution
9
Electrical Contractors
56
Electronic Shopping
4
Elementary and Secondary Schools
20
Emergency and Other Relief Services
2
Employment Placement Agencies
12
Environmental Consulting Services
8
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
1
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
22
Facilities Support Services
3
Family Clothing Stores
29
Family Planning Centers
2
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
1
Finish Carpentry Contractors
13
Fish and Seafood Markets
4
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers
1
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
25
Floor Covering Stores
19
Flooring Contractors
7
Florists
20
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
6
Food Service Contractors
26
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
1
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers
4
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
7
Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation
1
Framing Contractors
8
Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing
1
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
5
Full-Service Restaurants
170
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
12
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
3
Furniture Stores
52
General Automotive Repair
59
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
6
General Rental Centers
4
General Warehousing and Storage
18
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
30
Glass and Glazing Contractors
6
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
4
Grantmaking Foundations
8
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
8
Hardware Stores
15
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
1
Heating Oil Dealers
1
Historical Sites
2
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
9
Home Centers
7
Home Health Care Services
22
Home Health Equipment Rental
8
Homes for the Elderly
7
Household Appliance Stores
9
Ice Manufacturing
1
Industrial Building Construction
3
Industrial Design Services
1
Industrial Mold Manufacturing
2
Inland Water Freight Transportation
5
Institutional Furniture Manufacturing
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
139
Interior Design Services
12
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
2
Internet Service Providers
3
Investigation Services
10
Investment Advice
20
Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing
1
Janitorial Services
53
Jewelry Stores
34
Kidney Dialysis Centers
7
Land Subdivision
8
Landscaping Services
43
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
7
Limited-Service Restaurants
214
Limousine Service
1
Linen Supply
2
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
1
Locksmiths
4
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
1
Machine Shops
13
Mail-Order Houses
4
Manifold Business Forms Printing
2
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
7
Marinas
3
Marine Cargo Handling
9
Masonry Contractors
22
Mattress Manufacturing
2
Meat Markets
6
Media Representatives
1
Medical Laboratories
7
Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing
1
Men's Clothing Stores
13
Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
1
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
1
Mineral Wool Manufacturing
1
Miscellaneous Intermediation
7
Mobile Food Services
3
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
13
Motion Picture and Video Production
10
Motorcycle Dealers
6
Museums
5
Musical Groups and Artists
4
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
6
Nail Salons
14
Natural Gas Distribution
3
Natural Gas Liquid Extraction
1
New Car Dealers
26
New Housing Operative Builders
11
Newspaper Publishers
2
Nonresidential Property Managers
10
Nursing Care Facilities
16
Office Administrative Services
13
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
9
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
77
Offices of Chiropractors
23
Offices of Dentists
94
Offices of Lawyers
286
Offices of Optometrists
12
Offices of Other Holding Companies
4
Offices of Podiatrists
8
One-Hour Photofinishing
4
Optical Goods Stores
12
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
4
Packaging and Labeling Services
1
Packing and Crating
1
Paging
5
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
1
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
37
Paper (except Newsprint) Mills
4
Paper Industry Machinery Manufacturing
1
Paperboard Mills
1
Parking Lots and Garages
33
Passenger Car Rental
10
Payroll Services
7
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
4
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
5
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
5
Petroleum Refineries
1
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
58
Photography Studios, Portrait
19
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas
1
Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
1
Plate Work Manufacturing
1
Political Organizations
1
Port and Harbor Operations
1
Portfolio Management
12
Prepress Services
1
Printing Ink Manufacturing
1
Professional Employer Organizations
8
Professional Organizations
7
Public Relations Agencies
6
Quick Printing
3
Radio Stations
15
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
2
Real Estate Credit
27
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
1
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage
2
Remediation Services
2
Repossession Services
2
Residential Property Managers
17
Residential Remodelers
46
Retail Bakeries
3
Roofing Contractors
15
Rooming and Boarding Houses
1
Rope, Cordage, and Twine Mills
1
Sales Financing
7
Satellite Telecommunications
1
Savings Institutions
1
Sawmills
1
School and Employee Bus Transportation
1
Securities Brokerage
18
Security Guards and Patrol Services
8
Septic Tank and Related Services
1
Sewage Treatment Facilities
1
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
2
Ship Building and Repairing
12
Siding Contractors
4
Sign Manufacturing
5
Site Preparation Contractors
21
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
17
Soft Drink Manufacturing
1
Software Publishers
6
Solid Waste Collection
6
Sound Recording Studios
3
Special Needs Transportation
1
Sporting Goods Stores
21
Sports and Recreation Instruction
10
Steel Wire Drawing
1
Support Activities for Forestry
9
Tax Preparation Services
12
Telecommunications Resellers
4
Telemarketing Bureaus
4
Telephone Answering Services
3
Television Broadcasting
5
Temporary Help Services
36
Temporary Shelters
4
Testing Laboratories
9
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
2
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
6
Timber Tract Operations
2
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
1
Tire Dealers
34
Tire Retreading
2
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
10
Toilet Preparation Manufacturing
1
Tour Operators
3
Translation and Interpretation Services
3
Travel Agencies
6
Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing
1
Truss Manufacturing
1
Used Car Dealers
28
Used Merchandise Stores
18
Vending Machine Operators
6
Veterinary Services
28
Video Tape and Disc Rental
17
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
7
Voluntary Health Organizations
2
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
5
Window Treatment Stores
1
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
28
Women's Clothing Stores
41
Women's Handbag and Purse Manufacturing
1
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
3
Wood Preservation
1
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
3

Is a Franchise Opportunity Right For You?

As you drive around Mobile, you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. Is there a franchise opportunity out there that makes sense for you?

Our advice is to consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Before Buying a Franchise. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.

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

Sample franchise opportunities include Sir Chocolate and Cruise Planners Franchising LLC American Express. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Healthcare Services Franchises and Auto Sales Franchises.

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

Have You Considered Buying an Existing Mobile Business?

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

Before buying a business, be sure to read this article: How to Buy a Business.

Choosing a Business Name

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.

Company names should be fun to say, and they should help people to understand what you do and how you differentiate yourself in the market.

Numerous company naming issues are discussed in more detail in this article: Branding Advice.

There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are opening a business in Mobile, it's imperative that you check now that no other Alabama company is using the business name you want to use.

Make Sure You Have a Business Plan

A business plan is critical in laying a solid foundation for your business success. Simply put, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Starting a business without a business plan is a recipe for disaster.

To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Contests. A great resource for business planning assistance is the free business counselors available to you through your local SCORE chapter in Alabama.

Marketing Your New Venture

To rise above the crowd in Mobile and build your business, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your successs.

We have some useful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Advertising in Magazines discusses marketing strategy and tactical marketing in a way that should get you thinking about how to creatively promote your business. That's just a taste of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.

Moving Forward

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

If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.

We are here to help Mobile businesses to be successful. 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.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Mobile, Alabama

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

  • Resources for Mobile, Alabama Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Mobile entrepreneurs.
  • Alabama Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Alabama.
  • Alabama Small Business Development Center - Alabama's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) counsels and trains business people in a wide variety of business topics and provides comprehensive information services and access to experts in many fields. Counseling is provided free of charge to all Alabama small business owners.

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