California Business Startup Guides

Open a Business in Santa Rosa, California

Need help starting a business in Santa Rosa, California? We've got the information you need to open a business in Santa Rosa.

Will You Be a Good Entrepreneur?

Before quitting your day job, assess your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.

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

  • Talk to other entrepreneurs in Santa Rosa. They are usually very willing to share their insights on the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur.
  • We recommend reading Why Small Businesses Fail. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
  • Get feedback from somebody whom you trust. Others sometimes know you better than you know yourself.

Santa Rosa, California Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
38964
5-9 Employees
14672
10-19 Employees
9836
20-49 Employees
6432
50-99 Employees
2028
100-249 Employees
1140
250-499 Employees
60
500-999 Employees
60
1000+ Employees
60
All Santa Rosa Businesses
73252

As a new Santa Rosa entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Santa Rosa 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
Advertising Agencies
10
Aluminum Die-Casting Foundries
1
Ambulance Services
2
Amusement and Theme Parks
1
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
2
Apprenticeship Training
2
Architectural Services
39
Automobile Driving Schools
5
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
3
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
7
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
32
Automotive Transmission Repair
6
Baked Goods Stores
5
Barber Shops
2
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns
2
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
2
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
11
Blind and Shade Manufacturing
1
Blood and Organ Banks
1
Boat Dealers
5
Book Publishers
1
Books Printing
1
Bottled Water Manufacturing
1
Bowling Centers
1
Building Inspection Services
6
Business Associations
16
Cable and Other Program Distribution
1
Cafeterias
3
Canvas and Related Product Mills
1
Car Washes
14
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
5
Caterers
7
Cemeteries and Crematories
2
Charter Bus Industry
2
Cheese Manufacturing
1
Child Day Care Services
50
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
3
Civic and Social Organizations
18
Claims Adjusting
2
Clothing Accessories Stores
10
Coffee and Tea Manufacturing
2
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
7
Commercial Bakeries
3
Commercial Lithographic Printing
13
Commercial Photography
1
Commercial Screen Printing
3
Commodity Contracts Dealing
2
Community Food Services
2
Computer and Software Stores
13
Computer Systems Design Services
22
Computer Training
1
Confectionery and Nut Stores
4
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
1
Consumer Lending
5
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
6
Convenience Stores
13
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
1
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
1
Couriers
10
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
4
Credit Bureaus
1
Credit Unions
10
Curtain and Drapery Mills
1
Custom Computer Programming Services
25
Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing
1
Dental Laboratories
16
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
8
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
2
Digital Printing
2
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
3
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
16
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
3
Discount Department Stores
2
Display Advertising
2
Document Preparation Services
5
Drafting Services
1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
16
Educational Support Services
6
Electrical Contractors
64
Electronic Computer Manufacturing
1
Electronic Shopping
3
Elementary and Secondary Schools
15
Emergency and Other Relief Services
3
Employment Placement Agencies
2
Environmental Consulting Services
6
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
5
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
14
Family Clothing Stores
18
Family Planning Centers
2
Farm Labor Contractors and Crew Leaders
3
Farm Management Services
3
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
2
Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing
1
Fine Arts Schools
8
Finish Carpentry Contractors
28
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers
1
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
35
Flight Training
5
Flooring Contractors
38
Florists
13
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
7
Food Product Machinery Manufacturing
1
Food Service Contractors
7
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
1
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers
1
Framing Contractors
15
Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing
1
Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing
2
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
2
Full-Service Restaurants
158
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
7
Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing
1
Furniture Stores
31
General Automotive Repair
77
General Freight Trucking, Local
21
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
3
General Rental Centers
5
General Warehousing and Storage
5
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
23
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
4
Grantmaking Foundations
4
Graphic Design Services
11
Greeting Card Publishers
1
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
4
Hardware Stores
9
HMO Medical Centers
2
Home Centers
3
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
3
Home Health Care Services
22
Home Health Equipment Rental
2
Homes for the Elderly
37
Household Appliance Stores
7
Human Rights Organizations
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
96
Interior Design Services
8
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
1
Internet Service Providers
7
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
1
Investigation Services
6
Investment Advice
19
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
1
Jewelry Stores
32
Junior Colleges
1
Kidney Dialysis Centers
2
Land Subdivision
12
Landscape Architectural Services
8
Landscaping Services
58
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
18
Libraries and Archives
2
Limited-Service Restaurants
140
Limousine Service
4
Linen Supply
3
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
4
Locksmiths
3
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
2
Luggage Manufacturing
1
Machine Shops
9
Mail-Order Houses
7
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
4
Marketing Consulting Services
14
Marking Device Manufacturing
4
Materials Recovery Facilities
2
Meat Markets
4
Media Representatives
3
Medical Laboratories
5
Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing
2
Men's Clothing Stores
7
Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
4
Mobile Food Services
3
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
37
Motion Picture and Video Production
3
Motor Vehicle Towing
5
Motorcycle Dealers
4
Museums
4
Musical Groups and Artists
1
Musical Instrument Manufacturing
3
Nail Salons
8
New Car Dealers
15
New Housing Operative Builders
9
News Dealers and Newsstands
2
News Syndicates
1
Newspaper Publishers
6
Nursing Care Facilities
10
Office Administrative Services
13
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
2
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
12
Offices of Bank Holding Companies
1
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
54
Offices of Chiropractors
41
Offices of Lawyers
212
Offices of Optometrists
20
Offices of Other Holding Companies
2
Offices of Podiatrists
7
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
8
One-Hour Photofinishing
2
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
1
Optical Goods Stores
5
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
4
Packaging and Labeling Services
3
Packing and Crating
1
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
9
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
62
Parking Lots and Garages
2
Periodical Publishers
6
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
7
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
16
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
1
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
20
Photography Studios, Portrait
11
Political Organizations
1
Poultry Processing
1
Prepress Services
2
Private Mail Centers
6
Professional Organizations
8
Public Relations Agencies
5
Quick Printing
4
Radio Networks
1
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
3
Real Estate Credit
49
Real Estate Investment Trusts
1
Recreational Goods Rental
1
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
6
Remediation Services
1
Repossession Services
1
Residential Remodelers
88
Retail Bakeries
6
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
4
Roofing Contractors
27
Sales Financing
1
Savings Institutions
17
School and Employee Bus Transportation
1
Securities Brokerage
33
Security Guards and Patrol Services
4
Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing
1
Septic Tank and Related Services
3
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
1
Shoe Stores
25
Siding Contractors
7
Site Preparation Contractors
28
Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturing
1
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
57
Software Publishers
13
Solid Waste Collection
5
Solid Waste Landfill
1
Sound Recording Studios
2
Sporting Goods Stores
24
Sports and Recreation Instruction
12
Sports Teams and Clubs
1
Support Activities for Forestry
1
Tax Preparation Services
17
Taxi Service
2
Telecommunications Resellers
4
Telephone Answering Services
4
Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing
1
Television Broadcasting
1
Temporary Help Services
26
Temporary Shelters
2
Testing Laboratories
5
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
3
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
2
Tire Dealers
18
Tire Retreading
1
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
4
Tobacco Stores
5
Toilet Preparation Manufacturing
1
Tortilla Manufacturing
1
Translation and Interpretation Services
2
Travel Agencies
9
Used Car Dealers
24
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
8
Used Merchandise Stores
13
Vending Machine Operators
2
Veterinary Services
27
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
15
Voluntary Health Organizations
5
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
1
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
22
Window Treatment Stores
3
Wineries
32
Women's Clothing Stores
26
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
3
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
1

What About Franchising Opportunities?

Browse the Yellow Pages for Santa Rosa and you'll conclude that many business owners have opted to buy a franchise, rather than starting a business on their own. But is franchising the right option for you?

We advise the entrepreneurs we work with to look into purchasing a franchise. We have many articles on franchises, such as How to Franchise a Business. 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 MTO Cleaning Services and Worldwide Express. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Auto Rental Franchises and Modeling Franchises.

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

Have You Considered Buying an Existing Santa Rosa Business?

We've created a helpful website page for those who want to Buy a Business in California. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Santa Rosa.

Before buying a business, be sure to read this article: Hold Harmless Agreements When Buying Businesses.

Picking a Company 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.

We strongly advocate that you make sure the ".com" domain name is available for your company name. Every business needs a strong Web presence these days, and having a non ".com" domain means somebody else may outrank you in the search results for your own company name.

For other considerations regarding naming a company, we recommend this article: Branding Advice.

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

Raising Money for Your Venture

Getting your Santa Rosa business the capital it needs to succeed will be harder than you might expect. In fact, financing your new business may be the hardest challenge you ever face.

Fortunately, this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled Attracting Investors.

For Santa Rosa entrepreneurs on the hunt for startup funding, check out our List of California Angel Investors and our List of California Venture Capital Firms.

Bring in Revenues

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

The key to selling is to set sales goals goals and monitor your progress towards those goals. Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.

Cold Call Selling 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.

What's Next?

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

From this point on, you control your own destiny.

This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Santa Rosa and elsewhere to achieve real success. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Santa Rosa entrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Santa Rosa, California

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

More Business Startup Guides for California

Starting a Business in Santa Paula
Starting a Business in Santa Ynez

Browse All Business Startup Guides for California
Starting a Business Guides for Other States

 

 

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Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs

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Franchise Opportunities

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