Wisconsin Business Startup Guides

Opening a Business in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Contemplating starting a business in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Sun Prairie.

Sun Prairie, Wisconsin Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
2348
5-9 Employees
654
10-19 Employees
726
20-49 Employees
348
50-99 Employees
120
100-249 Employees
72
250-499 Employees
24
500-999 Employees
6
1000+ Employees
0
All Sun Prairie Businesses
4298

As a new Sun Prairie entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Sun Prairie 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
Aluminum Die-Casting Foundries
1
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
1
Architectural Services
2
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
1
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
4
Baked Goods Stores
2
Beauty Salons
13
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
2
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
3
Bowling Centers
1
Business Associations
2
Car Washes
1
Child Day Care Services
18
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
1
Civic and Social Organizations
4
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
1
Collection Agencies
1
Commercial Bakeries
1
Commercial Lithographic Printing
1
Computer and Software Stores
2
Computer Systems Design Services
3
Consumer Lending
2
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
1
Couriers
1
Credit Bureaus
1
Credit Unions
1
Dental Laboratories
1
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
1
Digital Printing
1
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
1
Discount Department Stores
1
Drafting Services
1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
8
Electrical Contractors
11
Elementary and Secondary Schools
1
Engineering Services
6
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
2
Fine Arts Schools
2
Finish Carpentry Contractors
9
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
5
Flooring Contractors
6
Florists
3
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
1
Food Service Contractors
1
Framing Contractors
4
Full-Service Restaurants
18
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
2
General Freight Trucking, Local
5
General Warehousing and Storage
1
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
2
Glass and Glazing Contractors
1
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
1
Graphic Design Services
1
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
4
Homes for the Elderly
7
Household Appliance Stores
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
11
Interior Design Services
1
Investigation Services
1
Investment Advice
1
Jewelry Stores
3
Landscaping Services
14
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
1
Limited-Service Restaurants
17
Machine Shops
1
Mail-Order Houses
2
Marketing Consulting Services
1
Meat Markets
1
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
1
Miscellaneous Intermediation
2
Mobile Food Services
1
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
11
Nail Salons
1
Natural Gas Distribution
1
New Housing Operative Builders
1
Newspaper Publishers
1
Nonresidential Property Managers
1
Nursing Care Facilities
2
Office Administrative Services
1
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
1
Offices of Chiropractors
4
Offices of Lawyers
6
Offices of Optometrists
3
Offices of Other Holding Companies
1
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
1
Optical Goods Stores
2
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
2
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
10
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
4
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
4
Photography Studios, Portrait
1
Private Mail Centers
1
Real Estate Credit
1
Residential Property Managers
3
Residential Remodelers
11
Roofing Contractors
2
Rooming and Boarding Houses
1
Savings Institutions
1
Securities Brokerage
4
Siding Contractors
5
Site Preparation Contractors
5
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
2
Solid Waste Collection
1
Solid Waste Landfill
1
Sporting Goods Stores
5
Sports and Recreation Instruction
2
Tax Preparation Services
4
Telemarketing Bureaus
1
Temporary Help Services
1
Tire Dealers
3
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
1
Travel Agencies
2
Used Car Dealers
3
Veterinary Services
4
Video Tape and Disc Rental
3
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
3

Have You Considered Franchising?

As you drive around Sun Prairie, it's apparent that franchising has become a very popular way to start a business. Would going with a franchise be a good idea for you?

Most business experts recommend that you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchise Versus Business Opportunity. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.

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

Sample franchise opportunities include Gemini Tub Repair and Lincoln Log Homes. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Asian Restaurant Franchises and Environmental Testing Franchises.

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

Naming the Company

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.

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: Naming a Business.

On a final note, given that you are opening a business in Sun Prairie, it's critical that you ensure that your company name has not already been claimed by another Wisconsin business.

Forming a Company in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

It's very important that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Among other things, forming a legal entity for the business limits your liabilities.

When forming a company, you will decide among many company types, such as a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.

Incorporation is a very popular way to form a business. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. If you are starting a business in Wisconsin, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Wisconsin. As it turns out, you can incorporate wherever you want. For example, it's very popular to incorporate in Delaware, and incorporating in Nevada has become very trendy as well. Don't forget, though, that you will have to register as a foreign entity in all states that you do business in.

There are many nuances to forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Registered Agents. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, our web page covering Incorporating in Wisconsin may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Wisconsin.

Make Sure You Have a Business Plan

A business plan is essential to the health of your new business. In effect, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Failure to write a business plan is a recipe for disaster.

To learn more about business plans, read Expert Advice on Business Plans. You should also take advantage of free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Wisconsin.

Raising Money for Your New Venture

Raising money to fund your new Sun Prairie business requires strong organization skills and perseverance. The reality is that there is very little funding available for new small businesses, and you have to explore every possible alternative.

Fortunately, this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled 504 Loans.

For Sun Prairie entrepreneurs in need of startup financing, browse our List of Wisconsin Angel Investors and our List of Wisconsin Venture Capital Firms.

Selling Tips

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

Good selling involves demonstrating that your wares meet your customer's needs. Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.

Cold Call Selling offers some helpful tips on how to sell. It's one of several good articles on our site regarding Entrepreneurial Selling.

Never Give Up

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

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

We are here to help Sun Prairie businesses to be successful. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Sun Prairie, neighborhood development and overall economic health.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

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

Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in Wisconsin

Starting a Business in Sturgeon Bay
Starting a Business in Superior

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

 

 

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