California Business Startup Guides

Opening a Business in Ventura, California

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

What Type of Business Should You Start?

An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. If you are struggling with what type of business to start, read Free Business Ideas.

If you still are not sure what type of business to start, peruse the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our Starting a Dance Club guide or our Starting a Tatoo Parlor guide.

Don't forget that you are starting a business in Ventura. Some businesses will do better in Ventura than others. Make sure you fully understand Ventura demographics before you lock in on your business idea.

Ventura, California Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
12466
5-9 Employees
4566
10-19 Employees
2856
20-49 Employees
2172
50-99 Employees
780
100-249 Employees
318
250-499 Employees
30
500-999 Employees
12
1000+ Employees
18
All Ventura Businesses
23218

As a new Ventura entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Ventura 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
6
Ambulance Services
1
Amusement Arcades
3
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
4
Architectural Services
14
Art Dealers
1
Automobile Driving Schools
1
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
1
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
1
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
24
Automotive Transmission Repair
6
Baked Goods Stores
5
Barber Shops
1
Beauty Salons
23
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
2
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
14
Blood and Organ Banks
1
Boat Dealers
7
Book Publishers
2
Book Stores
5
Bowling Centers
2
Building Inspection Services
1
Business and Secretarial Schools
1
Business Associations
5
Cable and Other Program Distribution
2
Cafeterias
4
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
3
Canvas and Related Product Mills
2
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
6
Caterers
9
Cemeteries and Crematories
2
Cheese Manufacturing
1
Child and Youth Services
5
Child Day Care Services
22
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
3
Claims Adjusting
5
Clothing Accessories Stores
7
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
6
Collection Agencies
3
Commercial Bakeries
2
Commercial Lithographic Printing
7
Commercial Photography
5
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
1
Community Food Services
2
Computer and Software Stores
6
Computer Systems Design Services
16
Confectionery and Nut Stores
1
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
1
Consumer Lending
3
Convenience Stores
2
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
1
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
2
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
1
Couriers
3
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
2
Credit Bureaus
1
Curtain and Drapery Mills
1
Custom Computer Programming Services
23
Custom Roll Forming
1
Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing
1
Dental Laboratories
3
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
1
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
2
Direct Mail Advertising
3
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
5
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
1
Discount Department Stores
3
Document Preparation Services
7
Drafting Services
2
Drilling Oil and Gas Wells
2
Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters
1
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
7
Educational Support Services
7
Electric Power Distribution
4
Electrical Contractors
47
Electronic Shopping
6
Elementary and Secondary Schools
6
Engineering Services
51
Environmental Consulting Services
14
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
3
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
17
Facilities Support Services
1
Family Clothing Stores
13
Family Planning Centers
3
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
2
Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing
1
Fine Arts Schools
2
Finfish Fishing
1
Finish Carpentry Contractors
15
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers
1
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
20
Flooring Contractors
10
Florists
6
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
8
Food Service Contractors
1
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
2
Framing Contractors
10
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
1
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
4
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
3
Furniture Stores
14
General Automotive Repair
37
General Freight Trucking, Local
9
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
2
General Rental Centers
6
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
18
Glass and Glazing Contractors
4
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
5
Grantmaking Foundations
5
Graphic Design Services
7
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
1
Hardware Manufacturing
1
Hardware Stores
6
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
9
Home Centers
3
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
4
Home Health Care Services
11
Home Health Equipment Rental
3
Homes for the Elderly
7
Human Rights Organizations
1
Industrial Building Construction
3
Industrial Design Services
2
Industrial Pattern Manufacturing
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
58
Interior Design Services
2
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
1
Investigation Services
4
Investment Advice
9
Iron and Steel Mills
1
Iron Foundries
1
Janitorial Services
21
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
1
Jewelry Stores
15
Land Subdivision
4
Landscape Architectural Services
5
Landscaping Services
46
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
10
Limited-Service Restaurants
95
Limousine Service
5
Linen Supply
4
Locksmiths
1
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
1
Machine Shops
16
Mail-Order Houses
4
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
2
Marinas
3
Marketing Consulting Services
12
Materials Recovery Facilities
2
Meat Markets
3
Meat Processed from Carcasses
1
Media Representatives
1
Medical Laboratories
1
Men's Clothing Stores
3
Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing
1
Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
1
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
1
Miscellaneous Intermediation
6
Mobile Food Services
4
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
8
Motion Picture and Video Distribution
1
Motion Picture and Video Production
3
Motorcycle Dealers
10
Museums
1
Music Publishers
1
Musical Groups and Artists
5
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
2
Nail Salons
5
Natural Gas Distribution
2
New Housing Operative Builders
1
News Dealers and Newsstands
2
Newspaper Publishers
2
Nonresidential Property Managers
15
Nursing Care Facilities
5
Office Administrative Services
9
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
5
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
43
Offices of Chiropractors
30
Offices of Dentists
86
Offices of Lawyers
134
Offices of Optometrists
14
Offices of Other Holding Companies
1
Offices of Podiatrists
4
One-Hour Photofinishing
1
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
4
Optical Goods Stores
7
Packaging Machinery Manufacturing
1
Packing and Crating
1
Paging
2
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
3
Parking Lots and Garages
1
Passenger Car Rental
7
Payroll Services
2
Periodical Publishers
8
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
5
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
3
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
2
Photography Studios, Portrait
3
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
1
Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
2
Political Organizations
2
Port and Harbor Operations
1
Portfolio Management
3
Private Mail Centers
4
Professional Organizations
5
Public Relations Agencies
1
Quick Printing
7
Radio Stations
3
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
2
Real Estate Credit
20
Recreational Goods Rental
3
Remediation Services
6
Repossession Services
1
Residential Property Managers
22
Residential Remodelers
37
Retail Bakeries
5
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
3
Roofing Contractors
11
Sales Financing
1
Savings Institutions
9
Securities Brokerage
12
Security Guards and Patrol Services
5
Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing
1
Septic Tank and Related Services
3
Sewage Treatment Facilities
2
Ship Building and Repairing
1
Shoe Stores
19
Siding Contractors
4
Sign Manufacturing
3
Site Preparation Contractors
26
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
43
Software Publishers
2
Sound Recording Studios
1
Special Needs Transportation
1
Specialty Canning
1
Sporting Goods Stores
14
Sports and Recreation Instruction
4
Sports Teams and Clubs
1
Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing
1
Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing
1
Tax Preparation Services
14
Telephone Answering Services
2
Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing
1
Temporary Help Services
12
Temporary Shelters
1
Testing Laboratories
6
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
5
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
1
Tire Dealers
12
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
5
Tobacco Stores
1
Toilet Preparation Manufacturing
2
Travel Agencies
6
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
9
Used Merchandise Stores
16
Vending Machine Operators
1
Veterinary Services
12
Video Tape and Disc Rental
9
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
11
Voluntary Health Organizations
2
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
21
Window Treatment Stores
4
Wineries
1
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
12
Women's Clothing Stores
21

Naming the Company

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.

Companies like Starbucks, Apple, Target, Microsoft and Intuit all have strong company names that are easy to remember and have become well-loved brands. Wouldn't it be nice if your new company name got on a similar track?

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 Ventura, it's very important that you make sure your company name has not already been claimed by another California business.

Where to Get Money to Start a Company

Raising money to fund your new Ventura business will be harder than you might expect. To obtain business financing, you will need to hear a lot of rejections before you finally find a funding solution that works for you.

The good news is this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled Business Line of Credit.

For Ventura entrepreneurs in need of startup financing, check out our List of California Angel Investors and our List of California Venture Capital Firms.

Marketing Your New Business

To grow your Ventura business, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.

We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Billboard Advertising Best Practices is a good read to get your marketing ideas flowing. That's just one of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.

Building Up Your Sales

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

Why should customers buy from you instead of buying from competitors? Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.

Mastering the Complex Sale is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.

Never Give Up

You have a dream -- starting a business in Ventura. 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 Ventura and throughout the United States . 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 Ventura, California

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

More Business Startup Guides for California

Starting a Business in Venice
Starting a Business in Victorville

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

 

 

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