Minnesota Business Startup Guides

Opening a Business in Virginia, Minnesota

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

Are You Ready for Life as an Owner?

Most new businesses don't make it, in part because the founder did not have the perseverance and abilities that are necessary to succeed. So, before you open a business, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.

Because entrepreneurship is not for everyone, we recommend you do the following to help you assess whether you should move forward with starting a business:

  • Grab a meal or cofee with other entrepreneurs in Virginia. Listen closely to their experiences and see if you think you too can be successful.
  • 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. Ask them directly: Do I have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Listen carefully to their answer, as they presumably know your strengths and weaknesses.

Virginia, Minnesota Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
1902
5-9 Employees
1125
10-19 Employees
684
20-49 Employees
333
50-99 Employees
135
100-249 Employees
54
250-499 Employees
27
500-999 Employees
0
1000+ Employees
0
All Virginia Businesses
4260

As a new Virginia entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Virginia 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
Architectural Services
1
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
1
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
7
Automotive Transmission Repair
1
Baked Goods Stores
1
Beauty Salons
7
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
2
Blood and Organ Banks
1
Boat Dealers
2
Book Stores
2
Bowling Centers
2
Business Associations
2
Cable and Other Program Distribution
1
Cafeterias
1
Car Washes
1
Caterers
1
Cemeteries and Crematories
3
Child Day Care Services
4
Civic and Social Organizations
4
Claims Adjusting
1
Clothing Accessories Stores
2
Collection Agencies
1
Commercial Bakeries
1
Commercial Lithographic Printing
1
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
1
Couriers
1
Credit Unions
2
Discount Department Stores
2
Electric Power Distribution
1
Electrical Contractors
4
Engineering Services
1
Environmental Consulting Services
1
Family Planning Centers
1
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
1
Fine Arts Schools
1
Floor Covering Stores
1
Florists
3
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
2
Food Service Contractors
1
Freight Transportation Arrangement
1
Full-Service Restaurants
14
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
2
General Freight Trucking, Local
1
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
1
General Rental Centers
1
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
3
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
1
Hardware Stores
3
Heating Oil Dealers
1
Home Centers
1
Home Health Care Services
1
Homes for the Elderly
1
Household Appliance Stores
4
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
16
Internet Service Providers
1
Iron Foundries
1
Janitorial Services
2
Jewelry Stores
2
Landscaping Services
1
Limited-Service Restaurants
10
Locksmiths
1
Logging
1
Machine Shops
1
Materials Recovery Facilities
1
Meat Markets
1
Men's Clothing Stores
1
Museums
1
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
1
New Car Dealers
2
News Dealers and Newsstands
1
Nonresidential Property Managers
1
Nursing Care Facilities
1
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
1
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
3
Offices of Chiropractors
6
Offices of Dentists
10
Offices of Lawyers
9
Offices of Podiatrists
1
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
1
Optical Goods Stores
3
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
2
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
3
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
2
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
2
Plate Work Manufacturing
1
Prepress Services
1
Professional Organizations
1
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
1
Savings Institutions
1
Securities Brokerage
3
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
1
Siding Contractors
1
Site Preparation Contractors
2
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
2
Sporting Goods Stores
2
Support Activities for Metal Mining
1
Tax Preparation Services
1
Telecommunications Resellers
1
Temporary Shelters
1
Testing Laboratories
1
Tire Dealers
3
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
1
Used Car Dealers
1
Used Merchandise Stores
3
Vending Machine Operators
2
Video Tape and Disc Rental
1
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
3
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
3
Women's Clothing Stores
6

Choosing a Business Name

Making the right decision when choosing a company name is very important. There are many decisions you'll make now that you can change later, but changing a company name years down the road is not very easy. So, choose a good company name at the outset.

Company names need to be easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and easy to remember.

Numerous company naming issues are discussed in more detail in this article: Naming a Business.

There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are planning on starting a business in Virginia, it's imperative that you check now that no Minnesota company has already registered the company name you have selected.

Company Formation in Virginia, Minnesota

It's very important that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will shield you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.

When forming a company, you will pick from many company types, such as a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.

Incorporating is a very common way to legally create a business entity. 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 Minnesota, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Minnesota. In fact, 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 fundamentals of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Avoiding Personal Liability in Business. You may also want to seek the advice of an lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Virginia, Minnesota, our web page covering Incorporating in Minnesota may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Minnesota.

Bring in Revenues

Mastering the art of selling is a must if you want your new Virginia business to do well.

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.

Selling on the Phone 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.

How to Improve Your Entrepreneurial Abilities

The best business owners know that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.

Given that you are starting a business in Virginia, Minnesota, you should get information on some of the many programs available at nearby Minnesota universities, colleges and community colleges. Another way to keep up on your learning is to investigate Virginia networking organizations.

Never Give Up

Most new Virginia 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.

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

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Virginia, Minnesota

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

Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in Minnesota

Starting a Business in Verndale
Starting a Business in Wabasha

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

 

 

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