Exciting! You’ve decided that you want to start a business.
Consider some of the unique qualities of Long Beach and what type of businesses do well here.
In 2009, the City of Long Beach was named the Most Business Friendly City in Los Angeles County by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation. Overall, Long Beach has been recognized with a number of national and state awards for being a great place to live, work and play.
Long Beach is one of the largest cities in California. It’s located between two major markets, the counties of Los Angeles and Orange. Long Beach has a major port offering a gateway to international business.
The City's Economic Development Department offers business training, as well as help with permits, finding a location, hiring employees, and finding funding. They also have information on tax incentives from the City, State, and Federal government. For more information contact the City’s Ombudsman, Seyed Jalali.
Next, you’ll want to conduct market research to see if other businesses are pursuing a similar idea. This will help you find your competitive advantage and help you turn your idea into a profitable business.
If you've developed your business plan you should have a good sense of who your target customers are, who is the most likely to purchase your products or services, and who you want to market to. Use this information to your advantage and consider how you can locate your business to most effectively serve your target customer base.
Consider factors such as age, ethnicity, gender, income, buying habits, occupations, and household composition. For instance, if your target customers are mothers with small children, you may want to think about neighborhoods that are family-friendly or areas that are located close to other family amenities.