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Big businesses can happen in small towns. Small towns offer the unique opportunities of concentrated markets, as well as the challenges of limited populations. Finding a small coastal town business idea is about meeting the needs of a good product or service.
Small Town Retail Business Ideas
To start a business in a small town, you will need to do local market research, as well as the exact geography of the physical location. In a small town, you depend on a smaller team for the business, so choosing the right location is important to optimize the traffic in the store. Even if your business plan is based on services, it is a good idea to have a good idea of the size of your market.
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Once you have an idea of the consumer market in your town, you can lay the groundwork for different small town business ideas to ultimately decide which one you think will work best. After learning more about the available resources and other businesses in your area, you can talk to other business owners and evaluate the costs and needs of starting a small town business. For inspiration, we have compiled a list of 35 small town business ideas that every community needs. You can use this list as a starting point for your research, or perhaps find the right idea for your small town business.
Starting a small town business requires thorough research and understanding of your community. Once you’ve learned about the businesses in your area and your local needs (more on that below), you’re ready to decide which businesses are right for you and your community.
Try to find an industry or service where small business profitability, community needs, and your interests intersect. Here are some small town business ideas you may want to consider:
Eat, dine, or in between, successful small town restaurants are all about giving them what they want, but don’t have anymore. When starting a restaurant, it may be tempting to copy popular spots in the city, but consider the needs or wants that the locals can’t find nearby and worthwhile attractions from the next city.
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For example, a farm-to-table restaurant is a great small town business idea, but if you’re not in an agriculturally rich area or have one in your town, consider alternatives. Think about what to expect when your family leaves town. Maybe it’s a fine dining experience, or maybe a slice of New York pizza, but there’s a good chance there’s a market for a new restaurant. You have to figure out what people want and will eat.
Slow down business traffic by serving the beverages people need throughout the day. If coffee shops aren’t a “thing” in your town, serving coffee in a place where people go all day – like a bar – can be slow to kick-start regular activity and boost cross-business. A local small town bar may be your dream business, but a coffee shop can start bringing in money in the morning; No need to compromise if you create an environment that works day and night.
Depending on city laws and state taxes, opening a liquor store can be one of the most profitable small business ideas. Especially in areas where stores are not allowed to sell alcohol, liquor stores control the alcohol market in small towns. Be sure to read about how to start a liquor store, because securing the documents you need (such as a liquor license) is difficult.
A good handyman will always be in demand, even in small towns. If you often get calls from friends, family, and neighbors to check on leaking pipes or boards, you may be on your way to starting a small town business.
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Starting a contractor service is relatively easy if you do odd jobs and have the idea to hire you. If people in the area aren’t familiar with your work, try contacting general contractors who are willing to take on small projects, and hopefully get your name out there for future clients. In word-of-mouth businesses such as service, repair, and construction, people you know and who know your work are your strongest salespeople.
If you live in a rural area or a small town a car is fine, but being far from a dealer can make regular service difficult. Auto repair services fill a clear need in small towns and make life easier for locals, so you may want to consider opening a shop in your town.
Also, cars are broken down everywhere, and most tow trucks charge per kilometer. So, if your town is a long distance between major cities, you may be able to start towing the car, even if you don’t have a proper repair shop.
Some people don’t like cleaning, and there’s a good chance someone lives in your town. Why not start a cleaning business for them? This is another service that benefits from a word-of-mouth referral system, and can also be paired with other services such as day care or yard work. Professional cleaning is a valuable skill, but not one that requires a lot of money in courses or certification, so it’s a good option if you’re looking for a low-cost sideline.
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This service will require a little more advertising to get the word out, as it is less visible than a storefront business and more typical than a service such as house cleaning. But if you don’t plan to do major repairs, it won’t require much equipment, so you’ll keep the total cost low.
Opening a pet store in your town is one of the great small town business ideas if there are no local supply stores or large chains like PetSmart or PetCo. Depending on the pet population in your area, there may be a need for pet sitting and boarding.
If you’re interested in opening a pet store or pet service business in a small town, ask local pet owners where they get their food and grooming supplies. Your local pet store owner can also be a great resource if you are interested in offering grooming, walking or boarding services.
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Your town probably has at least one barbershop or beauty salon, but this can really help you if you want to open a successful barbershop. If a specific demographic isn’t catered for (eg it’s a predominantly male barber shop), guess who’s hair needs isn’t on the high street.
If your city is serviced by full-service hair salons and barbers, you may want to consider more specialized hair care businesses such as salons, lashes, and tanning in addition to hair services.
They may not be the most glamorous businesses, but service stations are absolutely necessary in communities where most people rely on cars and trucks for transportation. Small towns on or near major highways can have a lot of traffic, and unlike most businesses, gas stations can benefit from remote locations between cities. Selling lottery tickets and cigarettes can also generate significant income, especially if you are the only seller in the area.
When a town cannot support a grocery store, there may be a good reason: perhaps most people commute every day and use other stores, or there is not enough population to support a large chain.
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If you want to go the independent route (eg not open a franchise store), try to find a way to specialize in your store so as not to overspend on large inventory. Use local products, trends and tastes to inform this decision.
In the field of agriculture, farmers’ market stores that carry products according to The festival is popular with locals and tourists. Cities that already have major grocery stores, but few options for organic, local, gluten-free, or vegan options, are excellent candidates for specialty grocery stores.
A pharmacy or dispensary requires a lot of work (from hiring a pharmacist, buying insurance to installing security measures), but if your town is not served by a pharmacy, it can be a good opportunity to open a long-term business in your community. .
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