Starting a Small Business in Georgia
Why Should I Start My Small Business In Georgia?
Georgia's Department of Economic Development touts the state as one of the nation's best for small business startups. According to Georgia's Secretary of State, 99.7% of the 808.285 registered Georgia-based businesses are classified as small businesses.
For small business, Georgia ranked:
- #1 for small business climate by the NFIB In November 2018
- #2 for most women-owned small businesses startups in 2018 by American Express
- Highly for its well-educated talent pool
- with two consensus Top 25 public universities (University of Georgia and Georgia Tech) and another, Emory University, ranked #21 among National Universities by US News.
How to Start a Small Business In Georgia
Georgia's Department of Economic Development offers some very helpful resources for setting up a small business in Georgia.
Starting a small business in Georgia requires capital. There are a variety of sources of small business funding to explore. Georgia also offers several incentives for launching a small business.
Another excellent resource is SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives), a non-profit and resource partner of the SBA (Small Business Administration). SCORE can help you find a free business mentor or locate one of its 389 local chapters across the U.S.
What Are the Main Industries in the State of Georgia?
Georgia's economy is diverse and offers a nice balance of traditional and more modern industries. Major sectors include:
- Real Estate Development
- Business Services
- Finance and Insurance
- Manufacturing
- Hospitality
- Health Services
- Logistics
- Retail Trade
- Information Services
- Agriculture
Georgia is also home to several large and well-known publicly-traded companies. Georgia's Top 10 Public Companies by Annual Revenue are:
- The Home Depot
- UPS
- Delta Airlines
- Coca-Cola
- Southern Company
- AFLAC
- Genuine Parts
- WestRock
- Truist
- Pulte Group
Georgia's Top 10 Employers are:
- The Home Depot
- UPS
- Randstad USA
- Coca-Cola
- Hansen Beverage
- Delta Airlines
- Cox Enterprises
- Georgia-Pacific
- Genuine Parts
- WestRock
How to Buy a Franchise or Existing Business in Georgia?
There are options other than starting a business from scratch. One tried and true path to small business ownership is buying a franchise in Georgia. There are some excellent options available for financing a franchise.
Another option to explore is buying an existing small business for sale in Georgia. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of independent small business owners interested in selling their business at any given time. Here are some FAQs about small business loans.