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Starting a Small Business in Massachusetts

Welcome to the Small Business Startup Massachusetts Franchise Directory! Here, you’ll find everything you need to begin your journey to business ownership in The Old Bay State. If you’re thinking about starting a small business in MA, read on for an overview of the state economy. Afterward, explore business opportunities and franchises for sale with our Massachusetts Franchise Search Tool.

Massachusetts Industry Trends

If an industry is performing well, business opportunities within it are often worth exploring. Begin your market research with this list of the Massachusetts economy's largest industries in 2022. Afterward, take your research one step further by investigating niche markets and B2B opportunities within one of these top revenue-generating industries.

Drug, Cosmetic & Toiletry Wholesaling (Revenue: $68.6 billion)
Life Insurance & Annuities (Revenue: $66.7 billion)
Colleges & Universities (Revenue: $57.5 billion)
Hospitals (Revenue: $41.4 billion)
Real Estate Investment Trusts (Revenue: $40.1 billion)
Health & Medical Insurance (Revenue: $39.6 billion)
Biotechnology (Revenue: $38.1 billion)
Portfolio Management (Revenue: $35.6 billion)
Public Schools (Revenue: $33.5 billion)
Commercial Banking (Revenue: $31.6 billion)

Massachusetts Sector Statistics

When starting a small business in MA, gross domestic product (GDP) is another tool that entrepreneurs can use to make investment decisions. Generally, a steadily rising GDP means that people are spending more money and more jobs are being created.

The three sectors that contributed most to Massachusetts’ GDP in 2022 were Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; Real Estate, Rentals & Leasing; and Manufacturing. Combined, these three sectors represented 42.3% of the state’s GDP. In 2022, the 10 sectors that contributed most to Massachusetts’ GDP included:

Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (Value: $91.3 billion* | Annual growth: 7.7%)
Real Estate, Rentals & Leasing (Value: $65.8 billion* | Annual growth: 1.6%)
Manufacturing (Value: $58 billion* | Annual growth: 4.3%)
Media Creation & Distribution (Value: $48.4 billion* | Annual growth: 11.2%)
Finance & Insurance (Value: $48 billion* | Annual growth: 4.4%)
Healthcare & Social Assistance (Value: $47.5 billion* | Annual growth: 0.8%)
Wholesale Trade (Value: $26.5 billion* | Annual growth: 3.0%)
Retail Trade (Value: $22 billion* | Annual growth: 0.4%)
Construction (Value: $18.3 billion* | Annual growth: 4.3%)
Administration, Business Support & Waste Management Services (Value: $16.1 billion* | Annual growth: 6.3%)

*Approximately

Massachusetts Population Statistics

A growing population often means greater demand and a steady flow of new customers. If you are undecided about the location of your new business, start by investigating population statistics. Afterward, take your research a step further by exploring population demographics. By doing so, you can decide whether a location is a good match for your target market.

In 2022, counties with the highest populations in Massachusetts included:

Middlesex (Population: 1.6 million | Annual growth rate*: 0.1%)
Worcester (Population: 831,000 | Annual growth rate*: 0.1%)
Suffolk (Population: 800.8k | Annual growth rate*: -0.1%)
Essex (Population: 795.1k | Annual growth rate*: 0.2%)
Norfolk (Population: 714.8k | Annual growth rate*: 0.4%)
Bristol (Population: 570.0k | Annual growth rate*: 0.3%)
Plymouth (Population: 528.6k | Annual growth rate*: 0.5%)
Hampden (Population: 461.1k | Annual growth rate*: -0.3%)
Barnstable (Population: 212.9k | Annual growth rate*: -0.1%)
Hampshire (Population: 161.4k | Annual growth rate*: N/A)

*From 2017 to 2022.

Massachusetts Business Opportunities

We hope this snapshot of the Massachusetts economy helps as you investigate business opportunities in The Old Bay State! Starting a small business in MA is an exciting journey, and we know you’re probably eager to get started. But remember, take your time to explore all your options. While you’ll always have the “opportunity” to start your own business, sometimes, it makes more sense to invest in an opportunity that already exists. These are called “Franchise Opportunities,” and they offer several benefits, including the recognition of a well-established brand and a proven track record of success.

To learn more, start by exploring franchise opportunities in Massachusetts, below!

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Five Star Painting

Ranked as a top Painting franchise by 2026 Entrepreneur Franchise 500.82,200 - 194,600 initial investment rangerefer to 2026 Five Star Painting FDD for details.Request free info and one of our franchise experts will be in touch

$50,000 Min Cash Required

SiteSwan

Start your own web design business with SiteSwan. Create & sell websites to small businesses in your area with our easy-to-use, private label website builder. Set your own prices - keep 100 of the sales. Our turnkey platform is designed for anyone looking to sell websites to small businesses - no experience needed.

$199 Min Cash Required

Batteries Plus

Over 30 years of consistent growth. Ongoing support. Multiple revenue streams. Whether youre looking into owning your very first store, or youre interested in adding to your existing franchise portfolio, Batteries Plus is here to help. Learn more about the costs, benefits, and available locations today

$100,000 Min Cash Required

CartCapital - Subscription Based E-Commerce Store

Did you know you could partner with a company to build out your entire e-commerce store, from product research to inventory acquisition to marketing? Yep You can easily make 6-7 figures in passive income when we build your e-commerce empire and money-making machine from the ground up All it takes is an upfront investment, and our team will do the rest. By this time next year, you could be sitting on a 7 figure empire. Learn more now

$30,000 Min Cash Required

Automated Investments

Automated Investments is the pillar of e-Commerce automation. Automated Investments build and operate profitable and hands off Amazon FBA (Fulfilled-By-Amazon) businesses for their clients and investors. While the clients and investors act as the capital partners, Automated Investments works tirelessly behind the scenes as the operation partners providing 20-50 monthly ROI. Automated Investments handles the Amazon store creation, product research, product purchasing, Amazon FBA product prep, shipping the inventory to your Amazon FBA store, full complete custom support and ongoing management. We lift our fingers so you dont have to.

$100,000 Min Cash Required

Wealth Automators

Click the video below to learn how Wealth Automators eCommerce stores provide bi-weekly income for the store owner by selling only USA products on Amazon, Walmart, TikTok Shop, and Facebook Marketplace. We use the same business model as the largest stores on Amazon earning 110 Million monthly revenue. Individuals own their stores 100, while Wealth Automators handles all day-to-day operations in return for a profit split. Business owners achieve 1229 ROI monthly within 60 days.

Starting a Small Business in Massachusetts