Top 5 Business Ideas in Connecticut

Best Connecticut Business Ideas

One of the best things about starting a Connecticut business is being your own boss. Whether you’re looking to build an empire or just earn a little money on the side, there’s a business idea that will allow you to achieve your goals as an entrepreneur.

Top 5 Business Ideas in Connecticut:

1. Board Game Cafe
2. Convenience Store
3. Laundromat
4. Security Guard Company
5. Mobile Bartending Service

If you have a business idea picked out, check out our simple, step-by-step Form an LLC in Connecticut guide to get your new small business started.

1. Board Game Cafe

People have been playing board games for a long time, and these games continue to be popular. In 2016, board game sales reached $9.6 billion -- and a lot of the demand was driven by millennials. Cafes have also become popular in the past few years. Just a few decades ago, cafes were sparse and did most of their business before 10:00 a.m. Today, they’re found on many street corners, and some cafes are right across the street from each other. Additionally, the industry continues to see growth of 7 percent annually.

Board game cafe businesses capitalize on both of these trends, providing a cafe environment where people can play board games. They give people a social place to gather around a fun game. In addition to providing games, some game cafes also offer food and beverages.

Learn how to start a board game cafe.

Find a Web Domain for Your Connecticut Business

Securing a web domain and creating a quality website is important for the overall success of an online business. You can search for an available domain below:

After you have your perfect business idea and secure a domain for your business, one of the best things you can do for your small business is create a website.

2. Convenience Store

Convenience stores are often characterized by their late hours, which is convenient for customers who may be passing through the area as they travel. The stores vary in size, ranging from small kiosks to deluxe convenience stores. Regardless of the size and what is sold on the inside of the store, many convenience stores rely heavily on selling gasoline as a source of revenue.

Learn how to start a convenience store.

3. Laundromat

Laundromats can be great businesses for people who want to start a business in their spare time, as laundromats do not require a large time commitment from their owners early on. Business owners should ideally be somewhat mechanically inclined, should they need to service the machines, and they should have some basic business skills.

Laundromats have very high startup costs ($100,000 minimum), but they have an average profit margin of 20% to 30%. Businesses can increase their profits by offering additional services or selling laundry-related products. Growth potential is practically unlimited and business owners can decide if they want to expand their business by opening additional laundromats.

Learn how to start a laundromat business.

4. Security Guard Company

This is a needed business because companies and individuals often don’t have the resources to perform their own security detail. Security guard services usually charge hourly fees for the services being provided. The prices charged will increase based on the number of security guards provided for the clients.

Learn how to start a security guard company.

5. Mobile Bartending Service

Anyone with bartending experience and a bit of business savvy may consider starting a mobile bartending business. Mobile bartenders will be doing more than just serving drinks and crafting cocktails. They will be building an atmosphere and creating a great experience for their customers. Someone with people skills and event planning experience will excel in this field.

The cost to start this type of business is small, especially if you already have a vehicle to transport your mobile bar. Beyond that, you will need bar tools, a website and business cards, some liability insurance, and a license to serve alcohol. You can choose to keep your business small, remaining a one-man operation, or expand into a fleet of mobile bartenders. Earning potential for this business is solid. Profits generally start slow, but with a few years of experience under their belts, some mobile bartending businesses are bringing in up to $76,000 per year.

Learn how to start a mobile bartending business.

Importance of SEO for Businesses

Once you've chosen the best business idea for you, determining a search engine optimization (SEO) strategy is essential for small business success. Good SEO allows Google (and your customers) to more easily find your business website and the services you offer.

Here are some of the benefits of SEO for your business:

• Increases traffic to your business website
• Improves user experience for your customers
• Strengthens brand awareness and recognition

You can learn more about the basics of SEO and how to implement a strategy by reading our Beginner's Guide to SEO.

Other Important Services for Small Businesses:

• Use our Business Name Generator for help brainstorming your new venture’s name
• Learn how to form an LLC, one of the best business structures for Connecticut businesses
• Use our free business plan generator to start planning your Connecticut business today
• Get your unique logo with our free Logo Maker and start branding your business
• After finding your perfect idea, learn how to start a business