This week I welcome back guest blogger Seth Murphey. In this article, he discusses the advantages of starting a business in Cleveland. I grew up in Denver, Colorado, and moved to Cleveland in 1996. Cleveland is an awesome place to live! I think Seth’s article touches on some of the reasons why.

I hope you enjoy his article!

Location can make or break a business’s success and is a critical consideration when deciding where to find a company. If you’re looking at Cleveland, Ohio, as the hub for your entrepreneurial venture, you’re off to a good start. This Ohio city is well-connected while offering excellent resources for entrepreneurs.

Read on to find out more about Cleveland and why it’s great for entrepreneurs.

Take advantage of a low cost of living

Cleveland has a lower cost of living compared to other major U.S. cities. You’ll find food, utilities, transportation, and housing are all affordable. Compared to other places in the country, home prices here have remained manageable throughout the post-Covid real estate boom, with the median home price at around $260,000.

Enjoy excellent quality of life during your time off

As an entrepreneur, you’re undoubtedly passionate about your business. However, you don’t want to spend all day, every day working. When you have downtime, you want to make the most of it. Cleveland offers an excellent quality of life with many attractions to keep you busy. Some options include:

Visit museums like the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Get into nature and check out the Cleveland Museum of Natural History or the Great Lakes Science Center.
Take the kids to the Cleveland Botanical Garden or the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

Harness the power of a supportive community

As a small business owner, you’ll rely largely on your local community for support when you’re first getting started. Cleveland doesn’t disappoint. There are many organizations, both governmental and private, to help you find your footing as an entrepreneur. Here are a few of the highlights:

Ohio Office of Community Development offers Community Development Finance.
Plexus LGBT & Allied Chamber of Commerce

Enjoy ample funding resources

Starting a business requires financial investment. You will need money for things like business licenses, technology, employee salaries, commercial rent, and more. Even if you’re starting a work-from-home business, you’ll need funds for basics like marketing. Unless you have a sizable nest egg, you’ll want help. Fortunately, there are a variety of local, state, regional, and national incentive programs available to Cleveland businesses.

Tap into the power of an educated workforce

An educated workforce helps to support an active labor market. Cleveland is ideally located with many colleges, universities, and technical schools in the city. This means that when it comes time to hire workers for your business, you’ll have a field of eager young talent to scout. Here are some of the nearby schools:

Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland State University
Delta State University
Cleveland Institute of Art

Your quick-start guide to Cleveland entrepreneurship

Ready to make Cleveland your home base for your new business venture? Fantastic! There are a few items you’ll have to check off your to-do list to get started. Here’s a quick guide:

Research how to register an LLC in Ohio.
Check with the city regarding required permits, ordinances, and zoning regulations.
Kickstart your marketing by designing a website, marketing through social media, and using a logo design maker.
Be sure to invest in high-quality software for bookkeeping.

Cleveland offers many perks for a potential business owner. Use the above tips and tools to help guide your path to startup success in The Buckeye State.

This article is brought to you by the Cleveland Appraisal Blog. For more information, please visit our website or contact us today!

Thank you, Seth, for sharing some great aspects of starting a business in Cleveland, Ohio! Cleveland rocks!

This week, I leave you with the world record for stone skipping. Would you believe 88 skips in one throw? Check out these videos! Impressive!

Here’s a little something from my friend and appraiser Phil Crawford. I thought it was pretty funny!

Have a great weekend!

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