Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
I'm thinking about starting a small retail computer store specializing in computer repair and consulting for individuals and small businesses. I still have a lot of research to do to find a good location, cheap rent etc. I'd think that Raleigh would be a good place to set up, considering the larger population, but maybe Durham has more business incentives and cheaper rent. It seems that a lot of businesses in Chapel Hill struggle to compete with the university, so that doesn't seem like a good area for a computer based business.
I wanted to ask folks which city in the area do you think has the most business friendly (or unfriendly) policies? This could be lower taxes, incentives, or whatever you think makes a city more attractive for a small business owner.
I have little to add about business incentives. However, having lived in both Raleigh and Durham, I can provide some generalizations of both cities which might be helpful. Comparing the two cities, I've found Durham residents to be much more inclined to support a local business, even if it means going out of one's way. Raleigh, on the other hand, seems much more of a big-box/national chain kind of place. As far as rent, I'm sure landlords would be happy to have you and do what they can to land you as a tenant, whether in Durham or Raleigh. That said, I think there are areas of Durham that are still perfectly safe yet might offer a very reasonable lease rate...think Hillsborough Rd and the Central Park area, for example.
Consider talking to the NC Small Business & Technology Development Center. It's a free service, provided by the state, specifically for small business needs, including market research such as what you're asking. There are several office locations around.
I'm thinking about starting a small retail computer store specializing in computer repair and consulting for individuals and small businesses. I still have a lot of research to do to find a good location, cheap rent etc. I'd think that Raleigh would be a good place to set up, considering the larger population, but maybe Durham has more business incentives and cheaper rent. It seems that a lot of businesses in Chapel Hill struggle to compete with the university, so that doesn't seem like a good area for a computer based business.
I wanted to ask folks which city in the area do you think has the most business friendly (or unfriendly) policies? This could be lower taxes, incentives, or whatever you think makes a city more attractive for a small business owner.
Thanks for your opinion!
I think there's great opportunity in all of the Triangle after the economy turns the corner. But, I'd suspect that specific location is going to be a better predictor of success than the overall city choice. And, to make the best decision, you are just going to have to do some homework on the issue.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
