Business Categories List Download Excel & PDF
List of Business Categories
1. Automotive
- Car Dealer
- Auto Repair Shop
- Car Wash
- Tire Shop
- Auto Parts Store
- Motorcycle Dealer
- Oil Change Service
- Towing Service
2. Food & Beverage
- Restaurant
- Bakery
- Coffee Shop
- Bar
- Fast Food Restaurant
- Ice Cream Shop
- Catering Service
- Food Truck
3. Health & Wellness
- Dentist
- Physical Therapist
- Spa
- Chiropractor
- Yoga Studio
- Nutritionist
- Acupuncture Clinic
- Mental Health Clinic
4. Retail
- Clothing Store
- Electronics Store
- Bookstore
- Jewelry Store
- Furniture Store
- Toy Store
- Sporting Goods Store
- Pet Supply Store
5. Professional Services
- Accountant
- Lawyer
- Marketing Agency
- Real Estate Agent
- Financial Advisor
- Insurance Agency
- Consulting Firm
- Architectural Firm
6. Home Services
- Plumber
- Electrician
- Roofing Contractor
- Landscaper
- Pest Control Service
- Cleaning Service
- HVAC Contractor
- Interior Designer
7. Education
- School
- University
- Language School
- Tutoring Service
- Music School
- Driving School
- Art School
- Test Preparation Center
8. Entertainment & Recreation
- Movie Theater
- Museum
- Amusement Park
- Gym
- Bowling Alley
- Dance Studio
- Escape Room Center
- Art Gallery
9. Finance
- Bank
- Insurance Agency
- Investment Service
- Mortgage Broker
- Credit Union
- Tax Preparation Service
- Loan Agency
- Financial Planner
10. Travel & Accommodation
- Hotel
- Bed & Breakfast
- Travel Agency
- Car Rental
- Hostel
- Resort
- Tour Operator
- Cruise Agency
11. Medical Services
- General Practitioner
- Hospital
- Pharmacy
- Veterinary Clinic
- Urgent Care Center
- Optometrist
- Physical Therapy Clinic
- Medical Laboratory
12. Technology
- Software Company
- IT Consultant
- Web Designer
- Electronics Manufacturer
- Computer Repair Service
- Mobile App Developer
- Data Recovery Service
- Internet Service Provider
13. Transportation
- Taxi Service
- Limousine Service
- Bus Station
- Train Station
- Airport Shuttle Service
- Freight Forwarding Service
- Moving Company
- Logistics Service
14. Real Estate
- Property Management Company
- Real Estate Developer
- Apartment Complex
- Housing Cooperative
- Real Estate Appraiser
- Commercial Real Estate Agency
- Vacation Rental Agency
- Real Estate Investment Trust
15. Beauty & Personal Care
- Hair Salon
- Nail Salon
- Beauty Supply Store
- Tattoo Shop
- Barber Shop
- Skincare Clinic
- Cosmetic Dentist
- Massage Therapist
16. Legal
- Law Firm
- Notary Public
- Immigration Lawyer
- Family Law Attorney
- Criminal Defense Attorney
- Personal Injury Lawyer
- Patent Attorney
- Legal Aid Office
17. Construction
- Construction Company
- Building Materials Supplier
- Contractor
- Architect
- Home Builder
- Demolition Contractor
- Excavation Contractor
- Concrete Contractor
18. Agriculture
- Farm
- Agricultural Service
- Dairy Farm
- Nursery
- Agricultural Equipment Supplier
- Organic Farm
- Vineyard
- Greenhouse
19. Manufacturing
- Manufacturing Company
- Factory
- Industrial Equipment Supplier
- Metal Fabricator
- Textile Manufacturer
- Food Processing Plant
- Chemical Manufacturer
- Electronics Manufacturer
20. Arts & Entertainment
- Performing Arts Theater
- Music Venue
- Comedy Club
- Art Studio
- Recording Studio
- Film Production Company
- Dance Company
- Cultural Center
21. Event Planning & Services
- Event Planner
- Wedding Venue
- Party Equipment Rental
- Catering Service
- DJ Service
- Florist
- Photographer
- Conference Center
22. Pets
- Pet Store
- Veterinary Clinic
- Dog Grooming Service
- Pet Boarding Service
- Animal Shelter
- Pet Training Service
- Pet Adoption Service
- Pet Sitting Service
23. Public Services & Government
- Post Office
- Police Department
- Fire Station
- City Hall
- Public Library
- DMV Office
- Social Services Office
- Courthouse
24. Religious Organizations
- Church
- Mosque
- Synagogue
- Temple
- Religious School
- Monastery
- Religious Bookstore
- Faith-Based Organization
25. Shopping
- Department Store
- Supermarket
- Convenience Store
- Shopping Mall
- Outlet Store
- Thrift Store
- Online Store
- Specialty Store
26. Local Services
- Dry Cleaner
- Tailor
- Locksmith
- Printing Service
- Photo Studio
- Shoe Repair Service
- Watch Repair Service
- Alteration Service
27. Mass Media
- Newspaper Publisher
- Television Station
- Radio Station
- Magazine Publisher
- Advertising Agency
- Public Relations Firm
- Media Production Company
- Broadcasting Service
28. Nightlife
- Nightclub
- Bar
- Lounge
- Karaoke Bar
- Comedy Club
- Hookah Lounge
- Jazz Club
- Dance Club
29. Local Flavor
- Farmers Market
- Street Food Stall
- Food Festival
- Local Art Fair
- Cultural Festival
- Community Garden
- Local Brewery
- Artisan Market
Importance of Business Categories
Business categories play a crucial role in how to organize, promote, and optimize your businesses for maximum visibility, efficiency, and viability. What follows are ten areas that you will need to address in starting your business.
To Create a Business Plan
Your business plan should aim to clarify your target market, particularly the demographics that make up your primary customer base. Followed by the competition that you expect to face. Understanding who the competitors are and what advantages and disadvantages they possess will help you to better define your business plan.
Plus, you should be aware of trends in your industry. Particularly those which have arisen in the past few years. When you consider the rapid advance of technology, including artificial intelligence, how such changes are affecting your industry will also play a role in the success of your business efforts.
When Registering Your Business
You will need to fill out all appropriate government forms, licensing applications, and the like. This ensures the accurate categorization of your business. Which helps determine both the legal and tax requirements from the start.
All too often, an incorrectly filled out form can cause delays and setbacks to get your business up and running. Take the time and get the expertise needed to ensure that your legal and tax forms are correctly filled out and properly filed.
When Submitting to Business Directories
Choose the correct categorization to ensure that your business appears in relevant search results. The key to gaining customers through business directors is by filling out all the forms. The more information you include, the more visible you become to potential customers.
Be sure that the information you add is appropriate and applicable to your business. This means focusing the information on the type of consumer that is most interested in the products or services that you offer. Do not include extraneous information that might mislead or confuse a potential customer.
When Creating Marketing Strategies
Understand that your category will inform you which marketing channels should be used. Plus, when your overall strategy is being developed, be sure to employ the most effective tactics for your industry. You can start by studying your competition and see what tactics they use to gain customers.
Remember not to copy what your competition does. Instead, look for areas in which your business can exploit an edge. The old saying, “it is better to be different than better” applies to your marketing efforts. Shape your marketing around what makes your business different, so that it can be set apart from your competition.
SEO and Online Visibility
Search engine optimization should be employed in the business categories. This will help determine the relevance to those searching for the products or services you offer. Plus, it will help both your local and organic search results rankings.
The higher your business appears in search rankings, the more visible it is to potential customers. Find the proper keywords and key phrases that maximize visibility so your business can rank higher in search results.
When Applying for Business Loans or Grants
Remember that financial institutions will assess eligibility based on the category your business appears, and the risk factors in your industry. When you apply for loans, remember to include your business plan and all relevant information. You can even inquire at financial institutions about what information they will need before submitting your application.
For grants, be sure to read all relevant material to maximize your chances. While grants normally mean you do not have to pay the money back. You will have to follow the guidelines about how the money is spent.
When Setting Up on E-commerce Platforms
Platforms such as Etsy and Amazon will require you to put your business in the proper category. This helps customers find your products and improve the ability of your business to be discovered. Both Etsy and Amazon have proven track records in helping businesses of all sizes to increase their sales.
The key is to know your customer base and ensure that your E-commerce platforms are set up to maximize visibility. Again, you may need to study the competition to understand what marketing methods work best, but E-commerce platforms give you a proven place to begin.
For Networking and Industry Events
Once you have your business up and running, the next step is expanding your reach within the industry itself through conferences, trade shows, and business-to-business or B2B opportunities. By reaching into the business community, you can find partners that can help you expand your efforts, reach more customers, and provide better products or services.
Trade shows and conferences are a great way to meet other business owners. Which helps create B2B opportunities that can benefit your company.
When Analyzing Market Data & Trends
Keep in mind that business categories allow you to compare performance metrics against similar businesses in your field. The goal should be to establish a benchmark from which you can create goals, apply marketing strategies, and focus on what can set your business apart from the competition.
With new technologies and trends always on the rise, it is crucial that you take advantage of aspects that provide benefit to your business both in the short and long term. Know when to spend more in taking advantage of trends that have a direct impact on your industry.
When Purchasing Insurance
Remember that insurers will assess the business risk and determine the coverage that is needed based on the classification of your industry. If you have certain needs, then the insurance company will need to be made aware.
The last thing you want is to discover that your insurance fails to provide proper coverage all because it was not included on the application form.
Remember that creating a successful business is a marathon, not a sprint. You need to pay more attention to the details first, so you can then focus on the broader strategies to reach new customers. Getting the little things right in business categorization will help build a solid foundation that avoids simple mistakes that might otherwise slow your efforts.