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Things
to consider…
Have you put together a complete Business Plan? The purpose
of a business plan is to make you think through the various
components of your business. Things like an overview of your
business, your product or service, market research you have
done, the location of your business, marketing, financial,
and legal issues, and how you are going to fund your endeavor.
>> Business
Plan - Example 1
>> Business
Plan - Example 2
You can get free assistance with your
business plan by meeting with a SCORE counselor.
SCORE is a group
of retired business executives who donate their time
and expertise to help prospective business owners get
started. You can schedule a meeting with a SCORE counselor
by contacting the Chamber offices at 248.547.4000.
For more information on SCORE simply click here.
Once your business plan is complete, what do you
do next? You should start by contacting the Planning
Department at the City of Royal Oak offices located
at 211 S. Williams St., Room 311. They can be reached
via telephone at 248.246.3280.
The Planning Department’s (PD) charge is multi-faceted
with an overall goal of maintaining, improving, developing
and redeveloping property in the City of Royal Oak.
Two key functions that they oversee are:
- Enforcement of the City’s
Zoning Ordinance
- Providing assistance/information
on the City’s
development processes
How
does this concern you? You will
need to know where your intended usage/business activity
is
permitted within the City of Royal Oak. If you
already have
a location identified you need to confirm that
your intended usage/business activity is allowed
at that
location. If you do not have a specific location
identified you will need to know which zoning
district(s) allow your intended use/business activity.
The
PD can answer these questions for you. The PD
can also
explain any processes, procedures or options
you may have in regards to your proposed use/business
activity as it relates to a specific location.
The links below show the current zoning in the
city.
>> Zoning
Map
It is highly recommended that you do your homework
before signing any lease or purchase agreement.
The PD can describe the steps or processes involved
in
starting a business in Royal Oak, including any
estimated time periods. It is also a good idea
to consult a
professional service [architect, attorney] to
assist you. Time, energy and money spent up front
can
save you plenty of each on the back end.
We have included a link to a report on vacancies in
downtown Royal Oak. This report is updated monthly.
>> Downtown Vacancies
Also included are links to various other sites that
you may find helpful as you consider opening a business
in Royal Oak. The Chamber is here to provide you with
assistance you may need in locating your business to
a vibrant and growing community.
Other resources
>> Starting
a business in Oakland County
>> Starting a business in Michigan
>> Small Business Administration
>> SCORE
>> US
Census Bureau
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