This sign gets the "Most-Creative Award" for business opportunities in Ocean City.
Is there anyone in Maryland who hasn’t fantasized about quitting the rat-race in the city and opening a small business in Ocean City? Boutique, bar, bread and breakfast, restaurant, ice cream shop?
Best sense of humor, too.
A variety of locations are available. Where would you like to do business? West Ocean City? Baltimore Avenue? Someplace along the Coastal Highway? There are even a few storefronts available on the Boardwalk.
Don't even think about it, unless you have real-life experience running a restaurant.
To tell the truth, it’s already getting late to be thinking about a new business in Ocean City for the 2010 season. A start-up business takes time to plan and finance. You need to order fixtures, or equipment, or repair the existing stuff. You need to order merchandise, and stock the shelves. You need to hire help. Even if you’re experienced in your business, you’ll run into unforeseen pitfalls. Everything takes longer than you thought.
How much space do you need? How much money do you have?
Difficult as starting a new business can be anyplace, a seasonal business is particularly challenging. The really busy peak of the summer season in Ocean City is the same now as it was when I managed the Boardwalk 5 & 10, 35 years ago. The middle of June, the month of July, to the middle of August. About eight weeks, nine if you’re lucky. Early June is medium-busy; same thing for the end of August.
What’s different now is that the shoulder season starts with Springfest — first weekend of May — and continues past Sunfest — last weekend of September. (The folks who thought up Springfest and Sunfest were visionaries.) With luck, you can have some pretty good weekends in May and early June, and September. Even a couple of weekends in October. A lot depends on the weather. But make no mistake, if you’re not making money in July, you won’t make up for it in May or September.
As a curmudgeon named Bill Wilcox told me years ago, “You can make money in Ocean City, if you know what you’re doing.” The second part of that sentence is crucial.
It’s the middle of winter, and it’s possible you could be doing business in Ocean City by May or June 2010, if nothing goes wrong. Or you could start scouting for a location, and making a business plan, and be in business by May or June 2011.
If you are thoroughly experienced in the business you want to open, if you have start-up capital to burn, and if you’re willing to work very hard, you might be able to make your dream come true in Ocean City.
mike alexander
July 29, 2010
Where would I go for information on “trying” to get into the beach umbrella stand business in OC? Thanks
BJH
August 3, 2010
Under the list of Ocean City sites in the sidebar, click on OC Town Government. I believe the City Clerk is the person to contact. Beach stands are handled as franchises by the town government. Every winter there’s an auction for one-third of the available locations. The franchise for each location is awarded to the high bidder.
Cathy Pena, neighbor, resident West OC
September 23, 2010
Hi John: Do you know where to find information about the new Route 50 bridge that will be built in the future. I know it is going to impact our neighborhood and increase the noise level. Meetings? Proposed bridge drawings? I want to see what is going on.
It may be 15 years before they start construction. We may have trouble with property values. Have you seen anything about this? Website to go to? Cathy/Thanks for any information!
BJH
September 23, 2010
Great question, Cathy. I don’t think it will affect us here in West OC. (might affect Hoopers). But we’d be able to hear the construction noise, I guess. For details about the proposed bridge, see
BJH
September 23, 2010
Great question, Cathy. I don’t think it will affect us here in West OC. (might affect Hoopers). But we’d be able to hear the construction noise, I guess. For details about the proposed bridge, see http://www.marylandonmymind.com/?p=3390
Beth Gallager
October 8, 2010
Hi John I am very interested in starting a small business in Berlin, MD….do you have any ideas or could you give me any direction on where or how I can get the srart up Capital.
BJH
October 11, 2010
Hmm. Berlin is a great little town. Charming! The downtown area has a lot of art and antique type shops. Don’t know if they make any money. Also some good restaurants. My favorite is Rayne’s Reef (best hamburgers in the world).
As for start-up capital, if I knew a source for start-up and operating capital, I’d be in business myself. I’ve heard that even established businesses have a very difficult time getting a bank loan these days. I’ll do an updated post on biz opps in OC this fall or early winter.