Picking the best places to launch a biz
ZoomProspector can help entrepreneurs hone in on untapped markets.
 |
| Think there's no place like home? We asked ZoomProspector to find a city similar to Nashville. Its top pick: Denver. |
(Fortune Small Business) -- Tired of throwing darts at a map? An online service aims to take the guesswork out of relocating.
At ZoomProspector.com, small business owners input their particular needs - from commute time to the supply of college-educated workers - and get matched to places with the right resources. In April the site is unveiling a new tool to help would-be franchisers find cities demographically similar to their own.
"Everybody thinks their community is unique," says ZoomProspector CEO Anatalio Ubalde. "The math says otherwise."
Laurus Construction, a general contractor in Costa Mesa, Calif., found another creative use for the free Web tool: targeting untapped markets.
"I'm able to figure out which communities to rule out and which to pursue," says executive vice president Sharon Chan. "It's almost like having a marketing company on tap. You're doing your own legwork, but it's nice to have the data." 
-
The Cheesecake Factory created smaller portions to survive the downturn. Play -
A breeder of award-winning marijuana seeds is following the money and heading to the U.S. More -
Most small businesses die within five years, but Amish businesses have a survival rate north of 90%. More -
The 10 most popular franchise brands over the past decade -- and their failure rates. More -
These firms are the last left in America making iconic products now in their twilight. More
