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What business should I open?

Tell Neur the city, what you can invest, and what you like doing. It ranks about two hundred business types by the room left in your city, what each costs to open, and fit, then picks five. You choose which one gets the full report.

Compare with a second city (same state)
What are you drawn to? Pick two or three.
Free. No sign-up. Census County Business Patterns, 2022.

Neur picks

Oakland, CA · Alameda County · $60,000

Out of 239 business types, these 5 have the most room in Oakland and open inside your budget.

Room is measured inside Oakland's own ZIP codes. Skipped 12 that already have more per person than California, and 29 that cost more than you want to invest.

  1. 01

    Flooring Install

    Installation of hardwood, tile, laminate, and vinyl flooring

    • RoomOakland has 92% fewer of these per person than California. At the state rate it would hold about 22 more.
    • CostOpens for $10k to $30k, inside your budget.
    • FitPick two or three interests above to weigh fit.
    • In Oakland2
    • Per 100k vs state0.5 vs 5.6
    • Residents per one219,036
    • To first dollar—

    Can be run solo

  2. 02

    Vape / Smoke Shop

    Retail shop selling vaporizers, e-liquids, tobacco, and accessories

    • RoomOakland has 87% fewer of these per person than California. At the state rate it would hold about 20 more.
    • CostOpens for $25k to $75k, inside your budget.
    • FitPick two or three interests above to weigh fit.
    • In Oakland3
    • Per 100k vs state0.7 vs 5.4
    • Residents per one146,024
    • To first dollar3 to 7 mo

    Can be run solo

  3. 03

    Florist

    Floral design for everyday sales, events, and weddings

    • RoomOakland has 85% fewer of these per person than California. At the state rate it would hold about 11 more.
    • CostOpens for $20k to $75k, inside your budget.
    • FitPick two or three interests above to weigh fit.
    • In Oakland2
    • Per 100k vs state0.5 vs 3.1
    • Residents per one219,036
    • To first dollar3 to 7 mo

    Can be run solo · works part-time

  4. 04

    Pet Store / Supplies

    Retail store selling pet food, accessories, and supplies

    • RoomOakland has 85% fewer of these per person than California. At the state rate it would hold about 11 more.
    • CostOpens for $50k to $150k, inside your budget.
    • FitPick two or three interests above to weigh fit.
    • In Oakland2
    • Per 100k vs state0.5 vs 3.0
    • Residents per one219,036
    • To first dollar3 to 7 mo

    Needs a small team

  5. 05

    Mortgage Broker

    Shops home loans across lenders; paid per closed loan

    • RoomOakland has 82% fewer of these per person than California. At the state rate it would hold about 28 more.
    • CostOpens for $5k to $40k, inside your budget.
    • FitPick two or three interests above to weigh fit.
    • In Oakland6
    • Per 100k vs state1.4 vs 7.7
    • Residents per one73,012
    • To first dollar1 to 3 mo

    Can be run solo · works part-time

Want this on your phone later? Neur can email you these picks with the links.

Three more ideas, written for you

Drafted by AI from your answers

Neur is drafting three more ideas for what you like, usually ten to twenty seconds. The five picks above are final.

How Neur picks

Room is the county's establishments per 100,000 residents against the state rate, from Census County Business Patterns. Types the county already has more of than the state are skipped. Cost uses Neur's startup ranges for each business type against your budget. Fit matches the interests you picked to the kind of work each business is.

The picks are a shortlist, not a verdict. A county with room can still have a crowded neighborhood, and the cheapest business is not the best one. That is what the report checks, for the one you choose.

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