One of the hardest decisions that business owners have to make is about growth. The mantra “Location, Location, Location” is drummed into your head so many times, that it forces you to think a little more when expanding.
For businesses in the southeast of the country, there are a lot of options to think about. You have Greenville, Columbus, and even Huntsville in Alabama. However, it’s obvious that Atlanta is simply one of the best choices due to the sheer size of its economy and well-developed infrastructure.
So, in this article, let us explore why Atlanta ought to be the next chapter for your business.
1. The BeltLine Effect
You see, not only does Atlanta have a sizable population which means a lot of potential consumers, but it also has good support. In 2005 the Atlanta BeltLine was proposed and while it’s still in development, its current state has been a gift to the city. The BeltLine is a huge infrastructure project with the aim to create close to 100,000 jobs by 2030. (50,000 permanent jobs and 45,000 construction jobs.)
The Beltline has become a popular destination with more than 2 million annual visitors. It also collaborates with a lot of commercial district organizations to help out small businesses and people across America are taking note.
LinkedIn’s senior editor, George Anders stated that Atlanta is seeing a lot of inward migration. That’s a clear indicator that entrepreneurs are recognizing the potential and are willing to expand or move to the city.
The bottom line is that the environment is ripe for not just new businesses but also for those wanting to expand.
Of course, you will need to do some prep work beforehand. It’s probably a good idea to find an Atlanta digital marketing agency to help get the word out about your presence. This would be one aspect to pay attention to because your competitors also know about the advantages of doing business here.
According to Hughes Media, choosing an experienced agency skilled in PPC advertising, SEO content, and other tools is key. Remember, even big and successful businesses have budgets for marketing so ensure you are budgeting for it as well.
2. Atlanta Has a History of Being Great for New Businesses and Startups
According to Mayor Andre Dickens, businesses succeed in this city due to the power of its talent pool. He also cited the strength of its economy and the possibility of growth. This came in response to Atlanta taking the top spot in a report on the best cities to start a business in.
According to the report, Atlanta had twice the number of CEOs than the national average. It also had the second-highest number of new business applications (28.5 per 1,000 residents). Invest Atlanta also points out that the city boasts the lowest cost of doing business.
At the same time, it’s good to remember that this isn’t a city just for startups. The fact is that some of the biggest names in the world operate out of this city. These include Delta Air Lines, Home Depot, Coca-Cola, UPS, Chick-fil-A and many more. The fact that these businesses are based in Atlanta also indicates that the city is equipped to handle every logistical need.
3. Atlanta’s Undeniable Geographical Advantages
A glance at a map would show anyone how attractive Atlanta’s location in the country is. You have the Port of Savannah which is particularly useful if your business moves products internationally. Atlanta also boasts of some amazing transportation infrastructure such as the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
This is the busiest airport not just in America, but in the world!
Hartsfield-Jackson also moves more than 650,000 metric tons of cargo every year. Likewise, the 4,600 miles of Georgia’s railroad system is a jewel for the entire state’s logistical infrastructure. A fact that makes Atlanta so good for business is that 80% of American consumers can be reached within two hours by flight. With Trucks? Only two days.
This almost perfect geographical advantage makes it ideal for any business that needs to ship out products.
The decision on where to open your next branch lies with you. We have laid out some of the reasons that Atlanta is a great pick, but perhaps your priorities lie elsewhere. That’s fine. Expanding your business is not a simple choice and you should definitely be researching every option out there.
However, if there’s one thing to take away, it’s to remember that Atlanta has a lot of history. It’s a city that grew due to trains and ports. In other words, logistics. Entrepreneurship and business have been influencing the city for decades making it perfect even today, for new growth.
