Ohio Marketing Connections
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Start, Grow & Finance a Business in Ohio

 

Ohio provides plenty of economic opportunities for direct marketing. Ohio is one of the most urbanized states in the country, yet retains over half its land base in agricultural uses (Clark, Sharp, Irwin & Libby, 2003). Seventy-three (73%) of all urban land cover in Ohio is located within 5 miles of a highway (Reece & Irwin, 2002). This, combined with growing interest in local foods and other local products, presents unique marketing opportunities. Since market systems are rarely defined by state boundaries, it is also significant that Ohio is conveniently located to North America’s most lucrative and diverse markets. Currently, producers direct market through the following:

Directly to Consumers

 Directly to Wholesale Buyers
Temporary roadside stand Auctions
On-farm markets, including PYO & agritourism Restaurants (Chefs, Caterers)
Farmers’ Markets Grocery Stores
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Schools, Institutions, Municipalities
Mail order or
Internet

Brokers, Distributors, Food Banks,
Other Food Service Buyers

Treacy and Wiersema (2001) describe three alternative approaches a business can follow for success:

  1. operational efficiency – producing at the lowest possible cost.
  2. product leadership – being first with new products.
  3. customer intimacy – meeting the specific needs of select customers.
    Commodity-oriented agriculture almost exclusively follows the “operational efficiency” strategy while a “customer intimacy” approach appears essential for direct farm marketing enterprises (Tronstad, Lev, & Umberger, 2003).
 

Ohio Small Business Facts, Small Business Profile from The Small Business Administration (SBA)

For a successful direct marketing business in Ohio, link to the state's leading organizations. For example:
Ohio Department of Agriculture, Marketing Division
Ohio Produce Growers & Marketers Association (OPGMA)
Ohio Ecologic Food and Farm Association (OEFFA)
Ohio Grape Web, OSU Extension
Ohio Association of Meat Processors
Ohio Christmas Tree Association
Additional organizations are included throughout the Ohio Marketing Connections website.

 
 

Need Assistance to Create or Develop Your Direct Marketing Business?

Learn from the experts:

Videos

  • Starting a Business in Ohio, Brad Bapst, Business Development Specialist, OSU South Centers. Brad takes viewers through the basic steps to start a business.

Ohio Business Gateway
This Ohio Department of Development web site provides links useful for selecting a business location, filing, keeping compliant and labor research. Particularly helpful is the linkage to 1st Stop Business Connection.

Ohio Means Business
The Ohio Business Development Coalition manages this web site that talks about doing business in Ohio.

Entrepreneur Ohio
With more than 120 highly trained Certified Business Advisors® throughout the state, the Ohio Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network provides free, confidential, in-depth business consulting in areas such as business management, government regulations, and financing.

Business Incentives to Help you Locate Your Next Expansion in Ohio (pdf)
Created by the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD), this fact sheet provides a quick look at the assistance available in Ohio for starting or expanding a business.

ODOD Minority Business Enterprise Division

Management - Need Business Planning & Management Resources?

AgPlan, online business planning resource from the Center for Farm Financial Management, Univ. of MN
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Business Plan Templates from SCORE
Business Plan Pro (includes tools and sample business plans)
Small Business University (online courses in management, marketing and money)
My Own Business
OSU Extension Small Business Series
Begin Farming Ohio

 

Marketing - Need to Get in Touch with the Media and Other Marketing Resources?

Sample Marketing Plans
Social Media Guides

Money - Need Financing?

Ohio Business Incentives Loans and Bonds
The Ohio Department of Development offers this inventory of loans and bonds, as well as links to tax incentives and other incentive programs.

Ohio Business Incentives Reduce Your Risk
Ohio Business Development Coalition has created this list of tax incentives, grants and financing assistance.

Ohio Preservation Tax Credit
The Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit (OHPTC) program provides a tax credit for the rehabilitation expenses to owners of historically significant buildings.

Small Business Financing Programs in Ohio, an OSU Extension Fact Sheet

CAUV information from the Ohio Department of Taxation

Tax Foundation Publications - examining the size and impact of state and federal taxes and spending