Low competition provides first-mover advantage but requires educating the market. (low benchmark).
Best Business Location in Akron
Akron offers 703,000 metro customers, $46,000 average income, and moderate commercial activity—ideal conditions for data-led site selection.
Metro reach of 703,000 places Akron ahead of 72% of cities we track—plenty of residents to segment.
Find the Best Location in Akron
Use our AI-powered map to discover the perfect street address in Akron. Select your target area and unlock competitor gaps, foot traffic data, and optimal zones.
Location Finder
Akron, United States
Unlock instantly:
Click the map to select your target area
Akron Business Environment
Market Insights
- Metro reach of 703,000 places Akron ahead of 72% of cities we track—plenty of residents to segment.
- Akron lands in the 55th percentile for incomes ($46,000), supporting premium positioning.
- Akron's pedestrian index hits 64/100, roughly 19% below comparable metros.
- Expect $16/sq ft carrying costs (51% swing vs. average) when modeling contribution margins.
- Moderate density suggests room to plant a flag before competition heats up in Akron.
- Low competition opens the door for rapid share capture—just budget for educating the market.
- With Polymers, Healthcare anchoring the economy, B2B partnerships can become a reliable demand lever.
- Located in Ohio, United States with USD currency
Top Industries
Find the Perfect Business Location in Akron
We'll show you exactly where to open—with competitor gaps, foot traffic patterns, and the neighborhoods where your business will thrive.
Akron Neighborhood Analysis
Discover the best neighborhoods for your business type in Akron
Akron offers a mix of commercial settings including the central business district, neighborhood retail corridors, and emerging development areas—each with unique rent-to-traffic dynamics
In Akron, balancing rent costs with customer accessibility is critical—many thriving businesses find sweet spots in secondary corridors near major thoroughfares
Extended metro area provides 3.7x population reach beyond city limits, supporting suburban expansion strategies
Downtown/City Center
- • Highest foot traffic density
- • Premium rental costs
- • Best for retail & restaurants
- • Excellent public transport access
Business Districts
- • High concentration of offices
- • Ideal for B2B services
- • Strong weekday traffic
- • Growing food & beverage demand
Suburban Areas
- • Lower rental costs
- • Family-oriented demographics
- • Ample parking availability
- • Good for service businesses
Emerging Areas
- • High growth potential
- • Lower competition density
- • Opportunity for early movers
- • Rising property values
Akron Business Readiness Score
Data-driven viability assessment
Best Business Types for Akron
Find location-specific insights for different business types in Akron
Restaurant in Akron
Analyze foot traffic patterns, demographics, and competition for restaurants
Retail Store in Akron
Find high-traffic retail locations with ideal customer demographics
Coffee Shop in Akron
Locate areas with morning traffic and office worker density
Industry Synergy Opportunities in Akron
Top industries creating demand for specific business types
Healthcare
Healthcare clusters attract patients and create medical service demand
Best Business Types:
Education
Students and faculty drive consistent demand for affordable services
Best Business Types:
Cost of Operations in Akron
Financial breakdown for a 1,500 sq ft location
Startup Investment
Monthly Operating
Cost Insights
Akron Market Entry Timing
Data-driven signals for optimal business launch timing
Current conditions in Akron favor waiting over rushing. Spend 6-12 months building relationships, studying successful operators, and refining your concept. Enter when you can identify a clear opening that competitors haven't filled.
Entry Timing Factors
Akron Insights That Guide Expansion
Each metric is generated for this city so every page tells a different story about demand, rents, and timing.
900 sq ft of space at $16/sq ft loads 3.8x the average salary onto COGS, keeping efficiency front and center.
Pedestrian flow posts 64/100 (19% below the mean), guiding how much budget you reserve for paid acquisition.
The metro catchment is 3.7x larger than city limits (703,000 vs 190,000), opening suburban roll-out paths once the core site is stable.
Akron's economy leans on Polymers, Healthcare, Manufacturing, so co-marketing with those clusters accelerates adoption.
Frequently Asked Questions About Akron
Answers refresh based on Akron's live data so there's no duplicate copy across cities.
How far can I scale within the Akron metro?
The metro area pulls 3.7x the population of city proper, so once the flagship location performs you can replicate into surrounding districts without leaving the DMA.
How crowded is the Akron market?
Low competition in Akron means Low competition provides first-mover advantage but requires educating the market. Adjust launch playbooks to match the crowding level.
What growth trajectory is Akron on?
Akron carries a moderate growth potential rating, which shapes whether you sprint into multi-unit rollout or pace hiring.
How expensive is retail space relative to incomes in Akron?
A 900-sq-ft footprint at $16/sq ft runs roughly 3.8x the local average income ($46,000). Layer in menu engineering or ticket-size plays to offset the rent load.
Can I rely on organic foot traffic in Akron?
Yes—pedestrian flow scores 64/100, about 19% below the cross-market average, so plan signage and staffing around steady discovery.
Ready to Find Your Perfect Business Location in Akron?
Turn our 56 readiness score and timing signals into a shortlist of proven sites before competitors react.