Location, Location, Location…as they say in real estate, it’s all about location. 

Whether you have a retail business or provide a service from an office it is important to have the right location for your business.

If people are not showing up at your it may be because of your location.

These are some some key elements you need to consider when trying to determine the best location for your business.

Demographic: Demographics refers to the age, income levels, households makeup, etc. of a particular neighborhood.  Knowing these things about the makeup of the population in a particular will let you know if that area is best suited for the location of your business.  Placing the business close to the consumer make it convenient for the consumer to frequent your business.  Use these resources to lookup demographic information.

City-Data
Esri
Melissa Data
Migration Policy Institute (MPI)
US Census
U.S. Censsu Bureau (Interactive)
The Small Business Administration (SBA)

Traffic Pattern:  If you have a retail business traffic pattern is critical.  Look at traffic generators such as other retailers, schools, industrial or office parks, colleges, hospitals, roadways, pedestrian walkways, etc.  all of these things in the area will generate plenty of traffic for your business.      

Lifestyle Data: Lifestyle data refers to information on people's interest and activities and buying behavior.  People of silmilar backgrounds, income levels, educations levels, etc. tend to have similar interest and spending habits.  Knowing this will help you to place your business in the right location.  Use these resources to lookup lifestyle data.

Esri

Competitive Analysis:  Locate your business near your competitors.  Your competitors chose their locations based on the same analysis you do.  If they're already in an established area and is generating traffic this could benefit to your business as well.

Zoning:  Zoning is the term used to describe the legal designation of a particular pice of property (land or building).  Zoning determine the type of activity that is authorized to be conducted on that property.  There are five(5) categories of zoning, Residential, Commercial, Mixed Residential-Commercial, Industrial and Special.  The location you chose for your business must have the correct zoning.  Zoning can be check at the local municipalities.  Do an Internet search.

Crime Statistics:  Crime statistics should play a key role in your decision to place your business in the right location.  Crime ridden areas are not the most favorable place to locate a business.  High crime areas discourages people from frequent businesses in those areas.  Use these resources to find crime statistics in cities throughout the U.S.

City-Data
Crime Reports
Neighborhood SCOUT
FindTheData

Proximity to workers:  Where your workers live in relation to where the business is situated is also important.  The less time they have to spend commuting to work the more it is likely that they will show up to work on time and allow you to keep the business open at times that are most favorable to your customers.  Your customers count on your business being open at the times that are most convenient to them.  

See more on finding a location.