Why Launch Your Business in Central Virginia?
Get the inside scoop from two local entrepreneurs who have built successful businesses in this beautiful region.
With abundant business opportunities in Central Virginia, anyone – whether they’re a born-and-bred local or entrepreneurial immigrant – can launch a successful small business in the area.
Livability spoke to two entrepreneurs about the ins and outs of running a business in Central Virginia.
Wesley Chiles | Louisa County
Wesley Chiles
Wesley Chiles is the perfect example of a born entrepreneur, having scaled his business from one lawnmower, during his childhood summers, to a full-service landscaping company – Chiles Enterprises LLC – that serves Lake Anna, Charlottesville and surrounding counties.
A native of Louisa County, Chiles has adapted with the growth of the region, making the most of the business opportunities in Central Virginia and the neighbors who’ve supported him every step of the way during his entrepreneurial endeavors.
How long have you been in business in Central Virginia?
I was 10 years old when I started mowing grass for a little old lady in the neighborhood. That was 2002. I had business cards when I was 10, so I count over 20 years in business.
Why would you recommend your county to other entrepreneurs looking to open a business?
For a business that would make sense in this marketplace, people value character and know each other. When you join the Chamber of Commerce, if people get to know you and you have a good character, they’ll do business with you and refer people to you. It’s tight-knit community; businesses on Main Street, for example, sponsor everything.
What’s it like working with your county from a business perspective?
Louisa County has a good reputation when it comes to those sorts of things. I can walk in, and I can pop my head into someone’s office if I need to talk to them. They’re professional; they’re here to help you.
Education, Careers & Opportunity
Central Virginia is All About Business
The University of Virginia serves as an incubator for entrepreneurs and innovators.
André Xavier | Orange County
André Xavier
Originally from Brazil, André Xavier owns six varied, yet highly successful, businesses in Charlottesville. Among them is Cville Travel, a full-service travel agency that focuses on luxury destinations in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. Xavier also runs Hop On Tours, which the company describes as “the most fun and affordable way to explore Virginia’s craft beverage destinations,” and that coincides well with another business he co-owns, Patch Brewing Co. in Gordonsville in Orange County.
How long have you been in business in Central Virginia?
The Hop On Tours idea came from Cville Tours in 2016. The craft beer scene in Central Virginia was starting to explode, and I saw a great opportunity to expand into craft beer. Patch Brewing is 2 years old.
Why would you recommend your county to other entrepreneurs looking to open a business?
It’s incredibly fertile ground for small businesses, mostly because of the community and what our region has to offer. Washington, D.C. is two hours away, so people can go from the city to mountain areas. There’s beautiful nature; we have over 60 wineries within 20 miles of our location. The University of Virginia brings people here as well. It’s very welcoming, but very demanding, and it makes us all work much harder. If you can create a successful business in Charlottesville, you can do it anywhere, and that’s a healthy incentive to make us succeed.
What’s it like working with your county from a business perspective?
[When we found the property for Patch Brewing,] it had been abandoned for 10 years so the grass was up to our knees and the building was damaged, but the biggest surprise was the zoning. When we went under contract, we found it was residential zoning. We set up a meeting with the Office of Economic Development in Orange County, and asked, “What is the county’s vision for the land?” There was no master plan. … We started the process of rezoning from residential to agricultural.
We are incredibly grateful to Orange County. They really did a fantastic job helping us through the change. The team has been instrumental to us. Without their guidance and willingness to help us succeed, we couldn’t have done it. I don’t think we could have done the same thing in another county.
Get to Know Central Virginia
Want to learn more about living and working in Charlottesville, VA, and the surrounding communities? Check out the latest edition of Livability Central Virginia.