CANTON — More people were granted licenses to start up businesses in Cherokee County in 2011, when compared to 2010, and economic development professionals are optimistic that will be a continuing trend throughout 2012.

Including the 92 new business licenses issued across the county in December, as well as the 79 in November, there were a total of 1,822 granted last year, which is an increase from the 1,746 in 2010. Those figures include licenses issued by the county government as well as the six cities in Cherokee.

Misti Martin, president of the Cherokee Office of Economic Development, said she was not surprised with the increase, especially since the fourth quarter in her office was a flurry of activity.

“Our business prospect activity was up 69 percent over 2010,” she said. “I hope that this is an indication of good things to come over the next several years.”

Pam Carnes, president and CEO of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, said she’s also hopeful this year will bring a more positive outlook for the county.

“I’m optimistic that 2012 will bring new growth and prosperity in the community,” she said.

Carnes said Cherokee County has a diverse workforce filled with people looking for employment opportunities.

A Touch of Ink Tattoo in Free Home is one of the county’s newest business.

Leon Perrier and his wife, Helena, opened the business in late December on Cumming Highway near the Forsyth County line.

The Cumming resident said his tattoo shop will offer customers the ability to get quality body art without having to drive to larger cities. Perrier, who said he’s been a tattoo artists for 14 years, said business has been a little slow since opening, but that’s typical, because many people obtain tattoos after tax season, during warmer weather.

“We’re fair-priced,” he said. “We’re clean, we’re sterile, licensed and we care about our customers.”

Visit www.ATouchOfInkTattoo.com to view samples of Perrier’s work.

Across Cherokee:

* The County Development Service’s Center issued 69 new licenses in December, up considerably from 41 granted in November, but still down from 92 in December 2010. The county government in 2011 issued 1,326 new licenses, up from 1,127 granted in 2010.

* Woodstock’s tax office issued six licenses in December, down from 20 issued in November and 12 granted in December 2010. The city issued 202 new licenses in 2011, down from 285 granted in 2010.

* Canton granted nine licenses in December, down from 13 in November and 18 in December 2010. The county seat issued 163 licenses in 2011, down from 194 granted in the previous year.

* Nelson, which straddles both Pickens and Cherokee counties, issued one license in December. It was the first license the city issued in 2011 and in 2010.

* Waleska did not issue any in December. Waleska issued one license in November and none in December 2010. The city approved two licenses in 2011, the same number it approved in 2010.

* Ball Ground also saw no issuance activity last month. The city issued one license in November, down from three it approved in December 2010. The city in 2011 granted 29 licenses, which was the same number it issued in 2010.

* Holly Springs issued seven licenses in December, up from three granted in November, but the same it issued in December 2010. In 2011, Holly Springs issued 93 license, down from 129 granted in 2010.

CANTON

Barn Guru, LLC

213 Crescent Moon Way

Bergs Hemp

550 RiverStone Parkway

Communication Components Systems

290 Wentworth Drive

Exotic Nails

4043 Marietta Highway Suite 120

Meldrum Construction

717 Mountain Laurel Drive

Taxi Rotavito

1014 Whispering Woods Drive

The Velvet Cloak Resale

110 Bluffs Parkway Suite 105

Top Notch Contractors

291 Archer St.

Vulcan Construction Materials LP

855 Hickory Flat Road

CHEROKEE COUNTY

A Touch of Ink

14252 Cumming Highway, Canton

Acme Financial, Inc.

6545 Highway 92, Acworth

American Probild

Home-based business

Aqua Fun, Inc.

Home-based business

Bells Ferry Tire Center, LLC

5625 Bells Ferry Road, Acworth

Blue Grass Lawn Care

Home-based business

Blue Spoon Distribution

Home-based business

Bobo Grinding Equipment, LLC

Canton ATA South, Inc.

3422 Sixes Road, Canton

Cats Amazing

6410 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock

Cherokee RC Choppers

110 Queens Way, Woodstock

Clinica Santa Maria, LLC

6158 Highway 92, Acworth

Core Education Consulting Solutions, Inc.

250 Turner Blvd., Ball Ground

CoZzzy Comfy

729 Paint Horse Drive, Canton

Danny’s Rock & Roll

5735 Bells Ferry Road, Acworth

Enrique Medina Transportation

Home-based business

Friendly Mart, Inc.

Home-based business

GFX Enterprises, Inc.

137 Mirramont Lake Drive, Woodstock

Global Compounding Solutions DBA Global Topical Dispensers

Home-based business

GLS Financial, Inc.

6545 Highway 92 Acworth

GMW Cleaning Services, LLC

Home-based business

Grasso Remodeling

Home-based business

Growlers Gym

Home-based business

Hayes Intermill, LLC

Home-based business

Helen’s Home

Home-based business

Higgins EHS Consulting, LLC

Home-based business

Hollywoof Styles

Home-based business

Home Dimension, Inc.

230 Rope Mill Parkway, Woodstock

Hughes Places On The Lake (Lake House)

Home-based business

International Tennis Performance Association, LLC

Home-based business

Irma Ortega’s Produce

Home-based business

IT Prophets, LLC

Home-based business

J.N. Residential, Inc.

Home-based business

J&C Power Equipment

210 Lakeside Drive, Canton

Jaime Chavez Auto Repair

534 Keith Drive, Canton

Jeffery R. Foster

Home-based business

JL Cann, LLC

Home-based business

John Robert Vallance

Home-based business

Just Cool Gear, LLC

Home-based business

LaSabre Auto Repair

534 Keith Drive, Canton

Living Word Landscaping

Home-based business

Lonnie Tant

Home-based business

Main Event Entertainment, LLC

Home-based business

Mathand, Inc.

Home-based business

Maxim Technologies, LLC

Home-based business

Metis Performance, LLC

Home-based business

Mike’s Computers

14205 Highway 92, Woodstock

Millstone Cafe and Pizzeria, LLC

10214 Hickory Flat Highway, Woodstock

Milton Lee Motorsports, Inc.

12122 Cumming Highway, Canton

Motion Courier, LLC

Home-based business

MPMsoft

Home-based business

NRM Investment Group, LLC

11240 Cumming Highway, Canton

Old River Pine

Home-based business

Olga Novakova Cleaning Service

Home-based business

Pilot Restoration

Home-based business

Pizza 3.14

6426 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock

Pizza In 60 Seconds, Inc.

6124 Hickory Flat Highway, Canton

Purselle Electric, LLC, dba Electric Company

Home-based business

Quackenbush Piano Studio

Home-based business

Quillian Communities, LLC

Home-based business

Rock On Music, LLC

Home-based business

South Waters

Home-based business

Squires Squared Holdings, LLC

Home-based business

Tammie G Truett

Home-based business

Thomas Leffelman, CPA

Home-based business

Towne Lake Outdoor Power Equipment, LLC

6352 Bells Ferry Road, Woodstock

Watters Irrigation and Landscape, LLC

Home-based business

World Source, Inc.

Home-based business

Yard Sculpture Landscaping, LLC

Home-based business

HOLLY SPRINGS

Exceptional Machine Embroidery

305 Long Branch Court

I Buy Gold 2, Inc.

402 Argonne Terrace Suite 220

Riverstone Graphics, LLC

330 Ronnell Road

Riverstone Homes

330 Ronnell Road

Southern Elegance Landscape

2610 Holly Springs Parkway

The Kudzu Killer

240 Royal Crescent Terrace

Wireless Communications

4504 Holly Springs Parkway Suite 102-B

NELSON

Precision Packaging

1774 Canton Road

WOODSTOCK

Hair Studio

607 Lovejoy Lane

Hood-Pro, Inc.

323 Bell Park Drive

Place Studios

P.O. Box 1073

Purseladytoo

111 Hubbard Road

Search Solutions International, LLC

445 Creekstone Ridge

Treemaster Inc.

602 North Rope Mill Road