Are you starting a business in Anchorage, Alaska? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Anchorage.
Before announcing to the world that you are going to start your own business, take inventory of your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
Before you move forward with starting a business, be sure to do these three things:
Anchorage has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Anchorage demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Anchorage.
As a new Anchorage entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Anchorage for each business category. By looking at this chart, you can get
a general sense for how much competition there is in the business niche that
you are pursuing.
| Business Type |
# of
Businesses |
| Advertising Agencies |
19 |
| Ambulance Services |
3 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
6 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
9 |
| Architectural Services |
32 |
| Armored Car Services |
2 |
| Art Dealers |
14 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
2 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
11 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
47 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
12 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
5 |
| Barber Shops |
5 |
| Beauty Salons |
60 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
7 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
28 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
2 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
2 |
| Boat Building |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
6 |
| Book Publishers |
3 |
| Book Stores |
14 |
| Books Printing |
2 |
| Bowling Centers |
4 |
| Breweries |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
10 |
| Business Associations |
29 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
4 |
| Cafeterias |
3 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
15 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
11 |
| Casinos (except Casino Hotels) |
1 |
| Caterers |
8 |
| Cement Manufacturing |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
6 |
| Child Day Care Services |
46 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
6 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
40 |
| Claims Adjusting |
7 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
7 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
7 |
| Collection Agencies |
7 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
6 |
| Commercial Photography |
6 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
3 |
| Community Food Services |
5 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
13 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
12 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
24 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
2 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
4 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
9 |
| Convenience Stores |
4 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
7 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
2 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
2 |
| Couriers |
25 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
5 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
32 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
27 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
1 |
| Deep Sea Passenger Transportation |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
12 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
5 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
4 |
| Digital Printing |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
5 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
2 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
4 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
5 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Document Preparation Services |
3 |
| Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Drafting Services |
3 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
5 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
47 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
48 |
| Educational Support Services |
9 |
| Electrical Contractors |
88 |
| Electronic Shopping |
2 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
17 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
6 |
| Engineering Services |
122 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
24 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
5 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
3 |
| Facilities Support Services |
22 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
23 |
| Family Planning Centers |
3 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
9 |
| Finfish Fishing |
19 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
41 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
3 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
40 |
| Flight Training |
2 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
13 |
| Flooring Contractors |
30 |
| Florists |
20 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
7 |
| Food Service Contractors |
52 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
2 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
4 |
| Framing Contractors |
49 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
29 |
| Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing |
8 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
187 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
4 |
| Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Furniture Stores |
24 |
| General Automotive Repair |
69 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
21 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
4 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
12 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
47 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
3 |
| Gold Ore Mining |
2 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
11 |
| Graphic Design Services |
7 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
7 |
| Hardware Stores |
10 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
2 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
15 |
| Home Centers |
4 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Home Health Care Services |
17 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
3 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
42 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
6 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
11 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
3 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Inland Water Freight Transportation |
2 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
115 |
| Interior Design Services |
14 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
1 |
| Internet Service Providers |
3 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
2 |
| Investigation Services |
6 |
| Investment Advice |
17 |
| Janitorial Services |
90 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Jewelry Stores |
27 |
| Junior Colleges |
2 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
8 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
4 |
| Landscaping Services |
66 |
| Language Schools |
3 |
| Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing |
2 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
19 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
189 |
| Limousine Service |
2 |
| Linen Supply |
2 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
10 |
| Locksmiths |
5 |
| Logging |
3 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
7 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
9 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
1 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
1 |
| Marinas |
1 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
3 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
10 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
14 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
2 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
2 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
7 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
12 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
5 |
| Mobile Food Services |
5 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
4 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
10 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
11 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
4 |
| Museums |
3 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
3 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
7 |
| Nail Salons |
8 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
3 |
| Natural Gas Liquid Extraction |
2 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
7 |
| New Car Dealers |
24 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
19 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
1 |
| News Syndicates |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
7 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
14 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
1 |
| Office Administrative Services |
27 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
9 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
8 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
73 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
53 |
| Offices of Dentists |
147 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
294 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
23 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
7 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
5 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
23 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
17 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paging |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
8 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
68 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
5 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
17 |
| Payroll Services |
7 |
| Periodical Publishers |
4 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
8 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
9 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
9 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
11 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil |
1 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
5 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
11 |
| Prepress Services |
2 |
| Private Mail Centers |
7 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
7 |
| Professional Organizations |
13 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
7 |
| Quick Printing |
7 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
13 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
12 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
2 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
2 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
8 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
18 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
25 |
| Residential Remodelers |
59 |
| Retail Bakeries |
4 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
3 |
| Roofing Contractors |
31 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
3 |
| Sales Financing |
5 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
1 |
| Sawmills |
1 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
10 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
18 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
30 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
12 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
6 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
5 |
| Shellfish Fishing |
2 |
| Shoe Stores |
19 |
| Siding Contractors |
10 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
8 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
54 |
| Skiing Facilities |
1 |
| Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturing |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
89 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
3 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
6 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
3 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
34 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
15 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
3 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
1 |
| Support Activities for Metal Mining |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
20 |
| Taxi Service |
4 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
8 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
3 |
| Television Broadcasting |
6 |
| Temporary Help Services |
18 |
| Temporary Shelters |
5 |
| Testing Laboratories |
9 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
6 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
15 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Tire Dealers |
9 |
| Tire Retreading |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
4 |
| Tobacco Stores |
8 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
15 |
| Travel Agencies |
29 |
| Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing |
2 |
| Used Car Dealers |
15 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
18 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
12 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
4 |
| Veterinary Services |
22 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
20 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
17 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
10 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
8 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
2 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
35 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
1 |
| Wineries |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
29 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
16 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
2 |
It's very important that you form your business as a legal structure. Among other things, forming a legal entity for the business limits your liabilities.
When forming a company, you will pick from many company types, such as a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
Incorporating is a very popular way to form a business. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. Just because you are starting a business in Alaska, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Alaska. As it turns out, you can incorporate wherever you want. For example, it's very popular to incorporate in Delaware, and incorporating in Nevada has become very trendy as well. Don't forget, though, that you will have to register as a foreign entity in all states that you do business in.
There's a lot to know about forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Piercing the Corporate Veil. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Anchorage, Alaska, our web page covering Incorporating in Alaska may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Alaska.
Raising money to fund your new Anchorage business will be harder than you might expect. If you don't have a rich uncle to fund you, you'll need to be creative in how you approach your fundraising efforts.
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Anchorage or are selling to customers throughout Alaska, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
Good selling involves demonstrating that your wares meet your customer's needs. Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
Good entrepreneurs know that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.
Given that you are starting a business in Anchorage, Alaska, you should check out some of the learning programs at local Alaska educational institutions. You should also check if there are any Anchorage networking organizations.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Anchorage. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
We are here to help Anchorage businesses to be successful. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Anchorage entrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Anchorage.
